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Domestic Adoption Costs

From Carrie Craft,
Your Guide to Adoption / Foster Care.
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Estimates

The figures listed below are general ranges; differences may be found depending on:

  • the type of adoption
  • the area of the United States here the adoption occurs
  • whether or not the agency charges a sliding-scale fee based on family income
  • the country of origin of a foreign-born child
  • the amount of State or Federal subsidy available for a child with special needs
  • Federal or State tax credits available for reimbursement of adoption expenses
  • employer adoption benefits
  • State reimbursement for non-recurring expenses for the adoption of a child with special needs.
  • Domestic Adoption Costs

    Agency fees

    Listed with the low and high price ranges that can be expected.

    Application fee: Low - $100 High - $500
    Home study and preparation services: Low - $700 High - $2,500
    Post-placement supervision: Low - $200 High - $1,500
    Parent physical (each parent): Low - $35 High - $150
    Psychiatric evaluation(each parent; if required)?: Low - $250 High - $400

    Attorney fees


    Document preparation: Low - $500 High - $2,000
    Petition & court representation to finalize placement:
      Low - $2,500 High -$12,000
    Advertising: Low - $500 High - $5,000

    Birth parent expenses (Amount and type of expenses allowable for payment usually restricted by state law and subject to review by the court.)

    Medical expenses (prenatal, birth/delivery, postnatal for mother; perinatal care for child):
      Low - $0 (insurance) High - $10,000 - $20,000 (depending on difficulty of the delivery, etc.)

    Living expenses (rent, food, clothing, transportation, etc):
      Low - $500 High - $12,000
    Legal representation: Low - $500 High - $1,500
    Counseling: Low - $500 High - $2,000

    Back to the Adoption Costs menu.

    Source: Child Welfare Information Gateway

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