My husband’s #1 concern with adoption was how much an adoption was going to cost. I assumed it would expensive to the tune of $2,000, or maybe even $3,000. I about fell out of my chair when I learned that newborn adoptions cost $13,000 at one agency (back in 1998). I was even more surprised to learn that $13,000 was on the lower end of the cost of a newborn adoption, even though this was through a nonprofit agency.

When I went to an orientation for a different agency, I was surprised to learn that international adoptions were even more expensive than domestic newborn adoptions. I thought that, since there are numerous children languishing in orphanages who need homes, the price of an international adoption would be lower. The agency explained the there were agency fees for both the domestic agency and the agency in the child’s home country, both of which needed to be paid.

My husband and I also briefly looked into foster adoption (which is free – a much more attractive “price tag”), but a cranky person from the foster care system told me that I would have to wait 7+ years to adopt a child unless I wanted to adopt a child who was over seven years old. I have since learned that this was incorrect, but I believed the woman and crossed foster adoption off our list for consideration.

Since adoption fees vary so widely (other than foster adoption, which is free), talk with several adoption professionals about their fees. I have heard of fees for newborn adoptions ranging from as low as $9,000 to as high as $30,000+. The lowest cost for an international adoption I have heard was around $15,000, with many costing between $20,000 and $30,000. According to adoption.com –

Agency and private adoptions can range from $5,000 to $40,000 or more depending on a variety of factors including services provided, travel expenses, birthmother expenses, requirements in the state, and other factors. International adoptions can range from $7,000 to $30,000. – Adoption Costs

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If you are hoping to adopt internationally, be sure to check the blog for the country you are considering. There are several posts about the costs for adopting out of particular countries.

Related Topics:

• Costs of International Adoption



• How much did your domestic adoption cost?



• Adoption Orientation

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