how much does Adoption Cost?A Breakdown of Adoption Fees
Brittany, Shana, and LifeLongBabies Brixton and Beau
Private Domestic Adoption Expenses
The cost of a private domestic adoption depends on a number of factors: the adoption professionals and service providers you work with, the circumstances of the birthmother and child involved, how much expectant mother financial support is permitted by state law, how much travel is required, and more. Below we’ve outlined what you can typically expect as far as adoption costs. Remember, every adoption is different and what each family spends on their adoption varies greatly from situation to situation.
The Adoption Home Study
In order to legally adopt a baby in the United States, a family must have a completed adoption home study conducted by a licensed social worker. This usually takes three to four months and includes a background check and a thorough examination of your home, finances, family, relationships, reasons for adopting, and more. The cost of a home study is set by the individual social worker or the agency, but it generally costs somewhere between $1,500 – $3,000. These fees are paid directly to the social worker or agency.
Marketing & Advertising
If you are working with an adoption service provider whose program includes marketing and advertising, this is typically part of their program fee. These fees typically cover online and offline marketing and advertising in order to reach potential birthmothers. Many service providers also create an adoptive family profile for each family that allows them to be presented to expectant mothers. The cost of designing and printing this profile is usually part of this fee. This fee may also include networking with professionals across the country who work with expectant mothers, including attorneys, agencies, social workers, doctors and hospitals, pregnancy and crisis shelters, and more.
Legal Services
Legal services come into play when an expectant mother decides to move forward with a specific adoptive family. As part of her adoption plan, every expectant mother needs a dedicated adoption attorney hired for her. Depending on state laws, the adoptive family might need their own adoption attorney as well. The cost of adoption legal services is determined by the individual legal professional, but generally cost in the range of $5,000 – $9,000. All legal services for the birth parents and the adoptive family are paid for by the adoptive family, and those fees are paid directly to the attorney.
Birthmother Expenses
As part of her adoption plan, every expectant mother is entitled to a certain amount of financial assistance from the adoptive family. Financial assistance can only be provided after legal services are hired and must go through the adoption attorney. Usually, financial assistance can be provided for rent, utilities, bills, maternity clothes, food, transportation, counseling, and more. The amount of financial assistance allowed and what specifically can be covered is determined by state law. Because laws can vary drastically from state to state, it’s difficult to predict how much a family will spend on birthmother expenses. To give a general idea, a family can expect to pay between $5,000 and $10,000.
Travel Expenses
Travel expenses are fees associated with adoption-related travel, typically involving airfare and/or ground transportation, lodging, food, and more. The adoptive family will need to travel to meet their baby after the birth, and they also may need to travel to meet the birth parents before placement if they wish. Once the baby is born, the adoptive family must stay in the birthmother’s state for a number of days while the adoption paperwork is handled.
The Adoption Tax Credit
If you’re considering the question, “How much does adoption cost,” it’s easy to get bogged down in the details surrounding typical adoption expenses. There are also certain types of financial assistance to make adoption more affordable, like the Adoption Tax Credit.
The Adoption Tax Credit is a set amount of money that can be deducted directly from the taxes that are owed. Unlike a tax deduction, with a tax credit, a family can get reimbursed dollar for dollar, provided they qualify for the credit. To qualify, adoptive parents must have had a domestic, non-special needs adoption during the tax year. Even if an adoption doesn’t finalize, adoptive parents can still take the credit. It’s important to obtain and save receipts for all eligible adoption-related expenses, including adoption program fees, attorney fees, agency fees, birthparent expenses, travel expenses, etc.
The amount of the Adoption Tax Credit changes at least once a year. Click here for more details and to see the current amount.
Kevin, Coy, and LifeLong
Twins Piper and Kinsley
Conclusion
So, how much does adoption cost? The short answer is that it depends on a number of factors, including but not limited to the type of adoption, specific marketing or advertising fees, home study fees, agency fees, where the expectant mother lives, state laws, adoption attorney fees, other adoption professionals hired, birthmother expenses, and more.