Adoption Prices

Adoption prices and the corresponding services vary by the method of adoption that a couple chooses.

Of the different domestic adoption options, public and private agencies and independent adoption, public adoption has the lowest adoption prices.

Public adoption, which usually refers to the adoption of a child in the foster care system, can range from being free to $2,500. The most expensive thing about public adoption is the homestudy fee, which may be reimbursed by state or federal funding. Public adoption also offers itself to federal health care aid for children adopted with special needs.

Private agency adoption prices can range from $5,000 to $40,000. This is dependent on the kind of services an agency provides and the kind of expenses a birth mother accrues during the adoption process.

Independent adoption works on a sliding scale. Some adopters may find independent adoption a cheap alternative to a private agency, while others may pay more money for attorneys, birth mother expenses and counseling than they needed to out of inexperience with the adoption community.

International adoption can be expected to have the highest adoption prices. The international adoption fee ranges from $7,000 to $30,000 or more. International fees are contingent on travel expenses and the philanthropic donation a couple makes to the adopted child's orphanage. Visa fees and the cost to file paperwork can be upwards of $1,000 and are obviously unique to the international adoption process.

While it's easy to fall into the habit of referring to adoption fees as adoption "prices," this is usually considered negative terminology because it can make the child sound like a commodity.