Adoption Costs

Adoption costs can vary in the type of adoption services (agency or attorney) and the type of adoption program (domestic, international, foster care or relative). Adopting from the foster care system, stepparent adoptions, and relative adoptions tend to be the least expensive. Domestic adoption costs can vary depending on the types of services offered, state fees, possible travel expenses, and possible birthmother expenses. The search process for locating birthparents can be expensive. Potential adopting parents can choose whether to pay for the location service or try to locate birthparents on their own. International adoption expenses also vary depending on services, dossier fees, travel expenses and individual country fees.