Adoption Costs

Adoption costs can vary in the type of adoption services (i.e. agency or attorney) and the type of adoption program (i.e. domestic, international, foster care or relative). Adopting from the foster care system, step-parent 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 birth mother expenses. The search process for locating birth parents can be expensive. Potential adoptive parents can choose whether to pay for the location service or try to locate birth parents on their own. International adoption expenses also vary depending on services, dossier fees, travel expenses and individual country fees.