Adoption can be a very expensive process, with the cost varying greatly depending on the type of adoption and each situation. The least expensive type of adoption is a public agency adoption, which usually only places children with special needs. Costs range from zero to $2,500.
Adoptions from domestic private agencies range from $4,000 to $30,000 and include the cost for birth parent counseling, home study, child’s birth, post-placement supervision and agency fees.
Domestic independent adoptions, in which adoptive families seek birth parents through personal ads and other methods, cost between $8,000 and $30,000.
International private agencies or independent adoptions range from $7,000 to $25,000 and include agency fees, dossier, immigration processing fees and court costs. There could be additional expenses for travel, foster care and a child’s medical care.