Adoption only for the rich?

Question

Im wondering if adoption is only for rich ppl, I have always heard that it cost alot and thats to be expected with all the legal tape, however I was told you can only get approved if you have alot of money. Id like to know if thats true? If so how much of a income is required? Also how much does it cost for a adpotion within the US? Thanks

Answer 1

You don't have to be rich, that's for sure...  but you must be able to meet the financial needs of raising a child, including medical expenses, daycare, etc.  

The money I needed up front was alot, yes, but I saved and saved, used my tax returns, and yard sale money, and  even collected change at the end of everyday to save up...for upfront fees (homestudy, lawyer, foster care for international fostering) to be able to afford the official adoption expenses.

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I paid for foster care, medical care, (for myself and my future son), foods, court fees (from USA and Guatemala), immigration fees for my son to be able to get from Guatemala to the USA (Form i-600a), travel fees (airlines), USCIS fingerprint fees, homestudy fees, notary public fees, criminal record checks for everyone in my house hold (my sister lived with me at the time, DNA testing for my son and his birthmother and many other things...  all included in the upfront that totaled $30,000.  Not to buy my child--  believe me if it was legal to just buy a child outright, it would have been much easier and my son would have been home WAY earlier than at 8 months old.

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The adoption tax credit is AFTER the fact, and not what people think.  You don't get all you paid back, but itdoes help a little the one year afterwards at tax time only.

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My son was not 100% healthy or white.

Answer 2

Hi NoWomanNoCry,

Adoption is not only for the rich.  When you have your homestudy done, you do have to show that you are financially stable.  Hundreds of thousands of children in foster care who need a home right now can be adopted with little to no money!  Sometimes there is additional monthly help available to assist you with the added costs of raising the child, as well as medical coverage.

The reason you heard that adoption costs a lot is because there are some people who will only accept a healthy, white newborn.  Since there are so very few of those available for adoption, you will find that the rules of economics kick in.  Costs for adopting those babies can run up to $40,000 or higher due to the high expenses associated with soliciting expectant mothers, and the hefty profits pocketed by the adoption industry and legal professionals.  The waiting lists for those babies are years long too.

All children need love and all children need a home.  Those things are more important than lots of money.  Money is just one aspect of many factors that are considered when applying to adopt.  Loving parents with good parenting skills are not necessarily the ones with the most money anyways.  I hope that you will also see that one child is not necessarily any better than another.  I wish you good luck adopting the child who needs you now.

julie j

reunited adoptee

Answer 3

The cost of the adoption process can certainly get high, depending on which adoption route is chosen.

However, there is an adoption tax credit available, so much, or all, of the cost is reimbursed to the family in taxes after the adoption is finalized.

Answer 4

My adoption costs were approximately $15K total.  You don't have to make a lot of money, but you do have to make enough to be able to pay your rent, pay your bills, and support a child. The agency we used even allows a payment plan while you are waiting to adopt.

Answer 5

In 2002 for national adoption awareness month the gov. came out with an adoption facts US Census press release found here:

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/...

It says:

$56,000

Median income for households with adopted children under 18, higher than those with biological children and stepchildren, $48,000 and $51,000, respectively.

Answer 6

To adopt privately yes it is a lot of money.  Some people take loans, borrow etc.  We adopted from foster care and it cost, well nothing.  They do a financial check on us to ensure we are able to raise the children coming in our home, but they didn't say if there was a certain income you had to make.

Answer 7

Adopting through the foster care system is free, or almost free. You do not have to have an abundance of money.  You just have to be a good person with the desire to give a home to a child who needs one.  You have to have a safe place to raise a child, and be able to pay your bills.  I have friends who are absolutely dirt poor, and adopted 5 children through the state.  If you have your homestudy done through DHS, it's free, and so is the rest of the process.  We haven't gotten to the lawyer part yet, but I think we will have to pay for a lawyer to file the necessary paperwork.  That's it.  Good luck to you!  Please do lots and lots of research on the effect adoption has on adoptees before deciding if this is what you want to do.  It's a rough road, but I guarantee it's rougher on the kids.  Feel free to email me if you'd like.

ETA:  Bizzi, nice to meet you.  I don't think we could be considered "poor", but we're far from rich.  I think we're on the border between lower and middle class, but I haven't looked at the figures.  Sure feels like we're poor, though.  Most days, anyway.

Answer 8

Most people who adopt are middle-class - not poor, not super rich.

Answer 9

Yes it's only for rich people. Prices vary.

I have never ever heard of a poor couple adopting.

Answer 10

How much are you worth?

Answer 11

Adoption is CERTAINLY not just for the rich. It's not true that you're only approved if you have alot of money, either. As long as you make enough money to support a family, and everything else checks out, it should be fine. To adopt a child can be as low as $5,000, and as high as $40,000. A number of factors count in price, but I would check it out! I do not know how much of an income is required, however, but it's nothing tha a normal person that can support a family wouldn't make, I assume.

Answer 12

You know they say selling and purchasin babies is illegal but that is exactly what they are doing.  The cost of adoption is rediculous.  The minimum starting out is $20,000 and up and its sad because women like me and others would love to have a family.  It really upsets me!

Answer 13

My future in-laws adopted 2 children and they aren't the richest people in the world (she's a stay-at-home mom and he is a Construction Worker).  They adopted my boyfriend when he was a few days old from a local hospital.  They adopted his sister from Korea when she was a few days old.  They did have a bit of trouble getting started, though.  They originally wanted to adopt a boy from either Brazil or Belize and the organization they went through "took their money and ran."  So if you're planning to adopt, watch which agency you go with and make sure you know the laws in your state (they weren't able to get their money returned due to their state's laws regarding adoption).  

Best of luck!