Is adopting a child really expensive?

Question

my husband and I are considering on adopting a baby from a third world country. Is it very expensive to do. How do you get started?

Answer 1

Adopting 1 child internationally can run anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000 depending on the country and program you choose.  However, you can recoup up to $11,300 of your expenses using the federal adoption tax credit (a credit, not a deduction meaning dollar for dollar against your tax liability and you can carry it forwards 5 years!)  A good way to get started is to search online for information about adoption.  If you have a specific country in mind. search for adoption and the country name, otherwise just look for information on international adoption and agencies that provide international programs.  A REALLY great book that can help to guide you through thinking about the process is "The Complete Book of International Adoption".

Answer 2

We've adopted internationally twice. Most international adoptions cost about $18,000- $25,000, however there is an $11,000 tax credit available to adoptive parents.

I know several families who've adopted from Holt International, and their website has a lot of good info on the different regulations and fees associated with each country.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Yes. the expenses start at 20000. i have looked into this very resently. They could go more than 20000 depending on the legality and the legal fees.

you might want to look into fostering. see how that works out. you get paid for fostering because you help the stated out with caring for the child you get money to put toward anything the child needs kind of like child support i guess you can say. and if you decide you want to adopt the child you can but i am not sure what the fees would be there. you may want to call your local foster care office and see what they tell you about that.

Answer 4

I will give you a little differnt perspective on the expense of adoption.

If you adopt through foster care there are very little costs involved. If the child is older or has special needs requiring more than normal medical or emotional support post adoption, they will usually keep Medicaid intact if you ask. In the state of GA all of the children in foster care or adopted from foster care has fully paid college tuition. In some cases for the really difficult to place children the per dium from foster care will also continue.

If you adopt privately, I have no idea what the costs are.

Internationally will run between $20,000 and $30,000 dependingon the country you chose.

Does this sound expensive? Ask anyone who has done it the cost is well worth every penny you spend on the casts associated with adopting. Is it do-able for most people? Probably. Is it do-able by you? Here is what I tell folks considering adoption of an infant. If both parents work, you will have to pay for day care. The average cost of day care for an infant is about $120 to $200 per week. Find out how what the average day care cost is in your area. Then add $50.00 per week to that amount. Next start putting that amount aside in a savings account for the adoption. In one years time you will have saved more than $8000 for the adoption. At that point you have more than enough to cover the priliminary costs of the adoption. It is not until after you receive your referral and travel that the rest is due. So depending on where you want to adopt from (domestic or international) and the time line you are looking at, you could save up enough money just by putting aside the money you will spend after the baby/child comes home in three years time.

Answer 5

Yes, it complicated to deal with both the adopting agency and immigration system in that country

Answer 6

OF COURSE EVERYTHING IS EXPENSIVE.......BUT WHAT U REALLY GOT TO THINK ABOUT IS IF UR SURE U WNT TO ADOPT?? IF U ARE THEN THE MONEY SHOULDNT MATTER.....MAKE SURE U HAVE ENOUGH......N MAKE SURE U GIVE IT LOTS OF LOVE!!

Answer 7

I would suggest contacting a local adoption agency for more information.  They will be happy to share all the information with you and the costs.  Our agency was very upfront with us about all the options available - through them or through other avenues, and the difference in procedure and costs.  

Adoption expenses can vary dependent on the type of adoption you choose.

International adoptions are typically the most expensive because of the international documentation and the travel expenses associated with it.  

Domestic adoptions vary based on whether you choose to do a private or agency adoption.  Private adoptions, done through an attorney, vary because some private adoptions include medical expenses of the biological mother.  You also still need to have an agency involved to do a home study, background checks, etc.  We looked at that route, but our attorney suggested that we proceed with an "identified" adoption which is basically an adoption that the agency does for us, but they do not need to locate the birth family because we already have one.  It cost us about $12,000 to do that.  

You can also look into foster adopt programs through your local foster care agency.  The state often helps with many of the fees associated with this type of adoption so it is less expensive.  

Whichever way you choose, adoption is a beautiful journey worth every penny when you bring your child home.

Good luck to you.

Answer 8

First, you'll want to start referring to it as a "developing" country, instead of 3rd World (that offends many people, especially in the adoption world). I'm sure you didn't mean it in any negative way I am just trying to save you from a severe flaming if you were to post that on an international adoption group. The reasoning is not to be "pc" but one of the things many adoptive parents go through in the process is learning that how they talk about their child's country has a huge impact on their child's self image so it is important to use positive wording and images for your child.

The upfront costs can be expensive, but you will likely recoup much of the expense through federal and state tax refunds, possible grants and employee assistance programs. The costs vary GREATLY depending on country program, agency, age of child, etc.

A great way to get started is to visit the state departments website for different countries you might be interested in adopting from. There you will find a list of agencies licensed to work in that country and the requirements you need to meet. Once you narrow down a country, join a yahoo group

relating to adoption from that country. There you will gain tremendous insight to how various agencies operate, timelines, etc. Begin talking to agencies (it is not necessary to limit yourselves to local ones) and utilize the group to confirm everything the agency is telling you. In my experience access to other adoptive parents is the BEST resource for pre-adoptive parents to have.

Congratulations on your decision to adopt a child!! ALL children (regardless of where they were born) deserve a loving home.

Answer 9

Yes, it can be. It varies country to country, agency to agency ect.  But you can compare agencies costs and ask what the total includes, like does it include an interpretor ect. I would say choose a country first maybe 2 or 3 incase you don't meet teh requirements for a certain country, go with your heart. Research on the country and find out the requirements for that specific country. Maybe try adoption.com or adoption.org. Its a wonderful thing that you are doing.  You can probably get benefits if your husband is in the military. Certain countries require you to travel to the country, some once some twice and others don't require that adn you can have your child escorted to you. Some countries you have to go there for several weeks, and others just a few days. Ignore some of the answers your getting. Some are saying why not adopt fromt the US, everyone has there reasons and you don't have to justify your decision, best of luck. Ps. it may also help if you sign up to an adoption message board to get started, share info and get answers from ppl who have gone through the experience and can assist you. Best of luck.

Answer 10

$25,000 is what I have read.

Answer 11

why adopt outside the US when there are hundreds of thousands of children in the foster care system in our own backyard?  in ohio alone, at any given time, there are upwards of 70,000 in the foster care system, waiting for a home.  help clean up our problem before trying to take on the worlds problems...

Answer 12

From what my friend found, it is extremely expensive.  They opted to do fostering to adopt from their county.  It is much cheaper since you are taking kids that are already in the US foster care system.

Answer 13

my mom has adopted 4 kids in her lifetime (me included) and it cost her a pretty penny because she went through lawyers...however she recently learned that all you need is a paralegal for the paper work and it saves you thousands. the expensive part is the lawyer and most people dont know thats not a requirement.

Answer 14

First of all, it doesn't matter where you adopt from! My mom's friend is adopting a 1 year old from Guatamala. I say go for it. Yes it can get expensive, but a child is very much well worth the money! Adopt from any country. It doesn't matter. There are many starving infants in children in the world. And you adopting one, is one less starving infant/child out on the streets. Good luck!

Answer 15

YES, and you know they have babies up for adoption in this country too, I realize it's not as fashionable. And an adopted baby will never be your own flesh and blood, sorry, but it's the truth.