Why does adoption cost so much?

Question

I want to take an "unwanted" baby home with me and love him/her just like my own. Why does it have to cost so much? I could never afford it!

Answer 1

Because it is a mother signing over her rights.  Court costs of that, etc.

Answer 2

Maybe you could consider adopting out of foster care.  There is no cost.  And until the child is adopted, he/she will recieve free health care and you will get a small monthly stipend to help with costs of raising the child.

Adoption agencies charge so much because it is a money making business.  Other than that the fees include you paying the birth mothers expenses, lawyers, travel fees, application and other paper work fees etc...

Answer 3

Most people who don't want a baby just abort it (such a shame).  Then the ones that are up for adoption are in such high demand.  Its all about supply and demand.  Its sad.

Maybe if people would quit aborting their babies in the US, we wouldnt have to adopt over seas, and it would be more reasonably priced.

Answer 4

I don't know, but it's ridiculous.  There are so many children who need permanent homes and parent that you'd think that it would be easier to adopt.  Way, back when my parents adopted me, the social worker brought me straight to their house from the home I was removed from, then all my parents had to do was hire a lawyer to do the paperwork.  I don't know why it's so difficult now.

Answer 5

It has mostly to do with fees....lawyer fees, agency fees, paperwork fees, etc. One good thing is that you can deduct a little over $10,000 dollars from your taxes to cover adoption fees. Even if you don't need that big a deduction, you can spread it out and take it over three years. So, if you can get a loan (like equity line of credit) for the adoption fees, then when the adoption is complete, you can pay it off with the tax refund.

Answer 6

I hope that all the money we spent on our adoption and all the "legal" things we had to go through somehow "protect" just one child from harm.  The fees cover things like home studies and criminal checks, etc.  I tell myself that I hope that by requiring these fees and things, that the children who are being placed into adoption are being protected.  

Our government unfortunately does make it very challenging financially to bring babies home.  But if you are interested in doing this, contact the local social services in your county.  Foster care has an adoption program and it costs very little - or at least not as much as going thru an agency.  Typically there are subsidies that foster children qualify for also.  

Good luck to you.

Answer 7

i agree. they want so many people to adopt, but you have to pay so much for it.

Answer 8

Supply and demand. There are more couples wanting to adopt healthy newborns than there are women placing healthy newborns for adoption. Agencies actually advertise for and coerce and pressure expectant moms in many instances, to try to meet the demand and make their enormous fees.

We adopted our son with attorneys only (met bmom through a friend of a friend) and a private SW for the homestudy and it was less than half the cost of the average agency adoption. Agencies spend a huge chunk of their money on advertising.

If you really want to help a child, adopt through your state or county  foster-to-adopt or straight adoption program which are usually completely free.

Answer 9

Honestly you have to find a birth mother who doesn't want the money. I'm a birth mother and I told the family the only thing they have to pay for is the lawyer fees.

Answer 10

Actually, in most adoptions, the child is free, it's the services that you are paying for.  

When you hire an attorney, you are paying for their expertise and time to prepare and execute all of the paperwork according to current law.  You don't want to hire a cheap or inexperienced attorney and have your adoption fall apart in court!

When you hire an agency, you are usually paying for licensed social workers to counsel your birthparents (in a domestic adoption), guide you through state and federal regulations, complete your homestudy, prepare and coordinate the court reports, and supervise the child in the home (especially if international).   Nobody becomes an adoption social worker to become rich, and most agencies don't make a profit from their adoptions, it costs them about as much as it costs you.

Yes, it can cost a lot, but when you hire the right people, you can be sure you are working as a team to make the adoption go as smoothly as possible.  

PS - Parenting is a lifelong financial committment, whether you adopt or give birth.  Hospital bills from labor and delivery can be about the same as the cost of an adoption........

Answer 11

Because the politicians make it expensive for people that want to adopt.  They just want to fill their pockets.  I agree it shouldn't cost as much as it does which is the reason so many people don't adopt.  It's just eaiser having your own children.  But it has to do with immigration stuff like visas, passports, adoption agency fees, cost of trips to countries overseas, homestudies, translators, etc.

Answer 12

Its a business. Even though unexpected medical costs can be really high.

Answer 13

The reason it costs so much is so the child welfare people and lawyers can have jobs and make money.  You are not adopting a child so much as paying ransom to get the children out of the clutches of the system.  

Think about it.  If adoption was easy,  there would be no need for tons of foster homes,  the foster care system,  and lawyers to do paper work.   We would save billions every year.    

Read up on the Orphan Trains as an alternative to the mess we have today.

Answer 14

it doesn't have to.  I adopted 2 children and only had to pay the $35 (each) to file the papers with the clerk of court.  talk to your state children and families agency and ask them.  of course, I had to buy furniture and clothes for the children and all the stuff that goes with having a child.

Answer 15

It does cost a lot.  We have have a 7 month old adopted little girl.   But there is ways that you can get money back after the adoption is final.  Check with your health care.  Ours (United Health care) gave us $3400.00 the amount it would have cost to have our own child.  Also you get back almost all of the money in taxes in the 5 years after adopting.  You can also apply for Adoption grants. I have not done that but I know a few people that have.  Also check with your work or your spouses work sometimes they give an allowance for adoption also.  I hope I helped.  -Toopi