Why does it cost so much to adopt! we just want to give a child a loving home.?

Question

and we dont want to be foster parents because of the lack of stability in the program. THIS SUCKS. the average cost is 17-35,000. that we dont have- we can support a family - but 35 grand out of pocket! holy c**p.

Answer 1

you can get a tax deduction at tax time

Answer 2

They Dont Want Someone Who Like Does Drugs Buying A KID?

Answer 3

that is a good question. I have alway wonder that. I think they should just give a family a child who needs a home to a familying willing to take the child. That is if the family check out to be a good family.

Answer 4

If you would reconsider being foster parents first,  some foster agencies let you adopt for no fee such as Standford Foster agency.

Answer 5

I guess as others have said, it costs so much because there are a lot of things that the agencies need to cover i.e. lawyers, doctors visits etc.  Have you looked into your local department of social services?  This is who my husband and I currently working with to adopt and it costs us nothing (cost was always a fear of ours).  Sure, a lot of these kids have "issues" but all they really need (and deserve) is a loving home.

Answer 6

You don't say where this information came from. Perhaps an adoption  agency? First consult with a social worker to discuss the best adoption plan for you, i.e., open, closed, agency or private. Then find an adoption attorney. I did not pay anywhere near 35 grand.

Answer 7

I feel the same way as you do... They aren't worth money! They're worth well, they're priceless.

Answer 8

Have you looked at every option? I'm sure "hard to adopt" kids (just meaning not infants) aren't so much. Also, have you looked into adopting from overseas?

My neighbors adopted 2 newborns within the past 2 years, and they're not rolling in cash (she's a stay-at-home mom). Both babies are minorities, though, but American-born.

Think about where you can cut corners. Do you have car payments? How much do you owe on your cars? If you reduced to one car or just bought something cheap that you own outright, there's a big savings. If you own a house, you could take out a home equity loan for any purpose.

I'd talk with some people on the inside, and also the foster agencies. It's possible that if you host a foster child for a while, taking steps to adopt that child will not be so steep.

Answer 9

You can choose to be an adoptive placement only for children in foster care.  That way, there is little fear of the child going back home, since the parent rights should already be terminated.  However, it does take time.  You can't assume that just because these children need families and you are willing to adopt, that it will happen right away.

This is a good option if you are willing to take older children or sibling groups, since it usually doesn't cost anything or very little for the adoptive parents.

Answer 10

If you adopt an older, biracial child, they pay YOU.

Answer 11

There are grants, there are loans, and if you make less than 150,000 dollars a year, than you can get a 10,000 to 11,000 tax deduction when you file at the end of the year. There are also ways of making small payments until the adoption is final. I know it's a lot out of pocket, but there are various options, and obviously, the pay off is great.

Best of luck.

Answer 12

Yes, the fees are a crying shame.  We are in debt because we had to borrow the money for fees involved in order to adopt.

If you are not willing to foster or pay the fees for private adoption then I don't see any way possible for you to adopt, I'm sorry to say.  I know it's not what you want to hear but from all my research that is what I have concluded, hence our loan debt.

Answer 13

Keep in mind that there is a federal adoption tax credit.  Go to:

http://www.irs.gov and search for adoption tax credit for more information.  You can get credited up to $10,000+ on each adoption.  That should help ease the burden.  Some states also have tax credits.

There are adoption grants, too.  Google the Dave Thomas Foundation & you'll find some resources on their site.  Or you can Google Shaohanna's Hope and find that resource, too.

We adopted two girls from Latin America.  You're right, it is expensive.  It's SO worth it, though.

It's expensive because there are a lot of things that go into an adoption.  You need to gather all the documentation (each piece generally costs) including birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.  Also these documents often have to be notarized and the notarization has to be apostilled.  

There are fees to immigration to process the forms and the fingerprints, the FBI for the fingerprints, the state for the fingerprints, the state for the criminal background checks and child abuse and neglect checks.

Then there's the agency participation.  They process your information, advocate for you, guide you through the process, get all the dossier paperwork translated, pay their in-country staff to do all the prep stuff on that end.  Their help is priceless.

There's the travel fees including airline tickets, hotel or apartment rent, meals, taxis, etc.

Ok, now you're in country.  There is sometimes a donation to keep the orphanage's doors open (they provided excellent care for your child, after all, and need to provide the same care for children afterward), there's any translators to pay (unless you're fluent in that country's language), lawyers, government fees to get birth certificates, abandonment decrees copies, court costs, medical exams, immunizations, travel visas, passports and all kinds of other stuff.  The in-country rep deserves millions of dollars for the work he/she does to make things run smoothly for you.

When you get home, there is sometimes a re-adoption which will cost $100 or more depending on whether you need an attorney or not.

Oh, yeah, before you go, there are the homestudy and pre-placement visits.  After you get there are the post-placement visits and report, not to mention the support you'll receive from you social worker.

So...that's why an international adoption costs so much....

If you want a lower-cost adoption, consider adopting a child who is presently in foster care whose parental rights have been terminated.

Answer 14

Agencies charge a lot  because it costs a lot to have attorneys do all the paperwork required, cover medical, living, and counseling expenses for the relinquishing parents, file papers with the court, pay salaries and other overhead, advertise and lobby etc.

We did a private directed adoption and it was less than 10,000 but it is much riskier for both the adopting and relinquishing parents and I wouldn't suggest it unless you meet through mutual friends or family or something.

Answer 15

because they dont want idiots that cant support a baby to get the kid...and the only reason they want the kid is to get the check every month..they want to make sure that the parents are legit..

Answer 16

i completely agree with  u and i think thats y many ppl adopt over seas cuz its so much cheaper (not saying kids r cheap) and easier with no baggage attached but we ( U.S ) should rethink our adoption policies

Answer 17

It is expensive to give birth or adopt!  But with adoption, your fee covers so much, not just your adoption.  A lot of an adoption fee goes to cover other expenses.  Let me explain.  

Most private adoptions are between 10K-40K and involve infants and young children, but many state adoptions (through foster care) are 0-$2000 and involve older school aged children, siblings, or very special needs babies and children (severel developmental delays, extreme medical issues, etc.)

Adoption fees are for all the services the agency provides to every birthmother helped.

Most full service licensed adoption agencies receive calls from hundreds of women a year. They may provide these women and their children with counseling, emergency food, clothing, formula and diapers, taxi fare, doctor visits, etc. and these are just the women who are NOT placing their babies for adoption.

And then there's the birthmothers who get housing paid for for 10 months, along with all their utilities, groceries, clothing, transportation, medical care, etc., and then choose to PARENT their babies.

Then there are the cases where a baby has been placed for adoption already, and the birthmother or birthfather then comes back before the adoption is finalized and tries to get custody of the baby from the adoptive parents. It often takes 1 - 2 years of court hearings and trials before the case is settled.

And then, there are the special needs babies that the agency reduces or eliminates the adoption fee for, so they may be adopted. These babies may have HIV, born with no brain, born blind or very ill.

And of course, there are the birthmothers who DO place their babies for adoption, and may recieve all the above mentioned -- housing, groceries, clothing, utilities, transportation, medical care, etc.

The agency pays for all of this. That is why adoption fees are so high. And if your adoption fails, good agencies try to absorb that financial loss, too - not the adoptive parent.

And then there are the lawyers. Agencies have to hire an attorney to represent the baby, one for the birthmother, and one for each named possible birthfathers. Sometimes a diligent search is conducted to find the birthfather, and sometimes a private detective has to be hired, too.

And there is office rent, phones, salaries, office supplies, etc.

You see, you do not pay JUST for YOUR child's birthmothers expenses and that is it. The expenses have to be paid for ALL birthmothers, so that those who do choose to place their baby for adoption, can. This is what it really takes to keep those doors open and those calls answered. That is where that fee goes.

Hope that helps! Good luck to you!

And if you are able to parent to school aged children, why not go through the foster care systems?

Some people also luck out and are able to adopt through a relative or friend.  Network, and tell everyone you know.   This does work sometimes.  I hope you find a way that works for you!  I have known people who decide to sell their cars or move to a less expensive home to be a parent.  It can be about sacrifice sometimes.  Just like with expensive high risk pregnancies or complicated deliveries.  (Fortunately there is medical insurance that can pay for this!)