How Much Does It Cost To Adopt A Child?

Looking To Adopt In The US?

There are many different ways to adopt a child in the United States. They range from private adoption agencies to government-run programs. Private agencies usually charge fees ranging from $500 to $20,000. There are two main types of private adoption: domestic and international.

Domestic adoption means a child is being adopted by a couple who are married or living together. Domestic adoption is usually the easiest option, but it is also the least common, as the agency takes care of everything, including legal matters. The parents have to pay a fee and give the agency permission to place the child for adoption.

International adoption, on the other hand, is more expensive and time consuming. In most cases, the agency pays for the legal paperwork, and then it's up to the parents to find a country where the adoption is legal. For example, in China, it is illegal for Chinese citizens to adopt. This means a child who is adopted from China must be adopted by a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident. There are also international adoption laws that require children to be younger than age 16, which is why most international adoptions take place from Asia.

Another option is to adopt an older child. While you can't adopt a child younger than age 18, you can adopt a teenager who is still in high school. The process is the same as adopting a baby. However, you might need to pay a higher fee because the older child is more expensive.

Adoption agencies often offer scholarships to families who need extra help, so make sure to ask if there are any financial aid programs available.

Adoption isn't cheap, but it does cost less than raising a child on your own. A child born to a single mother costs the average U.S. household $221,000 over a lifetime, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. That doesn't include the medical expenses, or the additional costs of childcare.

A child adopted from a foreign country is more expensive. A child adopted from China, for instance, will cost the family $24,200 more than a child adopted from the United States. The cost of international adoption varies depending on the country.

The average adoption cost in the U.S. is about $15,000, but it can vary widely, depending on where you live. The average is calculated from the median adoption fees paid by adoptive families nationwide in fiscal year 2016, according to the National Adoption Information Center. The cost of adoption is based on factors like location and the number of children in the home. The average cost of international adoption is $31,000, while the average cost of domestic adoption is $14,000.

For more information on how much it costs to adopt a child, visit the National Adoption Information Center's website.