Q: How Much Does Adopting Cost?
A: It Depends
There are three types of adoption – domestic newborn, domestic foster, and international adoption. Each adoption type has a different average cost. Domestic newborn adoption, when a child is adopted directly at birth, without entering foster care, costs an average of $38,063. Domestic foster adoption costs significantly less, averaging $2,811. International adoption averages $42,281 (source: Adoptive Families).
Adoptive Families provides a graphic that breaks down the costs of newborn adoptions via adoption agency, as seen below.
U.S. Newborn (Agency) – Average Cost Breakdown
| Home study fee | $2,345 |
| Document preparation & authentication | $802 |
| Adoption agency application & program fees | $16,920 |
| Adoption consultant fees | $2,853 |
| Attorney fees | $4,129 |
| Advertising/networking | $2,271 |
| Birth family counseling | $783 |
| Birth mother expenses | $4,353 |
| Foster care | $325 |
| Travel expenses | $1,940 |
| Post-placement expenses | $1,911 |
| All other expenses | $2,900 |
| AVERAGE TOTAL* | $41,532 |
The next graphic breaks down the costs newborn adoption through an attorney.
U.S. Newborn (Attorney) – Average Cost Breakdown
| Home study fee | $1,732 |
| Document preparation & authentication | $929 |
| Adoption agency application & program fees | $5,780 |
| Adoption consultant fees | $1,014 |
| Attorney fees | $13,342 |
| Advertising/networking | $1,616 |
| Birth family counseling | $621 |
| Birth mother expenses | $4,748 |
| Foster care | $105 |
| Travel expenses | $2,758 |
| Post-placement expenses | $781 |
| All other expenses | $1,168 |
| AVERAGE TOTAL* | $34,594 |
As can be seen, the average cost through an attorney is much lower than going through an adoption agency.
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Q: How Long Will My Family Have To Wait To Adopt?
A: Usually A Range Between 12-24 Months
Though, fortunately for families and children alike, most adoptions take place within the first year. Only approximately 14.5% of adoptive families have to wait longer than two years for adoption.
63% of Agency adoptions take place within 2 years, while 68% of attorney sponsored adoptions took place within a 2-year window.
Q: What is A Child’s Hope?
A: A Child’s Hope Is . . .
. . . An adoption agency operated by a former defense attorney who is, herself, an adoptive parent. A Child’s Hope was founded with the intent of helping adoptive families save time and money throughout the adoption process, bringing families together with less stress and less financial strain.
A Child’s Hope focuses on helping North Carolina families adopt within the state. This helps limit fees and travel time and helps avoid complications between state governments.
Q: What Do A Child’s Hope’s Numbers Look Like?
A: 13 Families Helped in 2015, 12 of those 13 placed within 12 months.
The average cost of adoption paid by the 13 families aided in 2015 is $35,000. This falls right on the line of the national average of attorney sponsored adoptions. With lower travel expenses and proximity allowing families to have a better understanding of the needs of the birth mother, there is much less stress or guesswork involved in the services provided by A Child’s Hope.
Since 2000, 316 families have already grown, thanks to A Child’s Hope. If you or your family is considering adopting, or if you just have questions about the adoption process, please feel free to contact A Child’s Hope here on our website/contact page or by phone at (877) 890-4673.