Costs of Adopting

This factsheet is designed to help prospective adoptive parents understand and anticipate the financial costs associated with different kinds of adoption. It includes information on universal expenses, that is, expenses that occur with most types of adoption, such as home study costs and court costs. It also includes information on expenses more likely to occur with public agency (foster care) adoptions, licensed private agency adoptions, independent adoptions, facilitated/unlicensed adoptions, and intercountry adoptions. Information on tax credits, subsidies, and other resources for adoptive parents also is included.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Universal Expenses

Adoption-Specific Expenses

Resources to Help Defray Adoption Costs

Additional Resources

We also recommend the following Information Gateway publications:

• Adoption Assistance for Children Adopted From Foster Care
  (Factsheets for Families)
• Employer-Provided Adoption Benefits
  (Factsheets for Families)
• Foster Parents Considering Adoption
  (Factsheets for Families)