U.S. Domestic Adoption Costs

The figures listed below are general ranges. Differences may be found depending on:

• Type of adoption,
• Area of the United States where the adoption occurs,
• Whether or not the adoption agency charges a sliding-scale fee based on family income,
• The country of origin of a foreign-born child,
• Amount of State or Federal adoption subsidy available for a child with special needs,
• Federal or State tax credits available for reimbursement of adoption expenses,

• Employer adoption benefits,
• State reimbursement for non-recurring adoption expenses for a child with special needs.

Adoption Agency Fees​

Listed with the lowest and highest price ranges that can be expected.

• Application fee: Low - $100 High - $500
• Adoption home study and preparation services: Low - $700 High - $2,500
• Post-placement supervision: Low - $200 High - $1,500
• Adoptive Parent physical (each parent): Low - $35 High - $150
• Psychiatric evaluation(each parent; if required): Low - $250 High - $400

Attorney fees

• Document preparation: Low - $500 High - $2,000
• Petition & court representation to finalize placement: Low - $2,500 High -$12,000
• Advertising: Low - $500 High - $5,000

Birth parent expenses​

Note: Amount and type of expenses allowable for payment usually restricted by state law and subject to review by the court.

• Medical expenses (prenatal, birth/delivery, postnatal for mother; perinatal care for child): Low - $0 (insurance) High - $10,000 - $20,000 (depending on difficulty of the delivery, etc.)

• Living expenses (rent, food, clothing, transportation, etc): Low - $500 High - $12,000
• Legal representation: Low - $500 High - $1,500
• Counseling: Low - $500 High - $2,000

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_{Source: ​Child Welfare Information Gateway}