Comparing Costs at Adoption Agencies
Any effort to compare costs at adoption agencies will require some legwork. There is no apparent one-size-fits-all Web site to compare adoption agency costs among the estimated 1,700 agencies in the United States. Regulations vary widely among states, and adoptive parents vary widely in their desires.
No-Cost Adoptions
One fact is for certain, however: If you want to adopt, you can afford to do so, as long as you can support the cost of providing for the child. An adoption itself can literally cost nothing. On the other hand, if you want a certain type of child or a child of a certain nationality, you could be looking at $40,000 or even more.
The source for the "no up-front cost" adoption is the foster care system. There are shortages of both foster parents and adoptive parents across the United States. Therefore, there are incentives for adoption, most recently enhanced through a federal law, which is wordily entitled the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008.
In this scenario, you still have the final say-so in choosing the child you adopt.
Ways to Compare Costs
The Web site Adoption.com offers a wide range of advice geared not so much to cost comparisons among agencies but cost options based on the type of adoption. An adoption from foster care is pegged at between $0 to no more than $2,500. A licensed private agency may charge as little as $5,000 for a domestic adoption, but a typical package is in the $15,000 range. An international adoption normally costs between $20,000 and $30,000.
Regardless of costs, adoptive parents should beware of any adoption agency that requires a large sum of up-front payments. The starting point should amount to no more than an application fee. Remember, always, that it's a buyers' market, and you are in charge.
Adoption Agencies Articles, Videos & HowTos
For you, adopting a child is an emotional process. For a child adoption agency, it's simply a business. Shop around and ask questions to choose an adoption agency that will provide the knowhow and service that you need to make the process as smooth as possible.
While most adoption agencies are legitimate, caring companies, there are still pitfalls to avoid. Since there's no guarantee that an agency will be able to place a child with you, a ripe environment exits for scam artists.
Adoption agency costs make up the bulk of the expenses involved in adopting a child privately.
What services does your adoption agency provide? The basic adoption services do not vary much from agency to agency, but some agencies go above and beyond to help you and the child better adapt to the adoption process.
You will absolutely require the assistance of an adoption attorney in some cases, such as in private adoptions not involving a licensed adoption agency. In other cases, the decision of whether (and when) to hire an adoption attorney should be made based on your needs.
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