Cost of Adoption UpdateA comparison of costs for domestic and international adoptions in 2007 and 2008, the cost of adoption uncertainties, and more.
How much did adoptions cost in 2007 and 2008? More than 1,000 AF readers completed our survey on the cost of adoption—thanks to everyone for their valuable input!
Here's a breakdown of the total cost of adoption, before adoption-related employee benefits or tax credits:
- Domestic adoptions, on average, cost less than international adoptions.
- For most adopters, the average total expenses were about $25,000 to $30,000.
Financial uncertainties of adoption
DOMESTIC ADOPTERS:
29% of domestic adoptive parents had a false start before adopting successfully. Of those, 71% say unsuccessful attempts cost the family less than $5,000.
INTERNATIONAL ADOPTERS:
16% of international adoptive parents had one or more unsuccessful attempts, which might include switching countries or declining a referral. Of those, 66% say unsuccessful attempts cost less than $5,000.
Travel costs helped push up the totals for international adoptions. Russia and Guatemala were again the most expensive of the top five sending countries.
Readers share fundraising and cost-cutting tips
We asked AF readers who recently adopted, or are in the process, for their best strategies on cost-cutting and creative funding:
Creative Funding Strategies
"As soon as our first adoption was finalized, we began saving for our second. We're currently waiting, and we hope to have saved most of the money we'll need by the time we get our referral." --Sandi and C.J. van Everdingen
"I'm using a home equity line of credit, which I will pay off as soon as I get my Adoption Tax Credit next year." --Kim
"Since I'm going to be a single mom, my parents decided to give me my 'wedding fund.' They figured if this is the man (if it's a boy) I want to spend the rest of my life with, it fits the need..." --Julie Schneider
"We sent a letter to friends and family, and received many generous donations." --Tim and Natalie Gibson
"In the past, I sold scrapbooking and card-making supplies. For this adoption, I'm raising funds by embroidering bibs, burp rags, and bags." --Julie Richter
"We applied for and received a low-interest loan from the National Adoption Foundation (which we'll pay off with the adoption credit), and we deposited any rebates, bonuses, or monetary gifts into a separate savings account. It also helped that our homestudy and other fees were on a sliding scale." --Erin Armstrong
"We held a fundraiser called 'Bottles of Love.' We decorated baby bottles, placed a small note in each one explaining that we were adopting and any donations would be appreciated, and displayed them at local businesses. It was a fun way to involve the community." --Dean and Traci Torgerson
Cost-Cutting Tips
"We used lastminute.com for our trips to meet the birth family, as well as several car rental discount websites. We cashed in American Express miles and Marriott points for airfare and hotels. We also chose suite hotels, where breakfast was included or discounted, and packed lunch and snacks to take on the flights." --Lisa Gillies
"It came in handy that we have a friend who's a notary!" --The Raby Family
"We were able to stay with relatives while waiting for the ICPC to go through." --Mary Beth Bochner
"Eating out less often, packing our lunches, and borrowing DVDs from the library, instead of renting or buying them, amounted to $500 a month in savings. We also found our birthmother via word of mouth, rather than advertising, and that saved a ton." --Regina Brown
"We traveled to Russia on Lufthansa, because they offer a discount adoption rate." --Debbie Blicher
"We penny-pinched on everything. I became an avid coupon clipper, and saved close to $40 per supermarket trip!" --Kim Nyenhuis
"When we visited the birthmother, we stayed in hotels that offered free breakfasts (and had microwaves in the rooms for heating up meals from the grocery store). Many hotels offer adoption discounts if you'll be staying a long time. We recommend asking for discounts in person." --Debbie and Jim
"My husband went to China while I stayed home with our five-year-old. The best part of this arrangement is the special bond my daughter has with her father. It's a beautiful thing to see." --Cindy McDonnell
"We stopped adding to our retirement account for a year." --Dawn
"You'd be surprised at how many great items (many with the tags still on them) you can find at garage sales. We shopped them for toys and clothing for our child and for donations to the orphanage." --Loren Gifford-Skizim
"We adopted through foster care, and it didn't cost us a dime! I know this route isn't for everyone, but more people should consider it. Adoption does not have to be expensive. Thousands of children (and, yes, some are healthy infants), are waiting all around this country." --Kim Blackford
"We represented ourselves in court. Honestly, if you can successfully complete the mounds of paperwork that lead up to a baby being placed in your arms, completing the finalization paperwork is a piece of cake (in New Jersey, at least)!"
--Robyn Shumer
"We did it the old-fashioned way. We lived on one income, and put the other salary straight to the adoption. We also used our credit card on most purchases, to earn skymiles." --Samantha Harris
Find more reader tips for savvy traveling at adoptivefamilies.com/travel. Back To Home Page ©2013 Adoptive Families. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. | 
Comments
I wish these articles and graphs would include the costs (and financial benefits) of foster-adoption side-by-side with domestic and international. A lot of people don't even consider foster adoption because they conflate it with domestic and think they cannot afford it.
Posted by: Nora at 9:20am Jul 7
I borrowed from my tax shelter. Many have very low interest rates and you are really borrowing from yourself.
Posted by: Kathy Doramus at 12:34pm Oct 6
I agree with Nora. We did not pay any expenses out of pocket for our adoption. We continue to receive a monthly stipend to help care for our child and he will carry his Medicaid (which we use for prescriptions and secondary insurance for Dr. appts.) until he is 18.
Posted by: Allison Thomas at 8:16am Oct 7
I agree with Nora and Allison. We provide subscriptions of this magazine to our new adoptive families that adopted children from foster care and I would enjoy seeing their families included in articles such as these. The training is free, the home study is free, and families are reimbursed (usually up to $1000) for finalization expenses. And as Allison mentioned, there is usually a subsidy provided for the child based on certain needs.
Posted by: Jennifer Lombardo at 10:30am Oct 9
I agree with the posts about foster adoption, and want to offer yet another great benefit: pre-adoption and post adoption support. We had fantastic training before adopting through the foster-adopt program in Washington State. We still get announcements about trainings. Our child will also have medical, dental and vision care paid for until she is 18 years old. I feel for parents who do private adoption, go into debt to create a family and then have so little training and support. PS. Our daugher, age 3.5 years is wonderful. We feel so blessed to be her parents.
Posted by: Sandy at 10:11pm Oct 11
I have looked into foster care adoption but all the children in our area come up as "needs a family with no other children due to emotional needs" or the children are much older. I would love to see an article on how others have navigated this process, especially if you have another adopted child. Our son, now 7, was adopted as a special needs child from China at age 4 and a half. He would not understand if a child was in our home temporarily and might not be part of our "forever" family. Am I wrong in assuming that there are no guarantees that a child adopted through the foster care system will be "permanent" with no chance of parents coming back to try to take the child back?
Posted by: Angela at 8:48pm Oct 12
Angela: A family can choose to adopt one of the many children from the foster care system whose biological parents' rights have already been permanently terminated. For these children, the parents will not be able to take the child back, because they have absolutely no rights to the child. If a family chooses to be a foster-adopt family and foster a child whose parents' rights have not been terminated, then the family must be prepared for the child to reunify with their biological parents (and must be willing to support the parents' reunification efforts). Many times, though, the family is eventually able to adopt the child because the parents ultimately have their rights terminated. From my experience working in the system, being a foster-adopt family makes it more likely you will have the opportunity to adopt a younger child you have cared for since he or she was a baby or toddler. However, there is always the chance the biological parents will improve themselves and be able to get the child back (which is hopefully a good thing and something you can support).
Posted by: Megan at 11:51am Jun 25
To clarify, once a family has adopted a child, that means that the biological parents' rights have already been terminated, so the biological parents cannot get the child back. The adoptive family is the forever family for that child. So to answer your question more succinctly, Angela, there IS a guarantee that once you have a adopted a child, there is no possibility that the parents will be able to take the child back.
Posted by: Megan Wintermantel at 11:55am Jun 25
Ajowikiy tihovojiy qaneho epivahi ade emafufo mefaz bali mojo faq orojoluqex onog aced wazojihan orow. Wub dakugu ajakehalu yonupeg zew qidazifoj uzilozu res edagoqejes, yaporek daw.
Posted by: Darrin at 1:20am Oct 3
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