In the U.S., costs of a private adoption can vary anywhere from $5,000 to $70,000 and are based on factors such as legal fees, home studies, agency fees, and birth parent support. The breakdown of adoption costs usually look something like this:
| Cost Category | What This Covers | Approx. % of Total Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Birth Parent Support & Expenses | Pregnancy-related living expenses, medical care not covered by insurance, counseling, and case management support for expectant parents. | 30–45% |
| Agency Services & Case Management | Matching services, adoptive family education, coordination, ethical oversight, and ongoing support for all parties. | 20–30% |
| Legal & Compliance Fees | Adoption attorneys for adoptive and birth parents, termination of parental rights, court filings, and adoption finalization. | 10–15% |
| Home Study & Education |
Home study preparation, background checks, required training, and post-placement supervision. |
5–10% |
| Marketing & Outreach | Outreach to expectant parents, online profiles, advertising, and educational resources. | 3–7% |
| Administrative & Program Costs |
Staffing, licensing, technology, compliance, and operational expenses supporting ethical adoption practices. |
3–5% |
| Post-Placement Support |
Follow-up visits, counseling, open adoption communication support, and final reporting. |
2–5% |
Transparency Note: Adoption fees do not pay for a child.
They support ethical services, legal protections, and care for everyone involved
throughout the adoption process.
Thankfully, there are things you can do to both increase your own personal budget, as well as ways to cover your adoption expenses.
Budgeting for Adoption
Keep track of your expenses for three months. Determine what costs you can cut or reduce, then do it. Even seemingly minor cuts and reductions add up quickly. You can save money by:
- Eating at home instead of dining out
- Use coupons or cash back plans for things you buy
- Cancel your unused subscriptions
- Reduce household living expenses
- Consolidate your debt
- Switch to cash only
- Lower your TV and phone bill through special offers or discounts companies offer to new customers
Take notes on the varying types of adoption and their costs. Determine what a realistic figure is. A good place to start is the Lifetime website, which details many of the items you should include in your budget.
Financial Assistance Options for Adoption
Adoption financing is available to help with the cost of adoption for almost all families. And in some circumstances, Lifetime Adoption provides adoption grants. These grants help families with adoption expenses in order to find loving homes for children. There are many other ways to help pay for adoption as well, such as:
- Government subsidies
- Employer assistance programs
- Crowdfunding
- Loans
- Tax credits
- Military adoption benefits
- Adoption grants
- Adoption financial assistance from your state
Adoption Subsidy
If you’re planning to adopt a child with special needs, you might be eligible for an adoption subsidy. An adoption subsidy ensures the costs of caring for your special needs child aren’t a burden for you. In short, an adoption subsidy serves as a crucial support in ensuring a stable and permanent home for an adopted child.
These subsidies are generally available to children who are adopted from foster care, as well as those with special needs who are adopted privately. The benefits typically extend until the child reaches adulthood, providing a significant level of financial and emotional support.
Many wonder who is eligible for an adoption subsidy. According to the National Council for Adoption (NCFA), “Eligibility for adoption subsidies is based on specific criteria, not on type of adoption. While there are small differences between the states, the biggest components of eligibility determination are the same nationwide.”
To have a better understanding of the benefits and entitlements available for the child you want to adopt, research the benefits specific to your state and county. Since there is significant variability in benefits between different places, reach out to other adoptive parents in your area and connect with advocates for your state. Other adoptive parents can be a valuable resource as they have already gone through the process and utilized many of the available services.
Talk to an adoption professional or a social worker to learn about how much it costs to adopt a child with special needs and the possibility you have to receive an adoption subsidy from the government.
Employer-Sponsored Adoption Benefits
An employer-sponsored adoption benefits plan gives employees financial assistance for their adoption or reimburses them for adoption-related expenses. Plus, it provides for paid or unpaid leave for the adoptive parent.
The best way to learn about employer adoption benefits in your workplace is to speak with somebody in Human Resources. You may discover that your workplace has more benefits than you initially thought. These benefits can make adoption much more manageable for a family with limited resources!
Crowdfunding
With today’s crowdfunding websites, many adoptive families have gotten creative in raising funds for their adoption expenses. In fact, crowdfunding has been termed “the future of adoption” because it provides wide avenues for seeking funding assistance, enabling more parents than ever to pursue adoption.
Crowdfunding (or peer-to-peer fundraising) is done by asking for contributions from a large group of people, such as your friends, neighbors, family members, co-workers, or your online community. You don’t have to be incredibly tech-savvy to use this tool.
Websites such as Plumfund are perfect for families who want to raise funds without directly asking for donations from their personal network.
Adoptive families also use GoFundMe to raise money for their adoption expenses. This method can generate a good income for prospective adoptive families.
Be careful you don’t share personal details about your child’s life. For instance, it’s not wise to ask for financial aid for adoption expenses based on trauma or loss the child has experienced.
Before jumping on a crowdfunding platform, think about how you will express your needs. What shouldn’t you share on crowdfunding sites? Here are a few items not to share:
- The adoption agency you’re working with
- Addresses
- Your child’s names
- Birth parent’s names
- Hospital where your child will be born
- Dates of birth
Adoption Loans
How much does it cost to adopt a child? Enough money that you may want to take out a loan.
Adoption loans have grown in popularity as a way to offset the cost of adopting. Even if you’re in a good place financially, you may still want to borrow money to pay for your adoption expenses. You may wish to pursue different types of loans to afford your adoption. This article shares how you can do that: How to Use a Loan to Pay for your Adoption Expenses.
Adoption Tax Credit
Whether you’re just starting to look into adoption, are waiting to adopt, or have recently adopted, it’s wise to learn about the Adoption Tax Credit. That way, after your adoption is finalized, you’ll be able to make the most of the tax credit!
Talk with your tax professional before applying because there are some qualifications you must meet to be eligible for the Adoption Tax Credit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average adoption cost in the U.S.?
In the U.S., the cost of private adoption typically ranges from $5,000 to $70,000, depending on several factors. Adoption expenses may include legal services, home study preparation, agency fees, and birth parent support. The total cost of adoption is influenced by the type of adoption, state regulations, and the services required throughout the process.
Are there ways to reduce adoption expenses?
Yes, many of the financial assistance programs discussed above, such as loans, subsidies, tax credits, and crowdfunding can help families reduce the overall adoption expenses.
Does health insurance cover birth parent expenses?
In some cases, yes. Health insurance may cover certain birth parent medical expenses related to pregnancy and delivery, depending on the birth parent’s insurance coverage, the services provided, and state adoption laws. Many birth parents qualify for Medicaid, which often covers most prenatal, labor, and delivery costs. When expenses are not fully covered by insurance, adoptive families may be responsible for expenses, depending on their state’s law.
What financial assistance is available?
Adoption financing is available to help make the cost of adoption manageable for most families. Lifetime Adoption offers guidance on a wide range of financial options, and even offers a finance coach to help with your options in offsetting adoption-related expenses.
Families may be eligible for one or more of the following adoption financial assistance options:
- Federal and state adoption subsidies
- Employer-provided adoption assistance programs
- Crowdfunding and fundraising for adoption
- Adoption-specific loans
- Federal adoption tax credits
- Military adoption benefits
- State adoption financial assistance programs
Adoption is not without cost, but it does not have to be unaffordable. There are now more ways than ever to fund your adoption efforts and begin building the family you’ve always hoped for.
Many hopeful adoptive parents seek financial assistance and hold fundraisers to help defray their adoption fees. And there are countless ways to contribute to your adoption fund, including adoption loans, the adoption tax credit, crowdfunding, employer-sponsored adoption benefits, and the adoption subsidy.
It will take some creativity and determination on your part, but you can do it. Whether you choose to set up a crowdfunding site, take out a loan or get financial help from your employer, it’s possible to pay for your adoption costs so you can bring home your sweet child to your family.
If you’re interested in adoption and want to talk about how to get started, please get in touch with Lifetime Adoption. We have years of experience helping hopeful parents add a sweet child to their family.
Our adoption professionals are ready to answer the question, “How much does it cost to adopt a child?”, and any other questions you may have related to adoption expenses.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on October 27, 2014, and has since been updated.
Founder of Lifetime Adoption, adoptive mom, adoption expert, and Certified Open Adoption Practitioner (C.O.A.P).
Since 1986, adoption expert Mardie Caldwell has been dedicated to bringing couples and birth parents together in order to fulfill their dreams.
“Many years ago, I was also searching for a child to adopt. We didn’t know where or how to get started. Through research, determination, and a prayer, our dream of a family became reality. I started with a plan, a notebook, assistance from a caring adoption consultant and a lot of hard work; this was my family I was building. We had a few heartaches along the way, but the pain of not having children was worse!
Within weeks we had three different birth mothers choose us. We were overwhelmed and delighted. Many unsettling events would take place before our adoption would be finalized, many months later. Little did I know that God was training and aligning me for the adoption work I now do today. It is my goal to share with our families the methods and plans which succeed and do not succeed. I believe adoption should be affordable and can be a wonderful “pregnancy” for the adoptive couple.
I have also been on both sides of infertility with the loss of seven pregnancies and then conceiving by new technology, giving birth to a healthy daughter. I have experienced first-hand the emotional pain of infertility and believe my experience allows me to serve your needs better.
It is my hope that for you, the prospective parents, your desire for a child will be fulfilled soon.”
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