Open Adoption in Texas

• Would you like to choose the adoptive parents or have a coordinator choose for you?
• What type of contact would you like with the family after the adoption is final?
• How would you like your hospital stay to go when you deliver the baby at the hospital?
• Would you like the adoptive parents to go to doctor’s appointments with you?
• Do you need help with pregnancy-related expenses?

If you don’t feel parenting your child is the right thing for you and your baby, placing your child for adoption is a loving and brave choice. There is a loving family that is ready and excited to grow their family through adoption. Now, with open adoption, that does not have to mean saying goodbye to your child forever. You can receive updates, pictures, and even visits. Many of our birth mothers have great relationships with the adoptive families. Recently, one of our birth mothers was getting married, and she asked for her daughter to be there. Not only was her daughter there, but the adoptive parents were there, and the adoptive father actually walked her down the aisle.

For example, every adopting family must complete a home study. The average cost is $2,000 to $4,000, and the provider sets the cost. A Texas home study costs will include background checks, required adoption education, and the social worker’s travel/mileage expenses for the trips she makes to your home.

In Texas, most families hire an adoption agency to guide them on their adoption journey. An adoption agency will help hopeful adoptive parents find potential adoption opportunities. Part of that assistance includes screening incoming opportunities to protect adoptive couples from scams. Your adoption agency will also provide pregnancy support and counseling to birth parents as well as information and support to you. The average costs to employ an adoption agency are generally about $25,000 to $50,000.

Legal Services

An additional cost will be legal services once you are matched with an expectant mother or a child. You will need to have legal representation for yourselves as well as for the birth parents. Expect these costs to range from around $8,000 to $15,000. This number could be higher depending on many factors, such as state requirements or certain legal requirements unique to your adoption.

In some situations, a birth mother may need help with pregnancy-related expenses. These pregnancy-related expenses include assistance for items like medical co-pays, utility bills, maternity clothing, groceries, and transportation to and from their doctor’s office for prenatal visits. On average, at Lifetime Adoption, birth mothers in need of financial expenses generally receive around $5,000. Your attorney and agency will work with you to determine what is allowed and how the expenses are paid. It is important to have a budget for these potential expenses in mind. The average cost of adoption in Texas is generally about $38,000 to $70,000.

Foster Care

If these costs do not fit your budget, the foster system or AdoptUSKids is a lower-cost option. Many children are waiting to be adopted in the foster system; in these cases, the state covers the adoption costs. Additionally, kids in need of families in the foster system are typically older (over eight years old) or may have special needs. Adoptive families are required to participate in parenting education that focuses on what to expect when adopting an older child or child with special needs. When you are hoping to adopt a newborn, toddler, or child under five years old, this can be difficult to find through the foster care system.

An additional option is international (or inter-country) adoption. Consult with an adoption agency specializing in international adoption and licensed in your chosen country. You will want to research what countries currently allow international adoption and their rules. As is the case of foster adoption, this is generally not an option if you are hoping to adopt a newborn baby. There are several risks involved in international adoption, such as a country changing its adoption laws or closing prior to the completion of your adoption. This was the case for many families hoping to adopt from Haiti and Ukraine. When this happens, your adoption may end up in limbo for months or years, and the adoption fees you paid may not be refunded. The cost for domestic and international adoption is about the same.

If you have more specific questions about the cost of adoption in Texas or financing an adoption, please don’t hesitate to call or text us at 727-493-0933 or fill out this short form.