Adoption Washington State

You can expect many questions from your Lifetime Adoption coordinator. Your answers will help her create a personalized adoption plan for you and your baby. Some questions may be:

• Would you like to choose the adoptive parents, or have a coordinator to choose for you?
• Do you see yourself having contact with the family after the adoption is final?
• What type of contact would you like to have?
• How would you like your hospital stay to go?
• Are you open to having the adoptive parents be involved with you during your pregnancy, such as going to doctor appointments?
• As far as pregnancy-related expenses go, do you need help?

Adoption is a brave and loving choice if parenting your child is not the right thing for you and your child at this time. There are loving families that are ready and excited to grow their family through modern, open adoption. With open adoption, you are not saying goodbye to your child forever. The adoptive family will send pictures, updates, and you can even have visits. Many of our adoptive families have great relationships with their birth mothers. One of our birth mothers recently attended her son’s wedding and was welcomed with open arms.

A home study, which is required for most adoptions, is an item you will need to budget for. Your adoption coordinator will be happy to give you some referrals. Generally, home study fees range between $1,000 to $3,000. The Washington State home study involves criminal background checks, an investigation of the home environment, and interviews with the adoptive family. The costs cover the social worker’s expenses, such as time for visits, the fees for running background and financial checks, and creating the home study report.

Adoption Agency and Attorney Fees

The adoption agency and adoption attorney you hire will also impact the cost of adoption in Washington. You can choose to hire an adoption agency that will guide you along your adoption journey. An adoption agency helps families connect with birth mothers. They also screen birth parents to protect adoptive parents from any dishonest characters. An agency will also provide education and emotional support to adoptive families and provide pregnancy support and counseling for birth parents. An agency’s fees generally run between $30,000 to $60,000. Lifetime Adoption also offers some adoption financing resources and tips to help.

You will need an adoption attorney once you are matched with an expectant mother or a child. The legal costs for you and the birth mother can run between $8,000 to $15,000. You will be responsible for your legal representation and the legal representation of the birth mother.

Another expense to budget for is pregnancy-related expenses for the birth mother. Your birth mother may need help with expenses such as rent, medical, travel, and other expenses while she is pregnant and for a period after the birth. This can vary depending on what state your birth mother is located in. The average Lifetime birth mother in need of financial assistance generally receives around $5,000. Your attorney and agency will need to make sure funds are according to state law.

Generally, the total cost of domestic adoption should range from around $38,000 to $70,000.

Lower Cost Adoptions

As a lower-cost alternative, adopting from the foster care system is an option you can pursue. Visit AdoptUSKids to learn more. The costs of a foster care adoption are covered by the state. There are many children waiting in foster care to be adopted. It is important to understand that most children available to be adopted may have special needs or are older (over eight years old) in the foster care system. You will receive the required education, focusing on what to expect when adopting an older child or child with special needs.

Another option to consider is international (or intercountry) adoption, but this is generally not a lower-cost option. You will need an adoption agency that specializes in international adoption in the country of your choice, is licensed, and can demonstrate a good track record of success. International adoption will generally involve the adoption of toddlers or older children, not newborn babies. There are also risks involved in international adoption. Political and legal issues can arise, which can result in suspending or changing adoption regulations. Sadly, this has occurred with families hoping to adopt from Haiti and Ukraine. Adoptions can end up in limbo for months or years or even be canceled. In addition, the fees you pay to an agency or adoption professional may not be refunded. The costs of domestic and international adoption are very similar.