The Costs of Adopting

Many couples are often overwhelmed by the cost when they begin looking into adoption. There are many factors that contribute to the cost of an adoption, including the cost of the necessary legal work, advertising fees, travel expenses, etc.

Both domestic and international adoption have their own unique costs. For example, couples adopting domestically will not have to worry about the cost of a visa, which couples adopting internationally much budget for. Likewise, couples adopting domestically may be asked to provide living expenses for the expectant mother, such as help with rent or utility payments, an expense that is not typically seen in international adoptions.

All adoption professionals have different fee structures and different fees at risk, making comparisons challenging. As a result it is important to carefully and thoroughly understand the risks assosciated with each professional, so it is important to explore the different types of adoption professionals. International adoptions vary according to country, travel expenses, and the quality of services provided by your adoption professional.

A common question asked by many adoptive clients is, "Should I pick a program that is less expensive than other programs?" Adoption comes down to quality of service, cost, safety, and time. For an adoption professional to be able to charge less, they must sacrifice either safety, service, or lengthen their waiting times. The question becomes how will those cuts affect the process for their clients. Unfortunately not every adoption professional is regulated and therefore their fee estimates can not be accurately verified and their quality of services is not monitored by an outside independent government body. This makes their time estimates and quality of service impossible to verify. On the other hand, professionals who are properly regulated must maintain adherences with state laws and regulations. While government regulation helps with safety, the government does not track waiting times, therefore you must do your own research to verify waiting time accuracy.

stories from families who have adopted through American Adoptions

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Beyond Infertility

Standing vis-à-vis with the reality of infertility, even after following through with the myriad treatment possibilities, often proves to be among the most trying times couples will ever experience, many say.

Processing through the reality of infertility – from learning the news to pursuing treatment and beyond – is a physically and emotionally taxing experience. However, while these couples often feel like the world is packed full of glowing, pregnant women, the reality is that infertility is very common. In fact, of all reproductive-age couples in the United States, approximately 10 percent experience infertility.

People choose adoption for a variety of reasons, but it is estimated that between 11 and 24 percent of couples who choose adoption do so after exhausting infertility treatment options.

But when the decision is made to pursue adoption, it should be just that: a decision that is made to pursue adoption, following emotional closure from hopes of conceiving biologically.

Psychologist Dr. Janice Sidelnik explains why:

“This is how closure can take place – it’s like crossing a bridge,” she says. “Crossing the bridge is much easier with this acceptance, even though our prior history will always be an important part of our lives, the next stage is much healthier once those conflicts, including the disappointment many couples feel with infertility treatments, with those all closed up.”

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American Adoptions -- America's Adoption Agency

The Costs of Adopting

Beyond Infertility