There are more services and expenses involved in the adoption process than many initially realize. Below is an itemized list of possible private adoption costs in domestic adoptions. The list below may help you understand the services and costs of private adoption.

Please note: The list neither includes all potential costs, nor means that all list items will be necessary for every adoption.

• Professional Services for Adoptive Parents
  • Counseling and educational preparation for adopting a child
  • Home study
  • Post-placement supervision
  • Orientation meetings
  • Case management services

• Professional Services for Birth Parents
  • Adoption counseling
  • Post-placement counseling
  • Case management services
  • Picture and letter correspondence

• Birth Parent Expenses
  • Prenatal medical care
  • Delivery and hospital costs
  • Living expenses provided during pregnancy/after care: housing, transportation, food and essentials and maternity clothing

• Newborn Care and Services
  • Hospital costs
  • Original birth certificates
  • Physical examinations by a pediatrician
  • Foster care prior to match with adoptive parents

• Legal Expenses
  • Termination of parental rights, including publications, court costs, attorney fees
  • Finalization of adoption
  • Legal counsel
  • Court reporting services

• Investigative Expenses
  • State and local background screenings
  • State abuse registry clearances
  • Diligent search for birth fathers

• Advertising and Printed Materials
  • Yellow page ads
  • Brochures
  • Newspaper ads
  • Marketing packets
  • Web site maintenance

• Office Expenses
  • Rent
  • Phones
  • Supplies
  • Postage
  • Utilities

• Accounting expenses

• Salaries and Employee Benefits
  • Health insurance
  • Mileage reimbursement
  • Overtime compensation

• General Insurance

If you’re wondering why private adoption is more expensive than state adoption, it’s important to understand that both types of adoption require similar services but have different sources of funds. State adoptions are government subsidized, which means that taxpayer dollars pay for the services instead of individuals. To learn more about state adoptions, read State Adoption Costs.

Costs for international adoptions are similar to the fees listed above. However, additional costs include operation maintenance in each country, more extensive travel costs, visas and passports. International agencies also vary in costs of birth mother expenses listed above because those costs typically do not apply.

At American Adoptions, adoptive families set their own Match Budget, which goes toward medical, legal and living expenses for the adoption. To learn more about the adoption costs, read the Costs of Adopting or speak with an Adoption Specialist at 1-800-ADOPTION.