Sunday, May 13, 2012

Why does adoption cost so much?

So, for all of you out there wondering why in the world we would anticipating between $15,000-$30,000 in adoption costs, here is a breakdown of where all of that money goes to.

First you have adoption from the foster care system which costs between $0-$2500. This is least expensive form of adoption and we are not opposed to this option. However, please put yourself in our shoes. You spend 3 1/2 years trying to get pregnant, you spend thousands of dollars to result in 2 failed embryo transfers. Then imagine risking fostering a child that you fall in love with, desire to adopt and then ultimately watch that child be returned to parents who may or may not be in the best interest of that child.

Then you have domestic adoption which can range from $5,000-$40,000. International adoption ranges from $7,000-$30,000. Both are contingent on whether you use an agency or not, and what the variables of travel fees, legal fees, etc. Here is a more detailed breakdown of all of the individual costs. Some of these costs vary and there are other costs that are not listed here, this is simply an example of an adoption budget. This is a chart that we borrowed from: http://www.theadoptionguide.com/tools/planner/budgets.php

Please note: We are not planning on adopting from Russia or China, this is just an example. Also, at this point we are looking into an independent adoption from Ghana which would eliminate program fees and application fees, but would still run between $15,000-$19,000. In addition it looks as though this will be the final year for the tax credit and the likelihood of us adopting before the end of the year is unlikely at this point.

One last point that I forgot to put in my original typing of this post is that the average birth in an American hospital without insurance, costs between $9,000-$25,000. This means that the cost of adoption is comparable and at times even less expensive than a hospital delivery.

ChinaRussiaIndependent
domestic
infant		Agency domestic infantFost- adopt2
Preparation

Homestudy

$1,000-
$3,000		$1,000-$3,000$1,000-$2,000$1,000-$2,000$0-$500

Documentation Authentication

$1,000-
$3,000		$1,000-$3,000$500-$1,000$800-$1,200-

I-600 Visa Application

$500-
$600		$500-$600---

Postage/
Telephone

$200-
$500		$200-$500$200-$500$200-$500-
Adoption

Application
Fee

$150-
$600		$150-$600-$100-$600-

Program Fee

$5,000-
$10,0002		$15,000-
$25,000		-$5,000
-$15,000		-

Child's
Passport/
Visa

$300-
$400		$300-$500---

Child's
medical
exams

$100-
$200		$300-$600---

Gifts

$100-
$200		$100-$200---

Foreign Fees

$2,000----

Orphanage
Donation

$5,000----

Post
Placement
Reports 1

$300-
$500		$400-$2,000$400-$1,000--

Attorney
Fees

--$5,000-
$15,000		$1,000-
$6,000		$0-$1,000

Advertising/
Networking

--$0-$5,000--

Birth Family
Counseling

--$500-$2,500$700-$2,500-

Birthmother
Expenses

--$0-$6,000$0-$5,000-

Foster Care

--$0-$2,000$0-$2,000-
Travel

Airfare

$5,000-
$15,000		$15,000-$25,000$0-$5,000$0-$3,000$0-$2,000
Average Cost
(before tax credit)		$20-
$40,000		$40-
$60,000		$20-
$35,000		$20-
$40,000		$0-
$3,500
Tax Credit3

Maximum Credit

$12,650
per final		$12,650
per final		$12,650
per attempt		$12,650
per attempt		$12,650

All budgets

1. May be included in program fee or homestudy fee.
2. Costs of adopting a child from foster care may be eligible for reimbursement (up to $2,000) by the child's state, depending on state regulations. Also, adoptions of U.S. children with special needs are eligible for the federal tax credit, regardless of actual expenses.
3. Subject to income limitations.


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