Adoption Cost Calculator By Type
Adoption costs vary 20x by type: $0-$2,500 foster care adoption, $25,000-$45,000 domestic infant, $35,000-$70,000 international. Calculate total cost including home study, agency fees, legal fees, and tax credits.
Domestic Infant Adoption Costs
Private domestic infant adoptions through agencies run $25,000-$45,000. Costs include: agency fees ($10-$25K), home study ($1.5-$3K), birth mother medical/legal expenses ($5-$15K depending on state), attorney fees ($3-$8K), and post-placement supervision ($1-$3K). Process typically takes 1-2 years from application to placement.
International Adoption Costs
International adoption costs $35,000-$70,000 depending on country. The Hague Convention countries (Bulgaria, China, Poland, South Korea) follow standardized processes. Costs include: country program fee ($15-$30K), USCIS petitions ($1.6K), home study, in-country travel (2-3 weeks, $5-$10K), legal/translation fees, and post-adoption reports. Wait times 2-5 years.
Foster Care Adoption (Nearly Free)
Foster care adoption typically costs $0-$2,500 (legal fees) and may include adoption subsidies ($300-$1,000/month per child until age 18) plus Medicaid coverage. Special needs and sibling group adoptions get additional federal/state support. Process takes 6-18 months but requires foster certification first (3-9 months).
Source: Adoption.com industry data, US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs, Child Welfare Information Gateway, IRS Form 8839 adoption credit. Last updated: May 2026.