Adoption Guide

Adoption is a beautiful, complex, and deeply personal path to parenthood. We break down the real costs, timelines, and trade-offs for every type — so you can make an informed decision.

Domestic

$25,000 – $60,000

1–5 years (average 2–3 years)

Adopting a newborn within the United States

Learn more →

Foster Care

Up to $3,000

6 months – 2 years

Adopting a child from the public child welfare system

Learn more →

International

$30,000 – $60,000

2–5 years

Adopting a child from another country

Learn more →

At a glance

CategoryDomesticFoster CareInternational
Total cost$25,000 – $60,000Up to $3,000$30,000 – $60,000
Timeline1–5 years (average 2–3 years)6 months – 2 years2–5 years
Child's ageNewbornTypically 1–17 yearsTypically 1–10 years
Travel requiredPossibly interstateLocal/regionalInternational (1–2 trips)
Tax credit eligibleYesYesYes

Understanding adoption costs

Adoption costs vary more than almost any other family-building path. Foster care adoption can be essentially free, while domestic infant and international adoptions can cost as much as or more than IVF. Understanding where the money goes — and what financial assistance is available — is critical.

The federal adoption tax credit (up to $16,810 per child in 2025) can significantly offset costs for all adoption types. Many employers also offer adoption benefits, and several grant programs exist specifically for adoptive families.

Costs can also vary by state. Some states subsidize foster care adoptions more generously than others, home study fees differ by provider, and birth parent expense laws vary — in some states, adoptive parents can pay living expenses for birth mothers; in others, this is prohibited or capped.

Domestic1–5 years (average 2–3 years)

Domestic Infant Adoption

Domestic infant adoption involves adopting a newborn or very young child placed by their birth parent(s) within the United States. This can be done through a licensed adoption agency or independently through an adoption attorney. Most domestic infant adoptions today are open or semi-open, meaning some level of ongoing contact between the birth and adoptive families is maintained.

Total estimated cost

$25,000 – $60,000

Advantages

  • You typically adopt a newborn or very young infant
  • Open adoption allows ongoing connection with the birth family
  • Extensive support from adoption agencies throughout the process
  • The adoption tax credit can offset a significant portion of costs

Considerations

  • Wait times can be long and unpredictable (1–5+ years)
  • Costs are among the highest of adoption types ($25k–$60k)
  • Birth parents may change their mind before placement (disruption risk)
  • The process can be emotionally demanding due to uncertainty
Full cost breakdown, resources & details
Foster Care6 months – 2 years

Foster Care Adoption

Foster care adoption involves adopting a child who is in the state's foster care system and whose birth parents' rights have been terminated. There are approximately 113,000 children in foster care in the US waiting to be adopted. Foster care adoption is the most affordable path to adoption — in many cases essentially free — as the state covers most costs and provides ongoing support.

Total estimated cost

Up to $3,000

Advantages

  • Little to no cost — the state covers most expenses
  • Adoption subsidies and Medicaid may continue after finalization
  • You are providing a permanent home for a child who needs one
  • Shorter wait times than domestic infant adoption for many families

Considerations

  • Children may have experienced trauma, neglect, or abuse
  • Reunification with birth parents is the first goal — adoption is secondary
  • The child's age is typically older (average age ~8 years old)
  • Sibling groups may need to be kept together
Full cost breakdown, resources & details
International2–5 years

International Adoption

International adoption involves adopting a child from another country and bringing them to the US to live permanently. The process is governed by the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption (for member countries) or the orphan process (for non-Hague countries). International adoption has declined significantly since its peak in 2004 due to tighter regulations, but remains a viable path for families open to adopting older children or children with special needs.

Total estimated cost

$30,000 – $60,000

Advantages

  • Provides a home for a child without one in their country of origin
  • Timeline may be more predictable than domestic infant adoption for some countries
  • Less risk of birth parent disruption after referral
  • Children from some programs may be younger (1–3 years old)

Considerations

  • Among the most expensive adoption paths ($30k–$60k+)
  • Extensive international travel required (often two trips)
  • Longer and less predictable timelines due to foreign government processes
  • Many countries have closed or restricted their programs in recent years
Full cost breakdown, resources & details

Considering IVF as well?

Many families explore both IVF and adoption simultaneously or sequentially. Our IVF cost calculator gives you transparent, state-level pricing with add-ons and multi-cycle success rates — so you can compare paths with real numbers.

IVF Cost CalculatorIVF Insurance by State

Community Discussion

Share your experience or thoughts — all comments are reviewed before publishing.

Jamie R.

We adopted our daughter through foster care three years ago, and it was the most challenging and rewarding experience of our lives. The process took about 14 months from our first orientation class to finalization day. What surprised us most was how little it cost — our state covered nearly everything, including the home study and legal fees. The hardest part was the uncertainty during the waiting period. We had two placements that didn't work out before we were matched with our daughter at 18 months old. If you're considering foster care adoption, my biggest advice is to find a support group early. The other foster-to-adopt families in our class became our lifeline. Three years later, I can't imagine our family any other way.

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