The Cost of Adoption

If you are researching your family-building options, then you likely have some concerns about affording adoption. You may be wondering: 

• How much does adoption cost?
• Why is adoption so expensive?
• What kind of adoption financial assistance is available?

The cost of adoption in California varies widely depending on a number of factors, and some forms of adoption may be more affordable than you think. Below, learn more about the variety of adoption programs offered by FCCA and the average cost of adoption in California.

You can also get free adoption information now when you fill out our online contact form.

How Much Is It to Adopt a Child in California from Foster Care?

Many foster care adoption costs are subsidized by the state, making this one of the most affordable forms of adoption. In fact, the only out-of-pocket cost associated with adoption from foster care is often the adoption home study and the fingerprints.

FCCA can provide all the services you need to adopt a waiting child from the California foster system at minimal cost. But, how much is adoption in California with FCCA? The average cost of adoption in California with our agency is about $2,000.

This cost includes:

• Pre-adoption education and training (no charge)
• FCCA’s home study fee: $1,800
• Matching and child referral services (no charge)
• Fingerprinting and medical exam costs required for licensing (usually less than $200 total for each family)
• Mileage for the home visit (charged at the IRS rate only for travel prior to placement of a child)
• Legal document services to finalize the adoption (no additional cost if you use FCCA’s finalization services)

Families who choose to work directly with a public state or county foster agency may incur no out-of-pocket expenses for the adoption cost of California. But, many families find that the adoption fees in California charged by FCCA are well worth the advantages our agency offers. Most notably, our program focuses exclusively on adoption (rather than traditional foster care) and specializes in low-risk cases.

This provides our adoptive families with a sense of security throughout the adoption process that most foster-to-adopt programs simply can’t offer. So, the cost to adopt a child in California with FCCA is well worth it.

Also, families who adopt through our California Waiting Child Program may be eligible for the following financial assistance for the adoption in California cost:

• Adoption Assistance Payments:  Almost all children in the California foster system qualify for monthly adoption subsidy payments and MediCal coverage until age 18. FCCA will help you determine whether your child is eligible for the Adoption Assistance Program and can assist you with completing the required application to lower adoption costs in California.
   
• Federal Adoption Tax Credit: Families who adopt from the foster care system may claim certain adoption expenses on their taxes. If your child is eligible, then you may be able to claim the maximum IRS adoption credit, regardless of your actual expenses.

With so many children waiting for loving, permanent homes in the U.S. foster system, the cost of adoption in California should never be a barrier to foster care adoption. To learn more about our California Waiting Child Program and the services included in our fos-adopt program fees, you can fill out our online contact form.

How Much Is It to Adopt a Child Internationally?

It is difficult to estimate an average cost to adopt a child internationally — expenses vary widely based on the country and program from which a family chooses to adopt.

In general, because of the extensive paperwork process and travel involved, the cost to adopt from another country can be significant. Your overall international adoption cost will include the following expenses:

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) application and registration
• Adoption program fees, which include services like compiling your dossier, communicating with international adoption authorities and referral/matching services
• Home study and pre-adoption training
• Documentation and authentication of adoption paperwork
• Travel costs, including airfare, accommodations, in-country transportation and more
• Legal costs to finalize the adoption and re-adopt in the United States

Regardless of the country or child-placing program you are using to adopt, you can expect to pay the following for FCCA’s international adoption services:

• Home study fee: $2,500
• Post-placement services: $1,600 (varies based on country)
• Finalization services: $850 plus a $500 refundable deposit
• Additional miscellaneous costs for mileage, fingerprinting and medical exams

Please note that these estimates do not include travel expenses or the program fee charged by your child-placing agency for matching and other services. So, how much to adopt a child in California vs. a different country? The range is fairly wide.

If you are adopting through our Hong Kong adoption program, then we will provide all the adoption services you need, including child search and matching services. The fee structure for this program, excluding home study and post-placement fees, is as follows:

• Program fee if you are using an FCCA home study: $7,350
• Program fee if you are using a non-FCCA home study: $7,000
• USCIS fees: about $1,200
• Miscellaneous expenses: about $800
• Variable travel expenses

To learn more about international adoption costs, FCCA’s services and other international child-placing programs, attend one of our free, monthly adoption information sessions. You can learn more about them when you contact us online now.

How Much Does it Cost to Adopt a Baby in California?

Because of the number of professionals and services required to complete an infant adoption in the United States, domestic infant adoption can be expensive. The average cost to adopt a newborn is typically $45,000-$65,000+. You can learn more about the cost of domestic infant adoption by contacting us.

This leads many parents considering infant adoption to ask: Why does adoption cost so much? In addition to the home study and post-placement services required in every adoption, the private adoption cost in California includes:

• Advertising and matching services to find a prospective birth mother
• Counseling and support to ensure the expectant mother is committed to adoption
• Legal services to finalize the adoption
• Living expenses during the birth mother’s pregnancy and recovery period
• Medical expenses to cover the costs of the birth mother’s prenatal care and hospital stay

FCCA can provide the services you need for private infant adoptions in California — including the home study, finding an adoption opportunity, post-placement support, finalization and more.

Although the cost of adopting a baby can be substantial, there are many adoption funding options available to people looking to adopt, including:

• Adoption grants and loans
• Adoption tax credits
• Online adoption fundraisers
• Traditional adoption fundraising
• Employer benefits

Because domestic infant adoption costs in California can vary significantly based on your circumstances, contact an FCCA office near you to discuss your adoption goals. We can schedule a free, initial consultation with you to explain our services and fees in more detail.

Your Next Steps

For many hopeful parents, the cost of adoption in California is an important factor to consider before beginning the adoption process. FCCA is committed to helping you reach your adoption goals. If you would like to get more free information now about adoption costs in California, our services and available adoption financial assistance, contact us online or attend an upcoming adoption information session.