Hopeful parents ask about the cost of adoption frequently. We want to respond with an accurate and attainable comprehensive dollar amount. However, it is too complex to do that, given the different types of adoptions, the unique factors involved in each adoption, and the changing landscape of the adoption world.

We can offer a general range of expectations once you’ve narrowed down which type of adoption you will pursue. Those ranges are available in our Quick Comparison Chart. We also keep updated information on the top five sending nations for international adoption, including cost. And if you are considering Domestic Infant Adoption or Foster Care Adoption, you will find information about the factors influencing final adoption costs on those resource pages.

However, we respect that affording an adoption is often quite a different conversation from the total cost of adoption. To explore that matter more fully, hopeful parents should consider issues like budgeting, fundraising, crowdsourcing, grants, loans, and the Adoption Tax Credit.

We know most families don’t have the total cost of the adoption process in their bank accounts. The good news is that the total amount is rarely due in one lump sum. So, families have time to explore options like adjusting their spending, researching alternative income streams, or seeking grants that suit their situation. Affording adoption does not have to be out of reach for the average family’s budget.