[traceyk]

Our agency is charging us $26,000 for a domestic adoption of a newborn of any race, and sex. Now this includes homestudy, post placement and attorney's fees as well as bmother expenses (excludes medical). My question is this a lot of money and are there any that are cheaper in Connecticut?

[Binyasa]

That does seem to be on the higher end of agency fees, but if you're comfortable with this agency and think they'll do good work for you (and you can afford it) then there's no reason not to go forward.

We're doing an independent adoption with the help of a lawyer with hopes of keeping costs down. I'd prefer to keep things under 15K. Not much to report about the success of this yet, as we're just beginning, but I've heard good things about going the independent route.

If you prefer an agency adoption, and are open to (and excited about) adopting a child of color... I've heard of a couple of excellent agencies with fees on a sliding scale that would result in an adoption much lower than 26K. Feel free to PM me if this is the case...

[traceyk]

We are VERY interested in an AA or biracial baby but that is ther fee regardless.

[DianeS]

How much of that money goes on to the next match for you, if the first match falls through?

That's a pretty important part of the equasion. If those are the fees no matter how many matches it takes you before an actual adoption, then it might be worth it. Kind of like an insurance policy - you'd be paying above average if your first match resulted in adoption, but paying considerably less than average if you went through three or more matches. So it depends on how much risk you want.
If you have to pay part of those fees *again* for each additional match, then it might not be worth it - depending on how much additional money is required for each additional match.

Do keep checking around if the cost concerns you, off course!

[traceyk]

The admin. fees are 8100.00 the additional 18,000 is for "program fees" which are birth mother expenses. They collect that even if she doesn't use them because they keep those in an escrow. If she uses them and then backs out from the match we lose them and have to get together the amount used again.

[Sylvester]

I have always read that you should be leary of an orginization charging over $20,000. We have done two domestic infant adoptions, and the highest amount we paid was $12,000. We don't believe in paying out of pocket birthmom expenses. We choose agencies that were all inclusive. The figure they gave was the cost regardless of birthmom's situation. We had our homestudy, counseling, education, postplacement visits included in that fee.

I think it sounds on the high end, but if you are comfortable with the agency, if y ou can afford that fee, and you have fully researched them and everything is on the up and up go for it.

[VH1]

Sylvester, what city do you live in? I'm in No. California and am just now starting. I haven't even received the adoption packet yet (on the way). However, I never thought it would be so expensive to adopt a child. We are capable of paying for it, but we definitely are not into overpaying for anything. Do you recomment getting involved with a lawyer to start? Or should we do some work prior to engaging a lawyer? Any help is greatly appreciated.

[traceyk]

We are probably using Adoption Access in TX. They are 12-15,000 and that includes ALL bmother expenses (medical and living) and if she changes her mind, we lose nothing. The agency eats it. The only thing we will need is our homestudy and finalization, oh yeah and travel, but hubby has some frequent flyer miles stashed away somewhere

[kllee4]

I just got a call this morning from our social worker saying that they had a potential match for us. I didn't allow myself to get too excited since she did say that there were two concerns. One was the health of the baby, but secondly the agency's fees were outrageous!!! We have already paid the fees to our agency and they are now "shopping around" for us to increase our chances of a match. Well, I nearly fell over when she said that if we are officially matched, then their fee was 15% of our gross income and 2% of our assets. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Am I crazy for politely saying "No, thank you". My husband makes in the low 6 figures and I have a home based business that earns very good money. Now we are clearly not "rolling in dough" since our 4 boys all attend private schools. SOmehow, it feels a little like "buying" a baby to me. I'm not sure why it doesn't sit well with me. I could understand an international adoption but for a local domestic adoption. Sorry, for my venting! The agency may very well do a good job offering potential bmoms resources and well needed services but I felt overwhelmed and still do. So, I do understand your initial feeling of whether it is too much or not. I do agree that only you can decide what is best for you. Did you receive a good referral from someone who has used them that you trust? I also agree with the poster who asked if you had thoroughly checked them out to see if your money is being well spent and if you will lose it after a failed match. Hang in there, and know that there are others out there who understand.
kllee

[LeslieP9]

If you are interested in adopting an AA baby, Pact in California is an adoption facilitator program that I have heard really good things about. They work with people to make contacts between parents interested in placing and parents interested in adopting--you would still have attorney fees (and you would definitely want an attorney--but this is also often true of agency adoptions, the attorney fees are rarely included in the price they quote you) and there would be some other costs, but the cost for facilitating and adoption here runs between $600 and $6,000 sliding scale.

http://www.pactadopt.org/info/know-pact.html

You may want to check them out.

[petee]

holy crap.
just reading some of these now. 15% of gross income? That's nonsense. I make well into the 6 figures and paid $25,000 flat fee for a match (domestic, white baby) and assorted other paperwork. I know of other couples with considerably tighter budgets who's paid less for the complete adoption thing.

good luck. (our little boy turns ONE today!)