[Angela G]

One more question. Could anybody tell me what are the average prices of adoption? Is one way of doing it less expensive from another?
Angela

[makosphere]

Wow, there's so many variables here that you'd need to clarify your own adoption goals to get a good answer:

domestic or international (and if so what country)?
age? (infant, or would you adopt a waiting older child?)
special needs or not?
sibling groups?

Those are probably the first big items that you'd need to give us to get a better reply.

Best luck! Suze

[willowhawk]

I adopted my 5 children through the Dept. of Social Services. It did not cost me anything.....There are so many children in the Dept. custody that are waiting for homes.....many older, and special needs children also.....I know infants are so appealing, but please think of the option of an older child. My children were 10, 9, 8, 7 and 2 when I adopted them...They are all so precious and deserving of a forever home!!!!

[Xanny]

Angela,

It's a little more PC to call it the "cost" of adoption, rather than the "price." Otherwise, it sounds like your buying a baby.

The least expensive way to adopt is a public agency adoption. However, generally it is easiest to adopt an older child or a special needs child through public agencies. They do get babies, but it can be hard to find out family information (this is where those abandoned babies that you hear about on the news end up). And for complicated socio-economic reasons, the majority of the children are African-American or bi-racial.

When you get into private agency adoption and attorney-assisted or facilitator-assisted adoption, price can vary widely. This will depend on which state you live in, which state the B-mom lives in, and the particulars of your case. If you do a facilitator-assisted adoption, find a B-mom who does not need financial assistance, and don't need to travel, then this kind of adoption can be very inexpensive (I'm thinking one to two-thousand dollars, but I know those of you who are going to go this route will correct me if I'm wrong.) However, if you end up finding a B-mom who has just found out she's pregnant and needs lots of financial help (you may be asked to pay all of her expenses, including rent, maternity clothes, food, and doctor bills) things can get expensive (about $2000 per month) and she can change her mind when the baby is born. If you end up paying for two or three pregnancies, this could become very expensive, upwards of $30,000. Now, in reality, most adoptions fall somewhere in between. Also, many agencies have arrangements where you pay B-mom costs into a fund. That way, every adoptive parent pays into the fund, and they use those funds to cover B-mom costs, and then it's a set amount of money that you put in, and the agency gives the money as they need to to take care of B-mom needs. If there's money left over, they save it for another adoption where the B-mom may need more money than the set amount.

International adoption is generally thought of as the most expensive, somewhere between $20,000 and $35,000, depending on the country and the agency. The benefit, though, is that you will get a fee schedule ahead of time and know exactly how much you need to pay and when.

So the bottom line is that you have to do your research and make choices (as makosphere said) about what you are comfortable with. Every form of adoption has risks and benefits and costs associated with it. What you have to decide is what kind of risk you are comfortable with. For example, I have chosen international adoption (Russia) because I like the idea that the rules are clear. I know how much I'm going to pay, and when, and I know that our child will be chosen by the agency, country and institution, so their choice will be logical, not emotional. However, someone said to me recently that she could not handle international adoption because she worries that borders will close and she won't be able to complete the adoption. Each of us has examined the risks involved and chosen the ones we are more comfortable with.

Good luck in this important decision.

--Xanny

[goin'batty]

I'm going the domestic newborn route. Like Xanny said, you could end up paying to support a birthmother. However, some states have very strict rules regarding what you can and can't do for the birthmother. In my state, I am not allowed to pay rent or do any of those types of things. This is keeping the cost of my adoption down around $7000 with agency and legal fees combined.

L

[Angela G]

Hi Guys
Thanks a lot for all the info. I live in Southern California.
One more thing, how do I find an agency?
Does anyone here used any agencies in Southern Californa that are reputable?

I also looked into international adoptions but the cost as of right now scare me.

I really appreciate all your responses.
Have a good day,
Angela

[acgh2003]

Hi I am goign through San Bernardino County. They have been real good to us and the SW's are great. We live at Ft Irwin and drive 2 hrs to Sand Bernardino. They have classes everywhere. What part of Southern California are you in? The state adoptions are totally free and you get subsidy starting at $250 per month up. I will be happy to talk with you about it and give you any help you need. Email me at moran.family2@verizon.net. I give you the numbers you need. To start in any county. Good luck

[Angela G]

I live in city of Corona (Riverside County)

[Support2Adopt]

Originally posted by Angela G
Hi Guys
Thanks a lot for all the info. I live in Southern California.
One more thing, how do I find an agency?
Does anyone here used any agencies in Southern Californa that are reputable?


Angela

If you're in southern CA, please check to see if the Department of Social Services in Orange County still has a "Birthmother" program. If not, ask them if any of the other So. CA DSS agencues have this program.
Also, check out Vista Del Mar.
JJ

[Angela G]

Thanks a million.

[acgh2003]

Angela San Bernardino has a Birth mother program also. Did you get my email about the numbers to contact in reguards to getting started into the process. Best Of Luck!!!!