[southernbelle1]

Hi guys. My husband are an interracial couple and are very interested in adopting an AA or biracial infant.

I've Googled until my fingers are numb and it seems as if we must be rich to adopt an infant since the foster systems usually adopts older/special needs children. Does anyone have any suggestions on agencies or attorneys we should make contact with that won't cost us an arm and a leg or should we just prepare ourselves to spend $10k+ for an infant adoption? I understand private adoptions are expensive but would like to get a realistic idea of how much we should expect to spend and a breakdown of expenses so that we are prepared.

I understand that our first step will be to complete a homestudy which will cost $1500 (according to a social worker we contacted) but pricing on the remainder of the adoption process is vague and we are not being given straight answers. We live in Louisiana and would be willing to work with any agency as long as they were reliable.

Could someone also please share any stories with us so that we will know what we are up against? Thanks in advance and please PM me any information that can't be posted in the open forum.

[becky]

The reason you can't get a specific answer is that there are so many variables in domestic adoption that there is no way to really know exactly how much it will cost.

You have the follow expenses:
1. Homestudy
2. Agency fees (vary tremendously-- up to18,000+)
3. Legal fees (again they vary--$1000-$8000)
4. Expectant Mother expenses ($0-$5000+)
5. Travel expenses...you will have to travel to the state you are adopting from and stay there for 7-14 days before you can bring the baby home...so depending on flights, hotels, rental cars, etc. It can be expensive or not...no way to know for sure.

So...as you can see the unknowns are just so hard to predict. I know there are agencies that work hard to place AA infants for as little cost as possible. There are people who are willing to wait a long time for a placement like this. We are currently in a match that is inexpensive compared to some of the others I have seen...but it is still going to be $15,000 plus travel.

You can wait for a match that fits your budget, it may take a while for that perfect match to turn up...but it can be done.

Good luck!!

[southernbelle1]

Thank you so much for the information. The agencies I have available to me in my city are limited so it seems as if my husband and I will have to use an agency in another state. Hopefully we can make contact with someone that will give us specifics so that we can be better prepared for the financial aspects of the adoption.

Thanks again.

[millie58]

I'll PM you the name of an agency a friend of mine used.

[CubanaYogini]

We used an attorney in a state that is "adoption friendly." In other words, laws there benefit the adoptive parents over the first mom and dad.

The attorney solicits all of the first moms and facilitates all the matches.

We were there for the births of our children and our babies were handed to us immediately. A couple of days later the first mom signed papers terminating her parental rights *irrevocably.*

The costs with our son's adoption was $15,000 plus our living expenses in the state (housing and rental car). The fee included everything (legal stuff, first mother expenses, etc.) except for the home study which we did here. We did have to fly back to the state (all 3 of us) for the finalization court day. Some judges will do it over the phone.

Our daughter's adoption cost $20,000 plus living expenses. This is because we got matched a bit earlier in the process making the first mother living expenses a bit higher.

Both times we stayed in furnished corporate housing which was cheaper and much nicer than being in a hotel room with a baby.

ETA: I almost forgot to mention the airfare. It can be expensive if you make those at the last minute to make sure you are at the birth.

PM me if you want more details.