Fees related to an adoption vary tremendously, depending on the type of adoption.

In a domestic adoption of a child with special needs involving the Department of Human Services, an Indian Nation, or a licensed private agency, costs are usually minimal, and may include travel to meet, visit, and/or bring the child home and the adoption finalization.

•  A relative or step-parent adoption may incur fees related to legal services in preparing  and filing appropriate court documents, and a home study (unless waived by the court).
•  Interstate adoptions usually involve agency or attorney representation in both the sending and receiving state and usually requires travel to the state of the child’s birth.
• Private agency and direct placement adoptions may include fees related to social and legal services provided to the birth parents, certain court-approved expenses to assist the birth mother (if necessary), preplacement home study and post-placement supervisory visits, legal fees and court costs related to the petition for adoption and adoption finalization.
• International adoption of an infant or a child with special needs generally includes fees related to documentation translation, Immigration and Naturalization Services approval, legal, social, and other services provided in the country of the child’s birth, and travel to the country, as well as costs related to the preplacement home study and post-placement supervisory visits, legal fees and court costs related to the adoption or re-adoption of the child in the United States.