Affording Adoption

We hear it all the time when prospective parents contact us to learn more about international adoption:
  “It’s so expensive!”
  “Why does it cost anything at all to adopt?”
  “How can I afford it?”

Comparing costs and fees from various websites and agencies can be very confusing, if not frustrating, as not everyone uses the same “language” to talk about adoption costs.

LAN purposely does not disclose adoption fees on this site. However, when you contact us or one of our member agencies, you will be given detailed information about all the fees and expenses you should expect in a specific country. As a guideline, however, most international adoptions with LAN range between $15,000 and $30,000 in total costs. Factors which contribute to the variation in costs include:

• Country of origin
• Travel timing and number of persons
• Age of child

Adoption fees include both local agency costs and the international agency and program fees. Examples of local agency costs are the homestudy, training and/or dossier coordination, and postplacement visits and reports. International program fees, the highest of all, include support to the orphanages and humanitarian aid to the children left behind, as well as salaries and compensation for the people who work on behalf of the children before they are adopted, both overseas and here at home.

Yes, it is expensive! But families all over the United States are adopting more children than ever before. There are resources which can help you afford adoption! Best of all is the US Federal Tax Credit of $10,000 for either domestic or international adoption as long as your income is less than $150,000 per year. (See Publication 968 of the Internal Revenue Service—http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc607.html—for more detail). Some states also offer tax benefits, as do many employers. Check www.adopt.org/workplace for details on employer benefits.

Check these resources for more information about affording an adoption:

LAN's Anticipated International Adoption Cost Worksheet

National Adoption Foundation
Shaohannah’s Foundation
A Child Waits

A new organization providing zero-interest adoption loans to help Christian families adopt is called "Family Legacies":

http://www.familylegacies.us

Chase Bank and the Dave Thomas Foundation offer a home equity loan program specifically for adoptive families now:

http://www.chase.com/NewAdditions

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