Adopt a Child: Complete Guide to the Adoption Process

If you’re considering adopting a child, it can be helpful to begin your journey by asking which type of adoption is right for you. Before jumping into the fine print, take some time to explore the different types of adoption and consider which may be the best fit for your family. 

There are three main pathways to adopting a child—domestic adoption, foster care adoption, and international adoption. Each adoption journey varies by cost, average age of the child, and complexity of the legal process, so it’s important to consider the differences when deciding which type of adoption is best for you. We will explore each type to help you choose the best path.

Domestic Infant Adoption

What is Domestic Infant Adoption?

Domestic infant adoption is the process of adopting a newborn from within the U.S. An infant adoption is usually facilitated by a private adoption agency or attorney, and it connects prospective parents with expectant parents who have chosen to place their child for adoption.

Key Considerations

• Open Adoption: Most domestic infant adoptions these days are open adoptions, which means that there will be some level of contact between the birth parents and adoptive parents after the adoption is complete. The frequency and nature of this contact varies widely and is mutually agreed upon by the adoptive and birth families. Contact can mean anything from regular in-person visits to annual letters or photo exchanges.
• The Match: In most U.S. infant adoptions, the expectant parents choose the adoptive family and not the other way around. Prospective adoptive parents create a profile with an agency, and expectant parents select an adoptive family that best meets their preferences.
• Timeline and Cost: Adopting an infant domestically is a legal process with many requirements and steps. The timeline for adopting an infant in the U.S. varies widely, but ranges from one to two years on average. Costs vary as well, but the average domestic infant adoption costs between $20,000 and $45,000 . Typical expenses you can expect to pay are adoption agency fees, attorney fees, filing fees for legal paperwork, and fees to complete a home study.
• The Children: Domestic infant adoptions are primarily focused on newborn infants, and adoption arrangements are usually made before the baby is born.

Foster Care Adoption

What is Foster Care Adoption?

When you adopt a child from foster care, you are adopting a child who has been placed in your state’s child welfare system. These are children whose biological parents’ parental rights have been legally terminated by the state. Foster adoption is a beautiful way to provide a permanent family for a waiting child.

Key Considerations

• The Children: Children in foster care can range anywhere from infancy to 23 years old, but the average age is 8 years old and the majority are between 1 and 16 years old. Oftentimes, they are part of a sibling group that must be adopted together. Many children have been placed in foster care due to a biological parent or caretaker’s neglect, so it’s important to consider whether you are prepared to adopt a child who may have experienced trauma prior to the adoption.
• The Cost: If you adopt a child from foster care, you will typically pay little to no costs. For this reason, adopting a child from foster care is significantly less costly than domestic infant adoptions or international adoptions via a private agency. A foster care adoption usually costs between $0 and $2,500 in home study or legal fees—and oftentimes these fees are reimbursable.
• The Process: To adopt a child from foster care, reach out to your state’s child welfare agency to begin the process. Most states require that prospective parents complete training in order to prepare them for the adoption of a child from foster care. Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (MAPP) and Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education (PRIDE) are two examples of state-mandated training programs.
• The Need: When you adopt a child from foster care, you are providing a stable home for a child who has been waiting to be adopted, as opposed to an infant adoption, which is usually arranged before a child is born.

International Adoption

What is International Adoption?

International adoption is when a U.S. citizen adopts a child from another country. Although all adoption processes can be complex, international adoptions are often more complex because they are governed by three different sets of adoption laws: U.S. federal adoption laws as defined by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), adoption laws of the child’s birth country, and adoption laws of your particular state. In addition, not all countries follow the Hague Convention, which is an international treaty designed to protect children during the adoption process.

Key Considerations

• Legal Complexity: To complete an international adoption, you must meet a number of legal requirements and file various applications in the U.S. and your child’s birth country. The U.S. requires that you complete a home study to demonstrate you are ready to raise a child from another culture. You’ll also need to provide a dossier with information about your family, including health, financial, and other information. Keep in mind that each country will have its own set of adoption laws and requirements that you must satisfy.
• Travel: Requirements vary between countries, but many nations require that you travel at least once to the country—at the very least to finalize the adoption. 
• The Children: Children  in international adoptions are typically toddler age or older. Keep in mind the medical and social histories that are provided for the child may be incomplete or inaccurate.
• Changing Landscape: International adoption policies are constantly evolving, so it’s important to know that the journey may be less predictable than domestic adoption paths.

Start the Adoption Process 

Deciding which adoption path is right for you is one of the first steps in a parent’s adoption journey. Now that you have a sense of what each path entails, you can start exploring the specific tasks and milestones that are typically required of adoptions, including home studies, adoption training, and government applications. Learn more about the adoption process to gain a firm understanding of the steps that lie ahead, regardless of the adoption path you choose.

Sources

• https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DTFA-Adoption-Guide-US.pdf
• https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cb/2024-afcars-dashboard-printable.pdf
• https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/Intercountry-Adoption/Adoption-Process/understanding-the-hague-convention.html
• https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/Intercountry-Adoption/Adoption-Process/how-to-adopt/home-study-requirements.html

What does it mean to adopt a child?

Adoption is a legal process that permanently transfers parental rights from a child’s birth parents to adoptive parents. After adoption is finalized in court, the adoptive parents have the same legal rights and responsibilities as biological parents.

What are the main types of adoption in the United States?

The three main types of adoption are foster care adoption, private domestic adoption, and international adoption. Each type follows different legal processes and timelines.

What is a home study in adoption?

A home study is an evaluation process required before adoption approval. It includes background checks, interviews, and a review of the prospective family’s living environment.

How long does the adoption process usually take?

Adoption timelines vary depending on the type of adoption and the availability of children. The process can take several months to several years.