M is for Money

We know that adoption is expensive, but why? Where does all that money go?

While it’s seen as a deeply emotional process by the parties involved, the reality is that adoption is a legal proceeding that requires the involvement of attorneys, social workers, physicians, government administrators, adoption specialists, counselors, and more.

We can break them down into groups:

Legal fees: These include the costs the lawyer charges for executing the legal, court-mandated portion of adoption. The transferring of custody, the termination of parental rights, consents of adoption, and finalization are all the responsibility of a legal entity.

Agency fees: These include the cost charged by a private agency to perform the administrative work to match an expectant mother with a prospective adoptive family.

Variable fees: Variable costs of adoption can include anything that supports the adoption process that is not legal or agency affiliated. They can include travel to other states or countries, medical costs, counseling services and living expenses for expectant mothers, and more.

It all rolls up into an amount that can feel daunting and discouraging. That’s why we believe in our responsibility to help ease the burden.

Want to do something to help? Make a gift to our grant program! https://www.dwellorphancare.org/grants