Does it Cost Money to Put a Child up for Adoption? [5 Questions About Adoption Costs]

Because coping with an unplanned pregnancy can be a lot to process on its own, you shouldn’t have to add financial stress to the equation. When you place your child for adoption, you won’t have to pay a dime.

Many expectant mothers considering adoption often ask, “Does putting a baby up for adoption cost money?” “How much is putting a baby up for adoption going to cost me?” When you make a decision as brave and selfless as adoption, it will cost you absolutely nothing. As an expectant mother, your adoption agency and the adoptive family will help cover your living expenses and pregnancy costs through their financial assistance program. Such expenses can include:

• Rent/mortgage payments
• Utilities
• Groceries
• Medical bills
• Transportation
• And more

All of the resources and services your agency can provide you with will also be covered by this financial assistance. If you have questions about adoption financial assistance or what expenses you can have covered, reach out to an adoption professional online to get the answers you need, or continue reading below to learn the answers to five common questions we get about how much giving a baby up for adoption costs.

1. Is Giving a Baby up for Adoption Free?

Yes. As an expectant mother, adoption is completely free to you. An unplanned pregnancy is stressful enough without factoring in financial strain. In fact, if you’re considering adoption, there is a chance that you are doing so because of your financial situation. Many expectant mothers choose adoption because they do not feel they are financially stable enough to support a child to the best of their ability.

Casey knew placing her twin boys for adoption was the best choice to give them a chance to grow up with a family who could support them emotionally and financially.

“I just came to the point where I didn’t want their life to consist of their mom working really hard at two jobs just to get by, and then I’m barely home,” Casey said. “Some people are a product of their environment… I didn’t want the streets to raise them because I’m so busy trying to provide for them, and I wanted them to have a father figure.”

Placing your baby for adoption to give them a chance at the best life possible is a decision that comes from a place of love and compassion. You’re making emotional sacrifices by putting your baby’s needs before your own. This shouldn’t come at a financial detriment to you. That’s why many adoption agencies have adoption financial assistance programs available to their prospective birth parents that help cover expenses incurred throughout the adoption process. This means you won’t have to worry about making ends meet, giving you a clearer head for making the best adoption decisions for you and your baby and the ability to focus on having a safe and healthy pregnancy.

2. Is It Free to Give a Baby Up for Adoption if I Want to Receive Counseling?

Absolutely. A life-changing decision as big as adoption comes with a lot of complex emotions. Even if you know that adoption is what’s best for you and your baby, it’s normal to experience feelings of grief and loss. It’s important that you have a support system in place during this emotional time. Your adoption counselor will always be a constant part of this support system. If you have questions, need someone to talk to or need help coping with difficult thoughts and emotions, you will have 24/7 access to free counseling.  In fact, you can reach out to an adoption counselor today to get the support you need, at absolutely no cost to you.

3. How Much Does Giving a Baby Up for Adoption Cost in Medical Bills?

When it comes to placing your child for adoption, you won’t pay a dime in medical bills. All of your medical bills and pregnancy costs will be covered by the hopeful adoptive family and your adoption agency’s financial assistance program.

Receiving proper prenatal care throughout your pregnancy is incredibly important to ensuring that you and your baby are healthy. Regardless of your financial situation, your adoption professional will make sure that you are well taken care of. Before the baby is born, your adoption counselor will sit down with you to create a hospital plan that will outline your preferred arrangements when your due date arrives. This will also help your adoption professional determine the medical expenses that will need to be covered so that you don’t have to give it a second thought.

4. Is Looking for Family to Adopt My Baby Free?

Yes. If you’re worried about how to find adoptive parents for free, your adoption professional can help.  As an expectant mother, all the services you will have access to through your adoption agency will be free to you, including the matching services. When you “give your baby up” for adoption, you will be in complete control of your adoption plan. You will get to call all the shots, including choosing the family who will raise your child.

Your adoption professional will speak with you about what qualities you are looking for in a prospective adoptive family. They’ll find adoptive family profiles that match your preferences and will present these profiles to you look through. You can also browse online adoption profiles for free, at any time. Once you have found the family you feel is a perfect match, you can let your adoption professional know, and they will arrange a conference call for you and the hopeful family to get to know each other. All of this will come at no cost to you.

5. Does Putting a Child Up for Adoption Cost a Lot in Legal Fees?

Not at all. Just like all the other services and resources your adoption agency’s financial assistance will cover, any and all legal fees will be taken care of. Your adoption professional can help connect you with a reputable attorney who will make sure that you understand your rights throughout the legal portion of the adoption process. You will not have to worry about paying any legal fees whatsoever.

Have More Questions?

We understand you have a lot to think about when it comes to placing your child for adoption. You are making an incredibly brave and selfless decision, and you deserve to feel supported throughout the adoption process. If you didn’t find the answer to your questions about how much putting a baby up for adoption costs in this article, reach out to an adoption professional now to get the information you need or to begin your adoption journey today.