You know that you want to adopt a child. Your next decision—should you adopt domestically (within the United States) or internationally. Here are some of the key issues to consider.

The Cost

Cost used to be much more of a consideration when deciding whether to adopt in the United States or through a foreign country, but that’s not so much the case anymore. With a domestic adoption, you can expect to spend anywhere from $20,000 to $35,000, as a general rule. With an international adoption, the bottom end can be lower—as little as $15,000—but the top end can be higher—as much as $50,000. It all depends on what country you choose. The costs are typically more predictable with a foreign adoption, as you generally don’t pay medical or living expenses for a birthmother. You face financial risks either way, as a birthmother may change her mind after you’ve incurred costs or a country may close its borders to adoption.

Contact or Communication with Birth Parents

If you want your child to have knowledge of and a relationship with birth parents, you’ll want to adopt domestically. If, on the other hand, you don’t want an ongoing relationship with the birthmother, an international adoption will typically accomplish that objective.

The Process

With a domestic adoption, there’s usually far more uncertainty in the process. It’s typically a matching process, where you put your profile out and prospective birthmothers review your profile and choose you. With most international adoptions, you are bringing home a child from an orphanage, so the “courtship” between birth parents and adoptive parents never takes place. There’s a waiting list and you get in line on the waiting list. With some countries, you can often know within a month or so of the exact date you’ll travel to bring home your child.

Contact Our Office

To set up an appointment, call us in Haddonfield at 856-429-5005 or in Woodbury at 856-845-2555. We can also be reached in Philadelphia at 215-563-2150 or by e-mail. For clients with personal injury or workers’ compensation claims, we offer a free initial consultation, and will represent you on a contingency basis, only charging attorney fees if we recover compensation for you.

Our offices are open weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Weekend and evening appointments may be arranged upon request. We will also come to your home or the hospital, if necessary.