Home Study and Post-Placement Services Fee Schedule

This page includes an overview of the possible cost of adoption. A Prospective Adoptive Family will be charged the actual adoption fees in effect at the time service is being rendered for any service that has not been prepaid; those amounts may vary from the amounts stated.

A Home Study is an educational tool used by Adoption & Beyond Inc. (Agency) to prepare a Prospective Adoptive Parent(s) (AP) to adopt a child. It is also an assessment process to determine whether AP has the ability to care for a child in a safe, nurturing and healthy environment.

Adoption & Beyond Inc. is available to perform domestic, international, private and embryo adoptive home study assessments. An approved home study is required in order to adopt a child.

Type of Fee
Amount
Fee Due Date
Application for Services
Type of Fee
Application fee includes one or more of the following Services provided by the Agency:

  • Screening, reviewing and processing the application
  • Establishing AP’s file
  • Addressing AP’s questions about the adoption and home study process
  • Free access to Agency’s adoption education workshop
Application for Services
Amount
$300
Fee Due Date
Upon submission of On-line Application

(Application fee will be waived for returning clients)

Home Study Services
Type of Fee
A home study is an educational tool to prepare AP to A home study is an educational tool to prepare AP to adopt a child and a non-judicial determination for the best interest of the child and the appropriateness of the AP for adoptive placement. Home study approval is valid for twelve months.

Home study fee includes one or more of the following Services provided by the Agency:

  • Maintenance of file
  • Office visits and one home visit
  • Review and compiling of home study material; writing report
  • Administration costs (scanning, copying, phone calls, standard postage, etc.)
  • Coordinating/communicating between the attorney and court
Application for Services
Amount
$1,200
(Domestic)
$1,500
(International)
Fee Due Date
Upon submission of completed
Home Study paperwork
Home Study Addendum
Type of Fee
It is important that the courts have the latest information
about AP, so it is required to document Any major changes of circumstances during the twelve month approval period (e.g., changes in physical, emotional or mental health, changes in marital (or significant other) relationships, arrest, allegations of child abuse, loss or new employment, significant change in financial resources, move to a new home, a new individual joining AP’s household or an extended house guest, change of child approval, Agency’s concern about the AP’s capacity to continue in adoption process, failure of AP to disclose critical information during the initial home study process, etc.).

Note: An addendum is simply documenting a change to your current home study; it does not extend the expiration date.

Application for Services
Amount
$300
Fee Due Date
Upon submission of completed
Addendum paperwork
Full Updated Home Study
Type of Fee
A full updated home study is needed if: AP is pursuing the adoption process for another child; AP is switching from a domestic to an international adoption (or vice versa); AP’s original home study is older than twelve months but less than five years old.
Adoption & Beyond can update another agency’s report only if it is for a domestic adoption Full updated home study fee includes one or more of the following Services provided by the Agency:

  • Re-establishing file
  • One home visit
  • Workshop attendance
  • Review and compiling of updated home study material and writing report
  • Administration costs (scanning, copying, phone calls, standard postage, etc.)
Application for Services
Amount
$700
Fee Due Date
Upon submission of completed Updated paperwork

Miscellaneous Adoption Expenses

Type of Fee

Expedited Services

Expedited processing of Home Study or Post-Adoption/ Post-Placement Reports for urgent adoption situations

  • The Agency will make all reasonable efforts to complete services in an expedited fashion; however, there are factors outside of our control. Therefore, no assurances can be given that the necessary expedited time frame will be met. This service is available on a case-by-case basis.
Application for Services
Amount
$500
Fee Due Date
Upon submission of completed Home Study or Post-Placement/ Post-Adoption paperwork
Travel
Type of Fee
Mileage up to 60 miles Round Trip (RT) is included in the fees for home study and post-placement/post-adoption.
A travel fee is charged for services provided further than 60 miles (RT) from Agency’s office or closest regional social service employee.
Application for Services
Amount
$1
per mile
Fee Due Date
Upon submission of completed Home Study or Post-Placement /Post-Adoption paperwork
Hourly Work
Type of Fee

AP has an adoption situation that falls outside of the fee schedule, they can hire Adoption & Beyond for an hourly rate of service. Assistance with a foster care adoption falls under Hourly Work, as a flat fee of $600.

Application for Services
Amount
$200
per hour
Fee Due Date
Retainer fee due Prior to work being initiated
Adoption Court Hearings
Type of Fee
If AP’s adoption occurs in MO (and for some international adoptions), the courts require Agency to attend Temporary and Final court hearing with AP.

  • Attending court hearings
  • Preparing Agency document(s) needed for court
Application for Services
Amount
$300
Each
(Generally 2
court hearings)
Fee Due Date
Pre-payment of all court hearings due prior to Temporary Court Hearing

Third-Party Expenses (Estimated variable expenses that are not paid to Adoption & Beyond)

Type of Fee

State and Federal Criminal Background Checks/Finger Printing

Application for Services
Amount
$45 – $57
each
(Varies
by state)
Fee Due Date
Upon submission of Criminal Background Checks
Type of Fee

State Child Abuse Checks

Application for Services
Amount
$10 – $13
each
(Varies by number
of state previously lived)
Fee Due Date
Upon submission of Child
Type of Fee

National Sex Offender Registry

Application for Services
Amount
$7
Each
Fee Due Date
Upon submission of National Sex Offender Registry Checks
Type of Fee

On-line Adoption Education Courses

You are required to complete a number of on-line adoption education courses together (approx. $100-$264). Number of courses varies depending on type of adoption AP is pursuing (e.g., Domestic, international, Special Needs, Trans-racial, etc.)

Application for Services
Amount
$30 – $70
per course
Fee Due Date
When registering for on-line Adoption Education courses
Type of Fee

Documents

(e.g., copies of birth certificates, marriage certificate, divorce decree)

Application for Services
Amount
$15
Each
Fee Due Date
When requesting Document(s) from issuing entity
Type of Fee

Employment Verifications

If your employer contracts with a third-party for employment verification to be completed

Application for Services
Amount
$50
Each
Fee Due Date
Upon submission of completed Home Study paperwork
Type of Fee

Health Exam

Application for Services
Amount
Co-pay
Fee Due Date
At Medical Visit
Post-Placement/Post-Adoption Reports occur after the child is placed into your care and the reports are submitted to the court or country where the adoption occurs. The number and timing of post-placement/post-adoption reports is determined by which state, agency or country the adoptive placement occurs, generally three (3) to six (6) reports are required.
Type of Fee
Amount
Fee Due Date
Post-Placement/Post-Adoption Report(s)
Type of Fee
Once AP adopts a child, the court or country of adoption requires post-placement/post-adoption visits Post-placement/post-adoption report fee includes one or more of the following Services provided by the Agency:

  • One home visit
  • Reviewing, preparing and writing report
  • Communication during supervision period
  • Administrative costs (scanning, copying, phone calls,
    standard postage, etc.)
Application for Services
Amount
$300
Each

The number and timing of post-placement/post-adoption reports is determined by state, agency and/or country the adoptive placement occurs (3 to 6 reports are usually required.)

Fee Due Date
Upon submission of completed
Addendum paperwork

Interested in learning more about The Ultimate Guide to Adopting a Child?  Check out our entire guide here.