Regardless of how it happens, adoption is special! There are many options to add that special child to your growing family. So how do you know which method of adoption is best for your situation? Adoption can be broken up broadly into two categories, international and domestic. Both options are great, it’s just a matter of deciding what factors are important to you and your family.
Costs
There are quite a few differences between domestic and international. Surprisingly, price is not one of them! Adoption, both international and domestic, range from $25,000 – $50,000. While the overall cost of adoption isn’t different, the timeframe of when adoption fees are due varies. Domestic adoption typically requires fees upfront to begin the process in comparison to international adoption which doesn’t usually require fees until travel has been arranged. The benefit to paying fees later is you have a little more time to acquire funding.
Age Range
Another differing factor to consider is the age range of a child. With domestic adoptions, the option for a newborn is not uncommon with private agency adoption. International adoptions typically are toddler age and up. If adopting a newborn is important to your family, you may consider sticking with domestic agency adoption.
Timeline
Timing is a big factor for many families, especially those with other children in the household. International adoption can take anywhere from 1 – 2 years with a stark comparison to domestic adoption taking from 2 weeks – 2 years. Something to keep in mind is that while it is possible to be able to have a short-term process for domestic adoption, it is not a guarantee.
Prior History
Many families want to know as much as possible about the child they are adopting. This can include medical history and other valuable information. If this is something that is important to you and your family, domestic adoption might be a better fit. While not all domestic adoptions have full information on the child, it is more common. Children from international adoptions are frequently abandoned or orphaned, making it more difficult to track down important information.
There is no wrong method for adoption. It all comes down to what is best fit for you and your family. If you’d like to learn a little more about the differences between domestic and international adoption, check out my most recent video.
