1. Adoption is extremely expensive.
Adopting a child involves a great deal of time and effort on the part of the adopting family, adoption professionals (social worker, attorney, or agency), and government offices. There’s no getting around that making the whole thing happen can be costly. A recent survey done by Adoptive Families magazine found that the average cost of an adoption is between $25,000 and $30,000.
But, whether you adopt domestically or internationally, you’re eligible for an adoption tax credit in the form of a $12,150 refund in 2009 (unless you earn more than $182,180 per year, in which case the amount will be less). Furthermore, almost 50 percent of major U.S. companies offer some adoption assistance, up from 12 percent in 1990. The average reimbursement provided by employers is $4,700—nearly twice that offered five years ago. Adopting from the foster care system is virtually free; in fact, subsidies are often provided for a child’s living expenses and healthcare even after the adoption is completed.
