Adoption costs

Counseling and placement by an adoption agency of the youth welfare offices is free of charge for the adopting adoptive parents. The professionals check the requirements and accompany the entire adoption process. What the adopting parents have to pay are the notary fees for the adoption application and the notarization as well as the court fees of the family court. If necessary, fees for the issuance of a health certificate or a police certificate of good conduct are added.

In the case of counseling and placement by an adoption agency under independent sponsorship, the costs are based on the underlying contract. Many free carriers offer their services free of charge. There are in North Rhine-Westphalia, however, also carriers who demand fees in different amounts for the domestic area.

Mothers or parents who want to release their child for adoption, have to pay only the notary costs for the release declaration. These costs amount to about 30 euros.

The costs of a stepchild adoption are similar to those of a domestic adoption. You have to expect the usual notary fees, court fees and fees for issuing documents such as a health certificate and police clearance certificate.

The costs of an international adoption are significantly higher than for a domestic adoption. They depend in particular on the country of origin of the adopted child. Parents must expect the following amounts:

• For the placement by a central adoption office of the state youth welfare office fees of 1,200 euros are incurred.
• For the review of adoption suitability within the meaning of the Adoption Placement Act fees of 1,300 euros. The costs are payable at the review by the local adoption agency of the youth welfare office. These amounts are binding.
• The recognized German foreign placement office establishes contact with a foreign placement office in the country of origin. You must also plan costs for this. The fees are usually composed of a general and a country-specific flat rate.
• Further costs are incurred for the required documents, certificates and documents and for their translation. These include medical examinations, police certificate of good conduct, etc.
• The notary and court costs are added.
• In addition, you will need to finance the flights and accommodation for travel to the adopted child's country of origin.

All in all, the costs of an international adoption amount to a sum between 15,000 and 30,000 euros, according to experience.