Fees | Adoption Programs | Spence-Chapin Adoption Services

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Affording Adoption
at Spence-Chapin

Resource Library

Inside Transracial Adoption
Gail Steinberg & Beth Hall

Raising Adopted Children
Lois Melina

Estimating Costs

There are several categories of fees and expenses that adoptive families should anticipate when considering an international adoption.

Registration FeeThe first fee covers processing of new clients. This fee of $300 is non-refundable.

Spence-Chapin Professional Services FeeSpence-Chapin works closely with adoptive families before, during, and after the adoption process. The Professional Services fee is all-inclusive and covers the following services: home study, parent preparation and training guidance and processing of the adoption application and required paperwork for local, federal, and foreign governments; child referral and placement; support and guidance throughout the adoption process; post-placement reporting; and post-adoption monitoring. Families working with one of Spence-Chapin’s partnering programs receive a portion of the above services through the partner agency that will also charge a fee. Post-adoption counseling, as well as ongoing support and services for the first year your child comes home, are also included in the Professional Services fee. For post-adoption support and services beyond the first year, standard post-adoption services fees will apply.

The sliding scale Professional Services Fee for families living in NY/NJ metro area is calculated at 7% of a family’s adjusted gross income and ranges from $4,000 to $12,000. For families adopting through one of Spence-Chapin’s partnership programs, the upper limit caps at $6,500. Families pursuing a second adoption through Spence-Chapin will be charged a Professional Services Fee reduced by 25%.

For networking families living outside the NY/NJ metro area, a flat fee of $4,500 is charged. Families should expect separate fees from the local agency for the preparation of the home study, parent preparation, and other support services.

Country Program FeeAdoption fees and procedures vary for every country. The Program Fee generally covers the cost of official investigation and documentation of an adoption, the expenses of Spence-Chapin staff or consultants who facilitate adoptions overseas and who function as the local representative for adopting families, legal services and documentation needed during travel, and expenses related to the care of the child prior to the adoption.

This fee ranges from approximately $8,500 to approximately $30,000, depending upon the child’s country of origin. Program fees are subject to change and are not under the control of Spence-Chapin. Please consult the Country Programs at a Glance for estimated country fees.

Direct Travel ExpensesAdoptive families are typically responsible for all of their travel expenses. These usually include ground and air travel, lodging, and food. While Spence-Chapin provides a breakdown of anticipated travel expenses in each country, factors such as seasonal differentials, delays in travel, and complications in adoption processing may influence the costs.

This fee ranges from approximately $4,500 to $15,000 depending upon the child’s country of origin and your specific travel requirements.

Direct Documentation, Translating, Medical, and Legal ExpensesAdoptive families are responsible for all expenses relating to document preparation, notarization, certification, submission, and translation. Additional documents may be required by the United States Citizen and Immigration Services (UCIS), state agencies, and government entities in the country of origin. The estimated cost for documentation is approximately $500-$2,000. Families can also expect USCIS expenses of approximately $830. Translation of the dossier often ranges from $500 to $1,500.

Spence-Chapin strongly recommends that all adoptive families consult with an International Adoption Pediatrician prior to accepting a child referral. The review of medial records and consultation for adoption typically ranges from $200 to $700. In addition, the U.S. Department of State requires a medical exam of the child before issuing his/her visa. Adoptive families should anticipate medical expense for the initial examination of the adoptive child, as well as for vaccinations and the treatment of any medical problems.

For families that must finalize their adoption in the United States, they should anticipate legal fees generally averaging from $1,000 to $2,500. Out-of-state families should consult with their local agency for an estimate of finalization expenses.

Spence-Chapin Fee Payment Schedule

Information session attendance is free.
$300 registration fee is payable upon submission of registration packet.
$1,500 of the Spence-Chapin Professional Services Fee is payable upon entrance into the program. Network families instead pay $500 at this time.
One half (½) of the balance of the Spence-Chapin Professional Services Fee is due upon competition of the home study. Network families instead pay $2,000 at the time of dossier submission.
The remaining half (½) of the balance of the Spence-Chapin Professional Services Fee is due upon acceptance of child referral. Network families pay the remaining $2,000 at this time.
The country program fee is paid at different times in the process, depending upon country requirements; the fee payment is sometimes due in full or may be broken down into multiple installments.
Travel expenses, documentation and translations costs, medical, and legal or finalization expenses are incurred at the time of service.

For more information about ways to defray adoption expenses, please download our brochure “Affording Adoption at Spence-Chapin” through the link in the lower left hand corner of the page.

410 East 92nd Street, NY 10128 212.369.0300 Additional Offices in Hauppauge, LI and Summit, NJ