Domestic Adoption Fees

 

Missouri adoption law requires that adoption agencies attempt to recruit families for private adoption that will allow for same race placement.  In an effort to meet this requirement, the agency is willing to explore adjustments to its fee schedule to help accomplish this.  If you are interested in speaking with our agency about this recruitment effort please contact us at 1-800-406-2909.

 

In-State Domestic Infant Program

$300   Initial Pre-application fee due with return of Pre-application.
$1,000   Home Study fee due prior to scheduled Home Study visit.
$2,000   Networking fee due upon agency approval of Home Study and "Dear Birth Parent" letter and photos.
$13,250   $3,250 of the placement fee is due when matched with an expectant mother. The remaining $10,000 placement fee is due 2 weeks prior to expectant mother's due date. If placement does not occur the $3,250 fee will not be refunded.
Total    
$16,550   (Plus related medical, living and legal fees and expenses)**

 

Out-of-State Domestic Infant Program

$ 300   Initial Pre-application fee due with return of Pre-application
$ 25   Home Study Review fee due at time of request
$2,000   Networking fee due upon agency approval of Home Study and "Dear Birth Parent" letter and photos
$13,250   $3,250 of the placement fee is due when matched with an expectant mother. The remaining $10,000 placement fee is due 2 weeks prior to expectant mother's due date. If placement does not occur the $3,250 fee will not be refunded. This is a
Total    
$15,575   (Plus related medical, living and legal fees and expenses)**

 

In-State Special Programs Adoption

$ 300   Initial Pre-application fee due with return of Pre-application
$1,000   Home Study fee due prior to scheduled Home Study visit
$2,000   Networking fee due upon agency approval of Home Study and "Dear Birth Parent" letter and photos
$4,750   **$3,250 of the placement fee is due when matched with an expectant mother. The remaining $1,500 placement fee is due 2 weeks prior to expectant mother's due date. If placement does not occur the $3,250 fee will not be refunded. This is a NON-REFUNDABLE fee.
Total    
$8,050   (Plus related medical, living and legal fees and expenses)**

 

Out-of-State Special Programs Adoption

$ 300   Initial Pre-application fee due with return of Pre-application
$25   Home Study fee due prior to scheduled Home Study visit
$2,000   Networking fee due upon agency approval of Home Study and "Dear Birth Parent" letter and photos
$4,750   $3,250 of the placement fee is due when matched with an expectant mother. The remaining $1,500 placement fee is due 2 weeks prior to expectant mother's due date. If placement does not occur the $3,250 fee will not be refunded.
Total    
$7,075   (Plus related medical, living and legal fees and expenses)**

 

In-State Prearranged or Targeted Adoptions

$ 0   Initial Pre-application fee waived
$1,000   Home Study fee due prior to scheduled Home Study visit
$6,450   $3,250 of the placement fee is due when matched with an expectant mother. The remaining $3,200 placement fee is due 2 weeks prior to expectant mother's due date. If placement does not occur the $3,250 fee will not be refunded.
Total    
$7,450   (Plus related medical, living and legal fees and expenses)**

 

Out-of-State Prearranged or Targeted Adoptions

$ 0   Initial Pre-application fee waived
$25   Home Study fee due prior to scheduled Home Study visit
$6,450   $3,250 of the placement fee is due when matched with an expectant mother. The remaining $3,200 placement fee is due 2 weeks prior to expectant mother's due date. If placement does not occur the $3,250 fee will not be refunded.
Total    
$6,475   (Plus related medical, living and legal fees and expenses)**

 

NOTE: If the targeted adoption is unsuccessful, ABC will charge the adopting couple fifty dollars ($50.00) per hour for services rendered, not to exceed ten (10) hours or five hundred dollars ($500.00). (Home Study and application fees are non-refundable.)

Self-Networking Services
$500   One-time application and service fee due with return of completed Pre-application. Includes use of toll-free phone service (U.S. only), twenty four (24) hours/7 days per week; phone call reception and counseling by experienced staff. This service may be used alone or in conjunction with other programs. Mail and fax service also available. Credit is applied to placement fees when the self-networked adoptive placement is facilitated by ABC.

 

Independent Services
$1,000   Independent Home Study (Home Study Only)

$ 500

or

$600

   Home Study Update (if placement has not occurred within one year of the approved Home Study or at the agency's request) $500 if ABC completed original home study or $600 if another agency completed original home study
$ 100   Home Study Addendum - no visit required
$ 200   Home Study Addendum - home visit required
$ 25   Home Study Review
$ 300   Post-placement visit and supervision
$ 90   Additional post-placement visits (per hour)
$750-1,000   Legal termination of birth father's and/or husband's rights
$50   Special requests from adoptive applicants may include but are not limited to specific medical tests not considered to be routine medical policy. The fee shall include the cost of the request and agency time facilitating request per hour.
$ 500   Counseling for birth parents requested over and above that provided by the ABC social worker will be referred to an appropriate professional and billed to the adoptive couple not to exceed five hundred ($500), unless otherwise approved. This could be pre or post placement.
$ 250   Attorneys fees incurred in the legal representation of birth parent(s) required when birth parent(s) is under eighteen (18) years of age (estimated amount)
$750-$1,000   Attorneys fees and court costs incurred for Finalization, issuance of the Final Decree of Adoption and birth certificate, depending on complexity and time necessary for completion.
$30   Foster care costs, if applicable, per day
.48/mile   Mileage for travel - first 50 miles from ABC roundtrip free

 

Services Included in Agency Fees

 

**Medical fees will vary. The agency will make every effort to identify all medical costs at the time of placement. Couples will be informed if the medical bills are expected to be exceptionally high (i.e. c-section, complications, etc.). There may be expenses which are unknown at the time of placement (i.e. -foster care, counseling, housing, living expenses and attorneys fees), which are the responsibility of the adopting couple. ABC will make every effort to inform you of these expenses and will send an invoice and itemized statement once these charges are received. ALL FEES MUST BE PAID BEFORE FINALIZATION.

NOTE: All fees are non-refundable and subject to change. Payment plans and special subsidy programs may be available for Special Program applicants.