Adoptions in the US: How Many? How Much? How Long Do They Take? 

We are always amazed that it is so hard to find answers to the 3 most basic and commonly asked questions about adoption:

How many adoptions take place each year in the US?, How much does it cost to adopt?, How long does it take to adopt a baby or child?

Adoption Comparison Charts: The Crucial Factors to Consider When Choosing a Country or Type of Adoption

When considering adoption, information is power. Deciding on the type of adoption that is best for you requires looking at the requirements for that type or country, the adoption process, the type of available children, the stability of the program, and the cost. We have analyzed the various types and countries for the factors we think are most important when choosing.

The Annual Adoption Tax Credit Guide

What a year it has been! Supply chain issues, skyrocketing gas prices, and economic turmoil have left many of us feeling like the pandemic-era terms “strange and unprecedented” are taking things to new forms. While we all hope for some leveling out of inflation rates in the coming months, many are turning their thoughts to filing taxes. No matter how challenging 2022 proved, taxes are still a certainty you must face. If you adopted recently, you can channel your frugality and learn at CreatingaFamily.org about maximizing the 2022 Adoption Tax Credit. The Adoption Tax Credit for 2022 is $14,890 per child. The Adoption Tax Credit is NOT refundable, which means you can only use the credit if you have a federal income tax liability.

Additional Articles for Those Considering Adoption:

Adoption Options Resource Pages

Domestic Infant Adoption

Domestic infant adoption, also known as baby adoption, domestic adoption, birth mother relinquishment adoption, and sometimes private adoption, is the most commonly known form of adoption in the US. 

International Adoption

Americans have been adopting children from abroad since the 1950s. While international adoptions have decreased in recent years, primarily due to countries closing their international adoption programs and costs and wait times increasing, it is still a popular choice for many adoptive parents, and there are still many children growing up in orphanages abroad in need of families.

Foster Care Adoption

Approximately 56,000 children are adopted each year from foster care, but about 100,000 kids are still waiting to be adopted. They are ready and available for parents. They are simply waiting. About 400,000 kids are in foster care and in need of foster parents while a decision is made on whether they will be able to be returned to their biological families or they will be available for adoption.

Transracial/Interracial Adoption

Transracial adoption, also known as interracial or multiracial adoption, is when parents adopt a child of a different race or ethnicity. Usually, but not always, in the US, transracial adoptions are white parents adopting children of color. Transracial adoptions have increased significantly in the last 20 years.

Adopting Older Children

Many older children are available for adoption from foster care and internationally. What we mean by “older” differs slightly by type of adoption.

Blending Children by Birth and Adoption

Parents come to adoption from different places. Some already have children by birth when they decide to adopt. Others have faced infertility and adopt, but choose to go back into fertility treatment to try for another child. In both cases, parents need to think through the special issues that can arise when consider blending kids by birth and adoption. Both biological and adopted children can thrive, but it helps for adoptive parents to be prepared.

Adopting Out of Birth Order

Birth order is important and the decision to disrupt birth order through adoption should not be taken lightly. Families that already have children that are interested in adopting older kids and siblings groups are often faced with the decision of whether to disrupt the order of children in their family.