How much does it cost to adopt a child?
A county adoption agency or the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) may require you to pay a $500 fee at the time it files a court report recommending that an adoption petition be approved. The county adoption agency or CDSS may defer, waive, or reduce the $500 fee under certain circumstances. Adoption fees charged by licensed private adoption agencies are not regulated by the state and will vary. As an adoptive parent, you may be eligible for financial help. The Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) provides financial and medical assistance to eligible children up to age 18, or age 21 if the child is disabled, who otherwise would remain in long-term foster care. The amount of assistance is dependent on the needs of the child and the family’s circumstances. Additionally, California Children’s Services are also available for physically challenged children at no cost to the adoptive parents if the physical challenge has been diagnosed at the time of adoption.
The fee is $500 per child ($400 is reimbursed after the adoption is final). This fee is not due until a child is placed in the home and the adoption is ready to be finalized, and can be reduced if it is a hardship. There is a $20 fee paid to the court when the petition for adoption is filed. There is a fee for fingerprints, and there may be medical fees involved if the adoptive parents do not have insurance coverage for medical exams. Shasta County has its own legal counsel so you do not need an attorney. The county social worker writes and files the petition and other necessary paperwork.
