No matter how old the child you want to adopt is, adoption is a serious commitment. Therefore, before you adopt anyone, you have to pass various checks to receive approval. Only then can you hope to adopt somebody.
Whilst most adoption processes follow a similar procedure, adopting someone over the age of 18 can be very different from adopting a child. One big difference is the cost of doing so.
Generally speaking, adopting someone over the age of 18 costs less.
If you’re considering adopting an individual over the age of 18, understanding the costs involved is one of many things you have to know and consider. In today’s post, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know.
In this post, we’ll tell you how much the average adoption costs, factors you need to take into account, and other costs you might have to fork out.
Let’s get started!
Can You Adopt An Individual Over The Age Of 18?
Before we do anything else, let’s look at the legal side of things. In most states, it is perfectly legal to adopt someone over the age of 18.
In fact, the adoption of 18-year-olds is quite popular as it is a great way to give someone the same rights as a biological child.
The main right that makes people adopt someone over 18 is inheritance (see also “Can You Adopt Someone Older Than You?“). The other common reason why some people decide to adopt someone over the age of 18 is that they share a long-term step-parent relationship.
Adopting the individual is a nice way to establish that legal parent-child relationship.
What Is The Maximum Age For Adoption In The United States?
It is worth knowing that there are no maximum age limits for adoption in 30 US states. Other states and American territories have varying laws but most stick to the law that any adult over the age of 18 can be adopted.
American states and territories that have different laws include American Samoa, Rhodie Island, and Colorado. In these locations, an adult can only be adopted if they are over the age of 18 and under the age of 21.
In California, rules are very different. In California, you can only adopt an adult if they aren’t your spouse, they are over the age of 18, and if you are at least 10 years older than them.
How Much Will It Cost You To Adopt Someone Over The Age Of 18?
Now you know more about the laws surrounding the adoption of adults, we can answer the question that brought you to this post. Typically, child adoptions are more popular than adult adoptions. Therefore, they are usually more expensive.
As a result, adopting someone over the age of 18 doesn’t cost that much. However, costs can still vary. The average cost to adopt someone over the age of 18 is between $100 and $2,000.
We know this figure varies a lot but that is just how adoption goes. Your costs will vary depending on a number of factors. We’ll look at these next.
The Factors That Affect Adoption Costs
There are three main factors that affect how much it will cost you to adopt someone over the age of 18. Those three factors are:
The type of adoption
The state you’re adopting in
Legal fees
Each of these factors plays a key role in ensuring success when adopting someone. Without these three things, you can’t hope to be successful.
When it comes to the type of adoption, costs will vary depending on the situation you find yourself in. Sibling and stepparent adoptions are normally much cheaper than independent adoptions.
The state you live in can also impact things as every state has its own set of fees associated with adoption. Finally, there’s a good chance you might have to hire an attorney to complete an adoption.
If you do, you can expect costs to increase.
Extra Costs You Need To Think About
Whilst the initial costs associated with the adoption of an adult are relatively low, the costs parents face after adopting an adult can be significantly higher than those parents face when adopting a child.
If you decide to adopt an adult over the age of 18, you have to be prepared to cover the extra costs. This includes things like housing, health care, food, and potentially college tuition.
As you can probably imagine, costs can add up quickly. Therefore, you should consider your finances before going through with an adoption.
Why Are There Fewer Extra Costs Associated With Child Adoption?
It may cost you more to adopt a child but the extra costs you will have to pay will cost you less. The adoption of a child is generally less expensive because they require less support (see also “Why Is Adoption So Expensive?“).
Children have usually already been placed in foster care and are younger than teenagers. When you take on an adult, you are expected to take on a whole new level of responsibilities.
Things You Need To Think About Before Adopting An Adult
Before we finish, we’d like to leave you with a list of things you need to think about before adopting an adult.
Have you met the adult you hope to adopt (see also “Can You Adopt An Adult?“)? If not, are you sure they are a good fit for your family?
How will your other children feel about the adoption?
Are you financially able to support an adult?
How much extra support do you need to give the adoptee?
Do you understand the legal implications associated with adult adoption?
If you carefully think about all these things, you will get it right!
In Conclusion
So, adopting someone over the age of 18 in the United States typically costs between $100 and $2,000.
As you have learned from this post, the costs you incur will vary depending on where you’re adopting from, the type of adoption you need, and any necessary legal fees you have to cover.
Now you know how much it costs and what you need to think about in advance, hopefully, you’re ready to start the adoption process. If you are, we wish you the best of luck!
Hi, I’m Joan Crassel, and I started my firm in 2006, with the goal to help and represent clients in a range of adoption-related matters.
Since then, the firm has gone on to aid hundreds of clients in adoption proceedings, and in other areas of family law.
With this site, I hope that you can find all of the answers that you are looking for, with in depth guides and informative articles from lawyers, not bloggers or social media influencers. We have actual first-hand knowledge of the adoption process, and can provide you with insight that no one else can.
