Adoption Costs in Georgia

1. Foster Care Adoption

State: Adopting from foster care through Georgia’s Division of Family And Children Services (DFCS) may be as low as $0–$2,500.

Home-study & background checks: Usually $300–$2,500
Attorney/court costs: Legal fees typically range from $5,000 to $15,000, plus court filing, investigation, and possible guardian ad litem fees .
Medical/birth parent costs & advertising (if applicable): Expect $6,000–$8,000 for birth mother expenses.
Travel/post-placement supervision (if applicable): Additional travel and supervision costs typically add $2,000–$3,000

Georgia-specific costs: Range from about $12,000 to $40,000 or more.
Other sources: Some report up to $30,000–$70,000, depending on services and the agency.

Overall cost: Typically $20,000–$50,000, possibly exceeding $70,000 depending on country and travel.

Federal adoption tax credit: Up to $16,810 per child for tax year 2024 can be used for qualified expenses. (Does not apply to stepparent adoptions).
Georgia state credit: $6,000 per year (first 5 years) for foster-care adoptions, then $2,000 per year until age 18 for foster-care adoptions finalized in 2021 or later.
Employer assistance: Some employers offer adoption benefits (typically $500–$35,000) often tax-free up to the federal limit.
Other funding: Grants, loans, home equity, retirement account exceptions, and other creative financing options are available.

* This material is for information purposes only as expenses and adoption laws can
change.

To receive an estimate for your specific adoption, please call The Law Office of Felita Cornog at (404) 298-7373.