Types of Adoption Explained

Adoption is not a one-size-fits-all process. There are several distinct paths to building a family through adoption, and each one comes with different costs, timelines, legal requirements, and experiences. Some families adopt newborns through a private agency. Others open their homes to older children in foster care. Some adopt from another country. And many stepparents or relatives formalize an existing bond through legal adoption.

The right type of adoption depends on your circumstances, preferences, and budget. Understanding the differences before you begin saves time, money, and frustration. This guide compares the five main types of adoption side by side — domestic infant adoption, foster care adoption, international adoption, stepparent adoption, and kinship adoption — covering how each works, what it costs, and how long it takes.

Domestic Infant Adoption

Domestic infant adoption is the process of adopting a newborn or young infant in the United States. Birth parents voluntarily choose to place their child for adoption and select an adoptive family, typically with the help of a licensed adoption agency or an adoption attorney.

How it works. You apply with an adoption agency or adoption attorney, complete a home study (2 to 4 months), and create a family profile for birth parents to review. When a birth parent selects you, you are “matched.” After the child is born, the birth parent signs consent and the child is placed in your home. A judge issues the final adoption decree after a state-mandated waiting period.

Open vs. closed adoption. Most domestic infant adoptions today involve some level of open adoption, where the adoptive family and birth parents share information or maintain contact. Fully closed adoptions are far less common than they were decades ago. Openness can range from exchanging letters and photos to regular in-person visits.

Cost: $25,000 to $50,000, including agency fees, legal fees, home study costs, and birth parent expenses where permitted by state law.

Timeline: 1 to 5 years, with most of the wait occurring during the matching phase.

Pros: You are typically matched before or shortly after birth. You may develop a relationship with the birth family.

Cons: High cost. Long and unpredictable wait times. Birth parents can change their mind before consent becomes irrevocable.

Foster Care Adoption

Foster care adoption means adopting a child from the public child welfare system. These are children whose birth parents’ parental rights have been terminated by the court — usually due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. There are over 100,000 children in the U.S. foster care system with a goal of adoption at any given time.

How it works. You complete a pre-service training program — typically MAPP (Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting) or PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education) — running 20 to 30 hours over several weeks. After your home study, a caseworker matches you with a child whose needs fit your family’s strengths. You may foster the child first before the case transitions to adoption. After a supervised period, the adoption is finalized in court.

Who are the waiting children? Most children available through foster care are between the ages of 3 and 17. Sibling groups are common. Many have experienced trauma and may have behavioral, emotional, or developmental needs.

Cost: $0 to $2,500. States subsidize nearly all costs. Many families pay nothing out of pocket. Children adopted from foster care frequently qualify for ongoing monthly subsidies, Medicaid, and educational assistance that continue until age 18 (or 21 in some states).

Timeline: 6 to 18 months from the completion of training to finalization, though some placements take longer.

Pros: Little to no cost. Ongoing financial and medical support. You are providing a permanent home to a child who needs one.

Cons: Many children have experienced trauma and may need specialized support. You may have less information about the child’s early medical history.

International Adoption

International adoption involves adopting a child from another country. It is governed by U.S. federal law, the laws of the child’s country of origin, and — for most countries — the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.

How it works. You select a country and work with a Hague-accredited adoption service provider. Each country has its own eligibility rules regarding age, marital status, family size, and income. After your home study, you prepare a dossier — a detailed document package that is authenticated, translated, and submitted to the foreign country. The country matches you with a child and sends a referral. Most countries require at least one trip to meet the child and complete in-country legal requirements. You must also complete U.S. immigration processing to bring the child home.

Cost: $25,000 to $60,000, including agency fees, dossier preparation, travel, immigration processing, and legal fees in both countries.

Timeline: 1 to 4 years, depending on the country.

Declining numbers. International adoption has decreased sharply — from roughly 23,000 U.S. adoptions in 2004 to fewer than 2,000 per year recently. Many countries have tightened restrictions or closed their programs. As of early 2026, countries with active programs include Colombia, India, South Korea, Bulgaria, and the Philippines, though availability changes frequently.

Pros: You can adopt from a specific country or culture. Many programs serve younger children.

Cons: High cost. Lengthy timelines. Extensive paperwork. Limited contact with birth family. Country programs can close with little warning.

Stepparent Adoption

Stepparent adoption is the most common type of adoption in the United States. It occurs when a married person legally adopts their spouse’s child from a prior relationship. Once finalized, the stepparent has the same legal rights and responsibilities as a biological parent.

Key requirement: The other biological parent must either voluntarily consent to the adoption or have their parental rights terminated by the court. When consent is given freely, the process is straightforward. When it is not, the stepparent must prove grounds for involuntary termination — such as abandonment or abuse — which significantly increases the complexity, timeline, and cost.

Simplified process. Many states waive or simplify the home study for stepparent adoptions since the child already lives in the home. Background checks are still required.

Cost: $1,500 to $5,000 for uncontested cases. Contested cases can cost $5,000 to $15,000 or more.

Timeline: 3 to 6 months for uncontested cases. Contested cases may take 6 months to 2 years.

Stepparent adoption permanently changes the legal relationship — even if the marriage later ends in divorce, the stepparent remains the child’s legal parent. For a detailed walkthrough, see our stepparent adoption guide.

Kinship and Relative Adoption

Kinship adoption (also called relative adoption) occurs when a grandparent, aunt, uncle, sibling, or other family member legally adopts a child. In many cases, the child is already living with the relative — often as a result of a parent’s death, incarceration, substance abuse, or inability to care for the child.

How it works. Kinship adoption may follow either the foster care path or a private placement path, depending on how the child came to live with the relative. If the child entered the foster care system and was placed with a relative, the process follows the foster care framework. If the child was placed privately (for example, a parent asked a grandparent to take the child), the process may resemble a private adoption with fewer requirements.

Benefits for the child. Research consistently shows that children placed with relatives experience greater stability and fewer placement disruptions. They maintain connections with siblings, extended family, and their community. Courts often give preference to relative placements for these reasons.

Cost: $1,500 to $5,000 for private kinship adoptions. Those following the foster care path may cost little to nothing, and the child may qualify for ongoing subsidies.

Timeline: 3 to 12 months, depending on the legal path and whether parental rights have already been terminated.

Comparison Table

How to Choose the Right Type of Adoption

There is no single “best” type of adoption. The right choice depends on your answers to these questions:

• Do you prefer an infant or are you open to an older child? Domestic infant adoption is the most direct path to a newborn, but it is the most expensive and involves the longest wait.
• What is your budget? Foster care adoption is by far the most affordable option. The federal adoption tax credit can reduce out-of-pocket expenses for other types.
• How flexible is your timeline? Stepparent and kinship adoptions are the fastest. Foster care adoption also moves relatively quickly.
• Are you open to a child with special needs? Many children in foster care have behavioral, emotional, or developmental needs.
• Do you want an ongoing relationship with the birth family? Open adoption is most common in domestic infant adoption. International adoption rarely includes ongoing contact.
• Is the child already in your life? If you are a stepparent or relative already caring for a child, the corresponding adoption type is the natural fit.

Take time to assess your family’s capacity, resources, and preferences. Attend informational sessions with agencies, and consult with an attorney before committing to a path. For a step-by-step breakdown of the general process, see our adoption process guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest type of adoption?

Foster care adoption is the least expensive type, typically costing $0 to $2,500. Most expenses are covered by the state, and many children qualify for ongoing monthly subsidies and Medicaid after the adoption is finalized. The federal adoption tax credit may also apply.

Which type of adoption is fastest?

Stepparent adoption is generally the fastest, completing in 3 to 6 months when the biological parent consents. Kinship adoption is also relatively quick at 3 to 12 months. Domestic infant and international adoptions typically take 1 to 5 years.

Can I adopt internationally as a single parent?

Yes, but your options are more limited. Some countries restrict adoption to married couples or impose additional requirements for single applicants. Countries like Colombia and certain programs in India and Bulgaria have historically accepted single applicants, but policies change frequently. Work with a Hague-accredited agency to identify current options.

What is the difference between open and closed adoption?

In an open adoption, the adoptive family and birth parents share identifying information and maintain contact — ranging from letters and photos to in-person visits. In a closed adoption, no identifying information is exchanged. Most domestic infant adoptions today are open or semi-open.

Do I need an attorney for any type of adoption?

An attorney is strongly recommended for every type of adoption. Adoption involves termination of parental rights, court filings, and a finalization hearing. An attorney ensures all legal requirements are met and represents you in court. For stepparent and kinship adoptions, an attorney is often essential to navigate consent and termination issues.

What to Do Next

1. Identify which type of adoption fits your situation. Use the comparison table and questions above to narrow your options.
2. Research agencies and requirements. Attend free informational sessions with licensed agencies. For foster care adoption, contact your state’s child welfare department.
3. Begin gathering documents. Birth certificates, marriage certificates, financial records, and medical statements are needed for nearly every adoption type.
4. Consult a family law attorney. An attorney who handles adoptions can explain your state’s specific requirements and guide you through the process. Schedule a free consultation to get started.