Adoption Fees
Cost of Adopting a Child?
The Cradle is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit adoption agency. As such, we do not seek to make a profit from our adoption services. The Cradle makes every effort to keep adoption a financially accessible option for building your family.
Each program has their own fee structure based on the services The Cradle will be providing to you. For some of our programs, you will be working with a separate placing agency/primary provider which you will need to ask them about their fees. See the fee structure below for The Cradle’s Adoption Programs.
Adoption Programs
Schedule of Fees and Expenses
Effective Sept. 1, 2025
Fees may be paid to The Cradle by check or credit card
All Programs/Fee Structures
Type | Amount | Explanation |
Application** | $500 | Due with Application for Adoption and required initial paperwork. Includes review of initial paperwork and initial consultation with a counselor. |
Home Study Phase I | $2,000 | Due with Home Study Phase I documents, prior to registration for home study classes. |
Home Study** Phase II | $2,000 | Due when home visit is scheduled. |
Home Study Update | $750 | Due when home visit is scheduled. Updates are required at least annually for domestic adoptions and in connection with I-600A/I-800A expiration for intercountry adoptions. Updates are also required within 30 days for changes of address or changes in household composition. |
Post Placement Visit/Report* | $500 ea., min 3 | Due when scheduling first post placement visit. A minimum of 3 post placement visits/reports are required. Additional visits/reports may be required by placement programs or due to a protracted finalization process. |
Cradle Domestic Program
Type | Amount | Explanation |
Program Activation | $7,500 | Due prior to pool entry. |
Match | $9,500 | Due when matched with expectant parent. If match does not result in placement, match fee is not refundable but will be credited to account and applied toward a future match. |
Placement | $26,000* | Due after placement and paid in two installments. Half is due 14 days after placement and the remaining half is due 90 days after placement. This fee includes the court required Report of Investigation. Report will not be completed until final balance due is paid in full. |
The Cradle employs a comprehensive fee structure for its domestic program paid in three phases: Program Activation, Match, and Placement. The services provided through the comprehensive fee structure for domestic cases include: Advertising and outreach to expectant parents in IL and IN, 24/7 Helpline for expectant parents, counseling and services provided to expectant parents considering adoption (regardless of their decision), pregnancy related financial support provided to expectant parents (regardless of match or final decision), online profile hosting on Cradle website with unlimited updates, social media exposure, counseling services provided by Adoptive Parent Counselor such as regular communication via email, phone or in person, review of potential match situations, counselor support in profile creation, counselor support during the match, match meetings, intensive counselor support during the waiting/decision making time (regardless of number of matches or length of time in pool), birth mother and baby medical expenses not covered by a form of insurance, temporary care for infants, legal and supervisory consultations, witnessing of birth parent legal surrenders, day of placement counseling/support, follow up counseling services provided to birth parents, collaboration with adoption attorneys and preparation of the Report of Investigation for finalization of the adoption, counselor mileage and travel expenses and administrative costs.
Finding Families for Children Initiative
To ensure we have sufficient options for all expectant parents, and parents for every child entrusted to our care, the Finding Families for Children Initiative was established. This initiative reduces some adoption fees for three categories of Applicant(s) in The Cradle’s Domestic program; Black or multiracial Black families applying to adopt a Black or multiracial/Black child; birth siblings; special needs for adoption of a medically fragile child who is expected to be eligible for an adoption subsidy based on the child’s disability. Application, Home Study, Post-placement visit/report and Home Study Update fees are as listed above.
Type | Amount | Explanation |
Program Activation | $4,125 | Due by date of pool entry. |
Match | $5,225 | Due when matched with expectant parent. If match does not result in placement, match fee is not refundable but will be credited to account and applied toward a future match. |
Placement* | $14,300 | Due after placement and charged in two installments. Half is due 14 days after placement and the remaining half is due 3 months after placement. This fee includes the court required Report of Investigation. Report will not be completed until final balance due is paid in full. |
*If placement of twins, placement fee and post placement fees are 50% higher.
**If applicant completed a home study with The Cradle previously and has returned for a subsequent adoption, 50% of the home study fee is due with the application and the balance of the home study fee is due at the home visit.
FINDING FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN INITIATIVE (FFCI)-BIRTH SIBLING | ||
Type | Amount | Explanation |
Placement* | $13,700 | Due after placement and charged in two installments. Half is due 14 days after placement and the remaining half is due 3 months after placement. This fee includes the court required Report of Investigation. Report will not be completed until final balance due is paid in full. Program Activation and Match Fees only apply if you enter the pool. |
FINDING FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN INITIATIVE (FFCI)-SPECIAL NEEDS | ||
Type | Amount | Explanation |
Placement* | $4,400 | Due after placement and charged in two installments. Half is due 14 days after placement and the remaining half is due 3 months after placement. This fee includes the court required Report of Investigation. Report will not be completed until final balance due is paid in full. Program Activation and Match Fees only apply if you enter the pool. |
Agency Assisted and Intercountry
Paid to The Cradle
Type | Amount | Explanation |
Coordination and ICPC | $1500 | Coordination and ICPC fee is due at the time an Agency Assisted Home Study is completed, prior to Cradle communicating with other agencies. The fee supports the communication and collaboration between agencies and to facilitate an interstate adoption. Also applies to Applicant(s) in Cradle program when another agency prepares the home study. The use of another home study agency must be pre-approved by The Cradle |
Coordination with Primary Provider | $1500 | Coordination fee is due at the time the intercountry home study is completed and supports the communication and collaboration with Primary Provider and USCIS necessary to facilitate an intercountry adoption. |
Report of Investigation | $500 | For domestic, if placement occurs in a state other than Illinois and adoption will finalize in Illinois this fee supports the completion of the court required Report of Investigation. For Intercountry, if finalization occurs in USA/Illinois (IR-4/IH-4 Visas) this fee supports the completion of the court required Report of Investigation. |
Other Non-Cradle Fees
Paid directly to vendors
Type | Amount | Explanation |
Legal | $1500-$4000 | Fees for legal work to finalize adoption in Illinois. If adoption is finalized in state of placement, ask placing agency for information about legal fees.
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Fingerprinting | Varies by provider | Required by states/countries at various intervals. |
Education or CPR | Varies by provider | CPR certification is required. Non-Cradle training may be assigned by your counselor and those provider fees apply. |
Travel Expenses (Paid directly to Vendors) | Estimated range: $3,000 to $10,000 | For Agency Assisted and Intercountry Adoptions, prospective adoptive parents can expect to pay additional fees for airfare, lodging, meals and transportation costs. Fees vary based on distance, number of travelers, location, seasonality/availability, accommodation preferences and length of stay. |
Placing Agency/Primary Provider (Paid directly to Placing Agency/Primary Provider) You can expect to receive detailed/itemized explanation of fees and refund options from the agency | Estimated Range: $10,000-$60,000 | For adoptions where another agency is involved such as in Agency Assisted and Intercountry Adoptions, fees will be charged to prospective adoptive parents by their Placement Agency/Primary Provider. Fees will be assessed and disclosed by that agency for the following services: Adoption expenses, administrative costs, application processing, home study review and additional training, program expenses, care of the child, expectant and birth parent direct expenses. In intercountry, document and translation expenses and contributions may be charged. Fees vary based on the agency, the country, and the program. |
Third Party Fees (Paid directly to Primary Provider or Vendors) You can expect to receive detailed/itemized explanation of third-party fees and refund options from Primary Provider | Estimated range: $3,000 to $8,000 | For Intercountry Adoptions, prospective adoptive parents can expect to be charged fees and expenses from third parties. These include fees to USICS, Department of State, Foreign Country’s Central Authority for adoption processing and visa fees. Possible independent health exams or assessments, there may be in-country legal fees. Fees vary based on agency, country and program requirements. |
Refund Policy
Effective Sept. 1, 2025
Application Fee: Nonrefundable after the initial interview
Placement Fee: Nonrefundable
Home Study Phase I Fee: Nonrefundable after pre-adoption education classes
Agency Assisted Coordination Fee: Nonrefundable
Home Study Phase II Fee: Up to 50% refundable, dependent on services already provided
Intercountry Coordination Fee: Nonrefundable
Home Study Update Fee: Nonrefundable after home visit occurs.
Post Placement Visit/Report Fee: Nonrefundable once placement occurs
Program Activation Fee: Nonrefundable after entry to Cradle Pool
Report of Investigation Fee: Nonrefundable
Match Fee: Nonrefundable. If match does not result in a placement, the payment will be applied to a future match
Waiver or Reduction of Fees: The Cradle does not waive or reduce fees
REFUND NOTE: If Applicant(s) fail to properly disclose information or in any way places the agency or its programs at risk, The Cradle reserves the right to terminate the adoption process without providing any refund.
As a not-for-profit organization, The Cradle makes every effort to keep adoption as a financially accessible option for building your family. In fact, the fees do not cover the costs The Cradle incurs in providing counseling, outreach and educational services to all members of the adoption circle. The Cradle relies heavily on fundraising and charitable giving for ongoing support of adoption services.
All fees are subject to change.
Need help with adoption expenses? Visit our educational platform StageWise Parenting to learn about the Federal Adoption Tax Credit, up to $15,950.
Find information on financial resources available to help make adoption a financially accessible option for building your family.
