Adoption Attorney, Lisa L. Collins, Esq., has provided some Adoption Basics for individuals starting their adoption journey:
What are the costs?
The cost of adoption can range from $0 to $50,000 (and upwards, although arguably anything higher would be unreasonable), depending on the circumstances. There are certain classifications of expenses an adoptive parent can encounter in the adoption process. These can include home study fees, placement fees, legal fees, counseling expenses, medical costs, birth mother living expenses, or expenses incurred in a foreign country, including travel. Not all these types of expenses are incurred in every adoption.
To help offset the cost of adoption, there is some financial assistance available to adoptive parents. This could include federal or state adoption assistance in special needs adoptions, the federal tax credit, employer adoption assistance or adoption loans.
Review Tennessee Department of Children Services: Adoption Fee Schedule for additional information on specifics in Tennessee.