Do you want to know how much to adopt a child in New South Wales? For some parents, it’s easy to conceive a child and raise them until they’re ready for the world. However, this is not the case for other parents or single parents, hence they may want to know how much to adopt a child.
Everyone has different reasons why they want to adopt a child. Did they want to help a child in need? What if they don’t want any pregnancy complications? Whatever the reason is, it’s important to remember that adoption is not free. It will come with many papers and costs that one should prepare for.
Lucky for you, we have outlined everything you need to start your adoption journey!
What is Adoption?
Adoption is the legal process where a person (or couple) permanently takes on the parenting responsibilities of a child. The new parents generally replace the biological or legal parents. This can happen mainly because of two reasons.
1. Firstly, a birth parent or parents are unable to raise the child themselves.
2. Secondly, a couple who cannot have biological children of their wishes to build a family.
Adoption creates a parent-child relationship between the adoptive parents and the adopted child. But adoption is also so much more than that. It is a bond of love and commitment that can last a lifetime.
Do You Meet the Criteria for Adoption?
So how much to adopt a child in Australia? You can’t just step into adoption centres, present your cash and choose whatever child you want. You should know that taking care of a child requires a lot of patience, responsibility, and of course, finances. Barnardos Australia says that a person can qualify to become an adoptive parent if they are:
- 25+ years old
- An Australian permanent resident/citizen (kinship exceptions)
- Living in a home or space that is safe, stable and comfortable to live in with the prospective child
- Mentally and physically fit
- Non-smokers
- Willing to undergo a criminal history check
- Holding a working with children check
- Willing to undergo training and support (more explained below)
How Much to Adopt a Child: Local Adoption Costs
Note: The standard adoption fees below are in effect as of September 2024. Please don’t forget to cross-check the costs on the Department of Communities and Justice’s (DCJ) website.
Adopting a child is a significant decision that requires careful consideration, planning, and financial preparation. One of the factors that prospective adoptive parents need to take into account is the process and costs of local adoption. Let’s tackle the step-by-step process.
1. Information and training: The DCJ can provide information and training for local adoption. This will cost AUD 150
2. Application and Assessment: Next, the DCJ will evaluate the prospective adoptive parent(s) and identify if they are suitable to adopt. This is the most expensive step to pay for which costs AUD 1717
3. Child matching and post-placement: Then, the person can proceed to the matching process with a child. It will also include the necessary support and supervision. This will cost AUD 700
4. Payment of legal fees: Finally, the adoptive parent must pay legal fees.
For more information, you can also read our factsheet on adoption below.
How Much to Adopt a Child: Local Adoption Costs
Note: The standard adoption fees below are in effect as of September 2024. Please don’t forget to cross-check the costs on the Department of Communities and Justice’s (DCJ) website.
Adopting a child is a significant decision that requires careful consideration, planning, and financial preparation. One of the factors that prospective adoptive parents need to take into account is the process and costs of local adoption. Let’s tackle the step-by-step process.
1. Information and training: The DCJ can provide information and training for local adoption. This will cost AUD 150
2. Application and Assessment: Next, the DCJ will evaluate the prospective adoptive parent(s) and identify if they are suitable to adopt. This is the most expensive step to pay for which costs AUD 1717
3. Child matching and post-placement: Then, the person can proceed to the matching process with a child. It will also include the necessary support and supervision. This will cost AUD 700
4. Payment of legal fees: Finally, the adoptive parent must pay legal fees.
For more information, you can also read our factsheet on adoption below.
How Much To Adopt a Child: Overseas Adoption Costs
Overseas or inter-country adoption involves adopting a child from another country. Similarly, intercountry adoption has costs that you should know of. Here are the other costs to consider when you want to pursue an inter-country adoption:
| Type of fee | Stage | First application | Second and subsequent applications |
| Information stage | Information and expression of interest | AUD 660 | No charge |
| Assessment | Application and assessment | AUD 4,388 | AUD 2,163 |
| Allocation | Allocation | AUD 4,944 | AUD 4,944 |
Moreover, inter-country adoption can be expensive. So, if you want to know how much to adopt a child overseas, please note that there are additional fees that you may need to incur in the form of charges:
- Levied by government departments, consulates, and businesses within Australia for costs relating to visas,
- Imposed by overseas authorities,
- for travel, accommodation, and living costs, related to going to the overseas country to be placed with their child.
Can I Adopt a Child Overseas?
Yes! If you want to adopt a child overseas, the DCJ has your back. The Department is currently the only agency in NSW that can arrange an inter-country adoption. Below is a list of countries where you can adopt a child from one of the country’s partner countries:
- Bulgaria
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Hong Kong
- India
- Latvia
- Poland
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Sri Lanka
- Taiwan
- Thailand
Your state and territory central authority (STCA) receives adoption applications, and determines eligibility. They can also offer adoption-related assistance to people considering adoption.y can also offer adoption-related assistance to people considering adoption.
How Much To Adopt a Child: A Step-By-Step Guide
Now that we know how much to adopt a child, here is a step-by-step process for adopting a child in NSW:
- Firstly, You should find out if you want to adopt in Australia or overseas. For local adoptions, consult with the DCJ. On the other hand, parents who want to adopt overseas should consult with Intercountry Adoption Australia and DCJ as well.
- Secondly, you should make an initial enquiry with the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) or an accredited adoption service provider. For more information and support, you may contact the Department at 02 9716 3003 or email them at [email protected].
- Thirdly, prospective adoptive parents need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form to be included in the adoption programs.
- Then, the prospective parents must submit the EOI form, and prospective adoptive parents need to attend a Preparation for Adoption Seminar. This seminar provides information about the adoption process, the legal requirements, and the support available to adoptive families.
- Finally, the assessment process involves a series of interviews, home visits, and background checks to determine the suitability of the prospective adoptive parents. The assessment also reflects the legislative requirements of the NSW Adoption Act 2000, and identified predictive placement risk and success factors from adoption research.
Are There Additional Steps to Adoption?
In this article about how much to adopt a child, there are additional steps to the adoption process
- Matching Process. Once the assessment is complete, the DCJ or an accredited adoption service provider will work to match the prospective adoptive parents with a child who is in need of a permanent home.
- Placement. After a match is made, the child will be placed with the prospective adoptive parents. The placement is usually for a trial period of six to twelve months, during which the child and the adoptive family get to know each other.
- Finalisation. If the placement is successful, the DCJ will finally proceed to finalise the adoption about six to nine months after the child’s placement. In NSW, the Supreme Court is responsible for effecting adoption orders.
Adoption Services or a recognised adoption service provider files the application with the court in local adoption cases. Inter-country adoption applicants may draft the application themselves or hire a private solicitor if it is necessary to file an application to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court transmits a copy of the adoption order to DCJ when it is made in NSW.
Foster Care Adoption
In NSW, foster care adoption is a type of local adoption where the foster carer adopts a child in their care. According to the NSW Government, there is no cost associated with foster care adoption in NSW. Here are some key points to keep in mind about foster care adoption in NSW:
- Foster care adoption is a type of local adoption where the foster carer adopts a child in their care.
- Foster carers who wish to adopt a child in their care need to meet the same eligibility criteria as other prospective adoptive parents. They need to be an adult who is available and able to provide for the child until they turn 18.
- This type of adoption is a permanent arrangement that transfers all the legal parenting rights and responsibilities from the child’s birth parents (or anyone with parental responsibility for the child) to the adoptive parents.
Read: Adopting A Stepchild With Absent Father | JB Solicitors
We Can Help You Adopt Your First Child Today
It’s always exciting for a parent to finally adopt a child and raise them as their own. However, you should not act lax throughout the adoption process. Moreover, there are laws that you should follow and legal forms that you will fill up.
JB Solicitor’s experienced family lawyers can provide more information regarding how much to adopt a child in NSW, legal advice on the adoption process, the legal requirements, and the rights and responsibilities of the adoptive parents. We can also advise on the legal implications of adoption, such as inheritance and succession issues.
We can also provide other legal services such as:
- Legal and Court Representation
- Document preparation
- Mediation between the adoptive parent or parents and birth family if needed
- Step-parent adoption.
- Domestic adoption or international adoption
- Divorce and child custody matters
Contact us today.
