Do free adoptions exist?

Some agencies have a sliding fee scale so that people can adopt special-needs children from the foster care system at little or no cost. The federal government also has funding to help parents pay non-recurring adoption costs, such as court and attorney fees and traveling expenses.

The Hope for Children Act passed in June 2001 provides a $10,000 tax credit for adoptive families. Families claim this tax credit the year that the adoption becomes final and can deduct domestic adoption expenses even if they do not complete the adoption. Some states offer an additional state tax credit for adopting families, including West Virginia, New Mexico, Montana, Arizona and California.