Adoption is one of the most rewarding and life-changing decisions a family can make, but it also comes with a wide range of financial considerations. In Texas, adoption costs vary depending on the type of adoption, the agency chosen, and the services required. Families may encounter expenses related to legal representation, home studies, counseling, travel, and post-placement support. While the costs may feel overwhelming at first glance, it is important to understand that each fee serves a purpose in ensuring that the process is safe, ethical, and supportive for both the child and the adoptive family.
Texas offers multiple adoption paths, including agency adoption, private adoption, foster care adoption, and international adoption. Each path carries its own structure of costs, ranging from very low fees for foster-to-adopt placements to higher costs associated with private and international adoptions. Many organizations in Texas provide support and guidance to families, helping them navigate expenses while offering comprehensive services that make the process smoother.
This guide outlines the top 20 considerations for adoption costs in Texas, including details about different organizations, the services they provide, and how they structure their fees.
Top 20 Cost of Adoption in Texas
1. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)
Description: DFPS oversees foster care and adoption for children in the state’s custody. Foster-to-adopt placements through DFPS are among the most affordable options in Texas.
Address: 4900 North Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78751
Contact Details: Phone – (512) 438-4800
Services Offered: Foster care adoption, licensing, home studies, and post-placement support.
Cost Details: Minimal fees, often under $500, since the state covers most expenses. Families may also receive financial assistance and adoption subsidies.
2. Gladney Center for Adoption
Description: Established in Fort Worth, Gladney is one of the oldest and most well-known adoption agencies in Texas. They provide a wide range of adoption services for families and expectant mothers.
Address: 6300 John Ryan Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76132
Contact Details: Phone – (817) 922-6000
Services Offered: Domestic infant adoption, international adoption, counseling, education, and post-adoption services.
Cost Details: Domestic adoption ranges from $40,000–$55,000, including home study, legal work, and birth mother expenses. International adoption costs vary but often fall between $35,000–$50,000.
3. Adoption Choices of Texas
Description: This agency specializes in private domestic infant adoptions, offering support to both adoptive families and birth mothers.
Address: 100 Congress Avenue, Suite 2000, Austin, TX 78701
Contact Details: Phone – (512) 605-1005
Services Offered: Domestic adoption placement, legal guidance, birth mother counseling, and home studies.
Cost Details: Private adoption typically costs $35,000–$50,000, depending on legal fees and birth parent expenses.
4. Arrow Child and Family Ministries
Description: Arrow Child and Family Ministries works with children in foster care, connecting them with adoptive families while providing comprehensive support services.
Address: 2929 FM 2920, Spring, TX 77388
Contact Details: Phone – (281) 210-1500
Services Offered: Foster care adoption, counseling, training, and post-placement support.
Cost Details: Adoption through foster care is often low-cost, averaging under $1,000, as the state covers many expenses.
5. Buckner International Adoption and Maternity Services
Description: Buckner offers adoption services across Texas, including both domestic and international placements. They also provide support for foster-to-adopt families.
Address: 700 N. Pearl Street, Suite 1200, Dallas, TX 75201
Contact Details: Phone – (214) 758-8000
Services Offered: Domestic adoption, foster care adoption, international adoption, counseling, and home studies.
Cost Details: International adoption costs typically range from $30,000–$45,000. Domestic adoption ranges from $25,000–$40,000.
6. Adoption Advocates Inc.
Description: Based in Austin, Adoption Advocates specializes in open domestic infant adoptions with extensive support for birth mothers and adoptive families.
Address: 4407 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 103, Austin, TX 78759
Contact Details: Phone – (512) 477-1122
Services Offered: Domestic adoption placement, counseling, home studies, and post-adoption support.
Cost Details: Adoption services generally range from $30,000–$50,000, depending on legal requirements and birth parent needs.
7. Covenant Kids Adoption Services
Description: Covenant Kids provides foster care and adoption services with a faith-based approach. They primarily focus on children in the state’s care.
Address: 3600 Hulen Street, Suite D2, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Contact Details: Phone – (817) 516-9100
Services Offered: Foster-to-adopt, case management, and counseling services.
Cost Details: Foster care adoption costs are minimal, generally less than $1,000.
8. The Cradle of Life Adoption Agency
Description: This agency provides adoption services throughout Texas with an emphasis on compassionate, ethical practices.
Address: 1130 East Anderson Lane, Austin, TX 78752
Contact Details: Phone – (512) 346-2229
Services Offered: Domestic infant adoption, home studies, counseling, and legal support.
Cost Details: Average costs range between $35,000–$45,000 for domestic adoptions.
9. Christian Homes & Family Services
Description: This agency supports both adoption and foster care, with a strong emphasis on family-centered values.
Address: 901 North Main Street, Abilene, TX 79601
Contact Details: Phone – (325) 677-2205
Services Offered: Domestic adoption, foster care, maternity care, and counseling.
Cost Details: Domestic adoptions typically range between $25,000–$40,000, with additional support options available for birth mothers.
10. Pathways Youth and Family Services
Description: Pathways provides adoption services focused on foster children in Texas, helping connect them with permanent families.
Address: 1199 S. Belt Line Road, Suite 150, Coppell, TX 75019
Contact Details: Phone – (972) 243-8700
Services Offered: Foster-to-adopt programs, counseling, and family support services.
Cost Details: Foster care adoption costs are minimal, often under $500, with many fees reimbursed by the state.
11. Generations Adoptions
Description: Generations Adoptions is a faith-based agency offering both domestic and international adoption services.
Address: 6924 W. Waco Drive, Waco, TX 76710
Contact Details: Phone – (254) 741-1633
Services Offered: Domestic infant adoption, international adoption, foster-to-adopt, and counseling.
Cost Details: Domestic adoption costs average $25,000–$40,000, while international adoptions can range from $30,000–$45,000.
12. AdoptionWorks
Description: Based in Dallas, AdoptionWorks is a full-service adoption program focusing on infant placements within Texas.
Address: 6320 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, Suite 140, Dallas, TX 75240
Contact Details: Phone – (214) 692-8992
Services Offered: Domestic adoption, counseling, education, and post-placement support.
Cost Details: Adoption fees generally fall between $30,000–$45,000.
13. International Adoption Net – Texas Branch
Description: This agency works with families interested in adopting children from abroad, guiding them through the legal and logistical processes.
Address: 4100 Alpha Road, Suite 200, Dallas, TX 75244
Contact Details: Phone – (972) 233-3500
Services Offered: International adoption placement, home studies, and counseling.
Cost Details: Costs range between $30,000–$50,000, depending on the country of origin and travel requirements.
14. New Life Adoptions
Description: New Life Adoptions focuses on infant adoptions, offering personalized support to adoptive families and expectant mothers.
Address: 1101 South Capital of Texas Highway, Building C, Austin, TX 78746
Contact Details: Phone – (512) 301-9393
Services Offered: Domestic adoption, home studies, counseling, and ongoing family support.
Cost Details: Adoption fees typically range from $30,000–$50,000.
15. Helping Hand Adoption Agency
Description: Helping Hand provides comprehensive adoption services across Texas, focusing on infant placements.
Address: 515 Campbell Road, Suite 200, Richardson, TX 75080
Contact Details: Phone – (972) 480-9000
Services Offered: Domestic adoption, counseling, legal support, and home studies.
Cost Details: Fees range between $30,000–$45,000 depending on birth mother needs and legal requirements
16. A World for Children Adoption Services
Description: A World for Children is a statewide organization that works primarily with foster children, providing both foster and adoption services.
Address: 401 Isom Road, Suite 320, San Antonio, TX 78216
Contact Details: Phone – (210) 366-0740
Services Offered: Foster-to-adopt, counseling, training, and family support.
Cost Details: Foster care adoptions are minimal in cost, typically under $500. Many families qualify for state reimbursements and subsidies.
17. Legacy Adoption Services
Description: Legacy Adoption Services offers private domestic adoption services with personalized attention to both birth mothers and adoptive families.
Address: 2900 North Loop West, Suite 500, Houston, TX 77092
Contact Details: Phone – (832) 677-2670
Services Offered: Domestic infant adoption, counseling, home studies, and legal guidance.
Cost Details: Domestic adoptions generally range between $35,000–$50,000 depending on legal and medical needs.
18. Abrazo Adoption Associates
Description: Located in San Antonio, Abrazo is known for its focus on open adoptions and strong support systems for both adoptive families and birth parents.
Address: 100 N.E. Loop 410, Suite 1000, San Antonio, TX 78216
Contact Details: Phone – (210) 342-5683
Services Offered: Domestic adoption, open adoption counseling, home studies, and post-placement support.
Cost Details: Costs range from $30,000–$45,000 depending on the situation and birth mother expenses.
19. DePelchin Children’s Center
Description: DePelchin Children’s Center has served Texas families for more than a century, focusing on foster care, adoption, and child welfare.
Address: 4950 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77007
Contact Details: Phone – (713) 730-2335
Services Offered: Foster care adoption, counseling, family support, and home studies.
Cost Details: Foster-to-adopt through DePelchin is often very low-cost, under $500, as the state covers most expenses.
20. Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services
Description: This faith-based organization offers foster care, adoption, and family support services across multiple regions of Texas.
Address: 5920 W. William Cannon Drive, Building 3, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78749
Contact Details: Phone – (512) 476-1234
Services Offered: Foster-to-adopt, domestic adoption, counseling, and case management.
Cost Details: Foster care adoption is very affordable, usually less than $1,000, with state support available for many families.
Final Thoughts on Adoption Costs in Texas
The cost of adoption in Texas can vary significantly depending on the path chosen. Families who pursue foster-to-adopt placements often face very minimal expenses, sometimes under $500, thanks to state reimbursement programs and subsidies. On the other hand, private domestic and international adoptions can range from $25,000 to $55,000, reflecting the wide range of services required, such as legal fees, counseling, medical care, and agency costs.
For families considering adoption, it is crucial to evaluate both their financial capacity and the type of adoption they feel called to pursue. While private and international adoptions may appear costly, many families find peace of mind in the comprehensive support provided. Meanwhile, foster-to-adopt remains one of the most affordable ways to grow a family, with the added benefit of providing a loving home to children already in the state’s care.
Adoption is not only a financial investment but also an emotional and lifelong commitment. The journey may involve paperwork, home studies, legal processes, and significant expenses, but the outcome—a child finding a permanent, loving home—is priceless. Whether through a state agency, private adoption program, or international placement, families in Texas have access to numerous organizations and resources that ensure the process is guided with professionalism, compassion, and care