What Fees & Costs Can I Expect in My Georgia Adoption?

• Attorney’s fees • Court filing fees • Home investigation fees • Criminal background check fee • Costs to support the biological mother • Travel & lodging costs • Costs related to service & notice • Cost for issuance of new birth certificate

Attorney's fees

Neal & Wright LLC charges $220 per hour for work by its attorneys or a flat fee. Such fees or similar are not unusual.

Court filing fees

Filing fees in Georgia Superior Courts are usually around $90.

Home investigation fees

Adoptive parents using a private or state agency will complete a thorough home study with the agency and will pay the agency directly for this service. The cost varies from agency to agency. In independent adoptions, the home investigation cost is usually $250 to $500.

Criminal background check fee

With limited exceptions, adoptive parents are required to undergo criminal background checks. This may be part of the agency home investigation process. GCIC charges $26 per person to conduct a check with fingerprint cards and $32.15 for electronic processing through the GAPS system.

Costs to support the biological mother

Adoptive parents using a private agency may pay some expenses to assist the biological mother, and these expenses vary. In independent adoptions adoptive parents may pay or reimburse only the medical expenses directly related to the mother's pregnancy and hospitalization for the birth of the child and medical care for the child.