How Much Should I Expect to Pay in Adoption Attorney Fees?
Adoption Attorney fees will vary based on the type of adoption you have and the services that the attorney will have to provide. This should be discussed in detail with your adoption attorney, as often your attorney may not be able to give you a definite set fee because of the variables in your adoption legal proceedings.
However, your attorney should be able to give you their hourly rate, an estimate of costs that you will have to pay, and an estimate, or estimated range, of the attorney fees. For example, it is usually much less expensive for your attorney to finalize an adoptive placement you received through an adoption agency, as opposed to the attorney navigating you through an interstate adoption placement.
Your attorney should have a clear fee agreement with you which sets forth all of your agreement with your attorney as to the fee, such as the attorney’s hourly rate, paralegal rate, what costs you will be billed for (copying costs, facsimile costs, postage, process server, etc.), is there a retainer (an amount that you pay in advance of the attorney providing legal services, which amount the attorney will draw from for your monthly bills), is the retainer refundable, etc.
In certain adoptions, such as SWAN or county child protective services, there may be adoption assistance or subsidy available to reimburse your attorney fees.
Birthparents typically do not pay any attorney fees as these are paid by the adoptive family.
We strive to give our clients the best possible estimate of their expected fees based on their particular case, and are usually able to stay within that estimate barring unforeseen circumstances, as we have done so many cases that we have a good sense of what is needed.
