Adoption FAQ

Adoption FAQ

I am by no means an expert on the Ukrainian adoption process but just want to give a general overview.  If you have more interest, please contact me directly or contact an adoption agency.

Who is eligible to adopt?

You can be single or married, and there is not an upper age limit.  At least one parent must be 15 years older than the child.  There is no restriction on the number of children already in the family.  I know one family with 10 children who are in the process of adopting 4 more from Ukraine.

What are the children like?

Available children are typically from 2 years old up to 16 yrs.  There are single children and sibling groups.  If the child is part of a sibling group it is possible for them to be older or younger than 16.  There are medically healthy children and children with special needs.  By virtue of being an orphan, they will likely have some level of emotional trauma.  Some children are "true" orphans, meaning both parents are dead.  Others are "social" orphans and are in the orphanage because there parents are unable to care for them, either due to poverty, abuse, neglect or substance abuse issues.  Some are orphaned due to the war.

How long does it take?

The adoption process can take anywhere from 6-12 months.  

How much does it cost?

Adoption from Ukraine can vary greatly but is usually $25,000-$40,000 (that includes travel costs).  However it's not as high as it initially looks.  There is a $13,000 adoption tax credit from the government, that reduces the effective cost to between $12,000-$27,000.  Some people are able to pay their fees through a non-profit organization so they are tax deductible which can reduce the cost by another 25% (assuming a 25% tax bracket).  Many people have airline miles which they can use for travel, and people are often able to successfully fundraise much of the additional costs.