Have you ever thought about adopting a child from another country? International adoption can be a very rewarding way to give a child, who may otherwise grow up in an orphanage, unconditional love in a home of their own.

Adopting is a big process that often requires prospective parents to start planning a few years in advance. Of course, it’s important to feel you are emotionally prepared for all parenthood has in store. Another big reason, however, is the cost involved. Both domestic and international adoption can be fairly expensive.

Costs for adoption can vary depending on several factors. International adoptions can be more (or less) expensive than domestic adoptions. Adopting a special needs child, an infant, or a sibling group, for instance, may all carry different costs. Most of these are wholly dependent on the agency and type of adoption you are pursuing, but some costs, such as maternal health care, travel, and others, can vary greatly from one adoption to the next.

  Completing an international adoption can be a tricky business. Given that adoption laws often vary from state to state, let alone from country to country, it’s easy to see how the process might become convoluted and difficult to decipher. One snag that might present itself during an international adoption is the need to complete a second adoption in the U.S. This is also called “re-adoption,” and is a common part of the international adoption process. In some cases, re-adoption is not necessary, but adoptive parents might still choose to go through with it just to ensure everything is legal and proper.