The Villages complies with all applicable laws and accreditation guidelines governing the setting of adoption fees. Fees are based on costs associated with service delivery and parents are only charged for services provided. Mileage costs are added to all service fees for all travel in excess of 50 miles. All fees are subject to change.
Domestic Home Study Services
Application Fee (Non-Refundable): $385.00
Application fee is required for ALL Home Studies, Updates, and Addendums; it should be added to the applicable fee(s) below to determine your total cost (shown in parentheses).
Domestic Home Study: $1,515.00 ($1,900.00 Total)
Fee is due upon completion of the home study. Background checks are included in this fee with the exception of Fingerprint Based Criminal History Checks and out-of-state background checks. This fee applies to home studies for Attorney/Out-of-State Agency Adoptions or Villages Infant Adoptions.
Relative/Kinship/Stepparent Home Study: $815.00 ($1,200.00 Total)
Fee is due upon completion of the home study. Background checks are included in this fee with the exception of Fingerprint Based Criminal History Checks and out-of-state background checks.
- The Villages is able to provide a Kinship Home Study when the child is NOT a ward of the State of Indiana and is currently residing with the kinship care provider. For instances where the child is not a ward and does not reside with the kinship care provider, The Villages Domestic Home Study Fee will apply. If the child is a ward of the State of Indiana, Kinship Care Home Studies are prepared upon the request of the Department of Child Services through a Community Based Services referral.
Home Study Addendum/Update: $380.00 ($765.00 Total) for up to 4 hours, plus $95.00 per additional hour
- Total hours will vary dependent upon individual needs; a minimum of 4 hours ($380.00) will be charged. Fee is due upon completion of the update/addendum. Includes updates or addendums to private home studies less than two (2) years old, or older with the approval of partnering agencies. The Villages cannot do updates or addendums to adoptive home studies prepared by or for the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) as those are property of DCS.
Home Study Conversion: $815.00 ($1,200.00 Total)
This fee only applies under special circumstances. The Villages employees should consult with their supervisor or the Director of Adoption and Foster Care if they believe this fee may apply to a family with whom they are working.
Legal Fees
Adoptive families are responsible for all legal fees required to finalize the adoption as determined by the court and/or attorney of record.
Child Matching and Placement Services
Application Fee (Non-Refundable): $385.00
Application fee is required for ALL child matching and placement services; it should be added to the applicable fee(s) below to determine your total cost (shown in parentheses).
Matching/Placement Services – Healthy Infants: $14,615.00 ($15,000.00 Total)*
$7,115.00 is due at the completion of the Adoptive Family Profile.
$7,500.00 balance is due upon the release of the child into the custody of the adoptive family.
This fee does NOT include completion of a Home Study.
Matching/Placement Services – Special Needs Children: $4,615.00 ($5,000.00 Total)*
$2,115.00 is due at the completion of the Adoptive Family Profile.
$2,500.00 balance is due upon the release of the child into the custody of the adoptive family.
This fee does NOT include completion of a Home Study.
- Special Needs Placement Services includes some children with long term medical issues; school age children; sibling groups (healthy newborns excluded); other identified children with special placement needs; and certain adjudicated wards of other states. This DOES NOT include children who are adjudicated wards of the State of Indiana being adopted through the Indiana Adoption Program.
Note: An additional fee of $1,000.00 per child will be added to the applicable Placement Services fee above in the event of the placement of multiple children.
Birth Parent Expenses: up to $4,000.00
The Villages may charge the adoptive family for expenses incurred by the birth parent(s) as allowable by Indiana statute, in addition to the applicable service fee above. This fee is not to exceed $4,000.00. Legal fees Adoptive families are responsible for all legal fees required to finalize the adoption as determined by the court and/or attorney of record.
Legal Fees: Adoptive families are responsible for all legal fees required to finalize the adoption as determined by the court and/or attorney of record.
Post Placement Services
Post Placement Reports: $385.00 per report/visit
Fee for first report/visit is due at the time of application; fees for additional reports/visits are due at the time of visit. Services include placement supervision and support; case management; written reports for court, ICPC, or placing entity; and referrals to community services. Fees are paid by the Adoptive Parent(s) or the agency having legal custody of the child.
Legal Fees: Adoptive families are responsible for all legal fees required to finalize the adoption as determined by the court and/or attorney of record.
Background Checks Only
Background checks as specified below are required by the State of Indiana for domestic adoptions. The following rates are to be used in those instances where The Villages is NOT completing a Home Study or Home Study Update/Addendum for an adoptive family.
Individuals ages 18 and over – Required Checks:
* Finger Print Based National Criminal History Check (The Villages will provide instructions on the on-line application process. The Adoptive Family is responsible for associated costs.)
* Limited Criminal History Background Check
* Child Protective Services (CPS) Check
* Sex Abuse Offender Registry Check
* Local Law Enforcement Agency (LEA)Record Check
Individuals ages 14-17 – Required at the discretion of the court or other jurisdictions:
* Child Protective Services (CPS) Check
* Sex Offender Registry Check
Individuals ages 0-13 – Required at the discretion of the court or other jurisdictions:
* Child Protective Services (CPS) Check
Indiana Background Checks: $143.00 per adoptive parent
This fee is a per person rate that covers background checks (above) for each adoptive parent’s counties of residence within the State of Indiana for the past five (5) years. This fee is due at the time the contract is signed by the adoptive parent(s).
Indiana Background checks for each additional household member: $27.50 per person
This fee is a per person rate that covers background checks (above) for each additional household member’s counties of residence within the state of Indiana for the past five (5) years. This fee is due at the time the contract is signed by the adoptive parent(s).
Out-of-State Background Checks: $27.50 per background check
This fee is added to the Indiana Background Check rates noted above and covers background checks for all states of residence for each family member in the past five (5) years. The Villages will submit the applications to the appropriate state entity and the adoptive parent applicant is responsible for paying for any and all related processing fees to the identified state entity, in addition to the above fee. Payment for Villages’ services is due at the time the application and applicable fees are submitted to all of the indentified out-of-state entities.
Miscellaneous Fees
Copying/Mailing Fees: $95.00 per hour
Fee is due at completion of services. Applies to subsequent copying/mailing/electronic sending of home study in addition to the distribution of home study as specified in the home study or placement services contract.
Hourly Adoption Services: $95.00 per hour
Fee is due at completion of services. An hourly rate for adoption related service not identified in the above fee schedule. Such services may include contact with placing agencies in and out of state to represent adoptive parents’ placement requests, court appearances, and ICPC coordination for approval of interstate compact placements.