Cost of Adoption--Overseas vs. In Pennsylvania

We are keeping very accurate track of adoption expenses, in part because our Church and others are helping with the expenses.  since we are keeping track, I thought I could share how much we have spent so far:

date	category	cost	running total
11/29/11	plane tickets	$1,307.40	$1,307.40
12/03/11	doc visit; HepA vaccine for akc	$178.00	$1,485.40
12/06/11	anti-malarial meds; bug spray	$70.66	$1,556.06
12/14/11	birth certificates--Neil	$56.00	$1,612.06
12/14/11	birth certificates--Annalisa	$32.00	$1,644.06
12/14/11	marriage certificates	$20.00	$1,664.06
12/17/11	airport parking	$25.00	$1,689.06
12/17/11	hotel	$62.00	$1,751.06
12/17/11	luggage fee	$50.00	$1,801.06
12/19/11	Haitian market	$140.00	$1,941.06
12/20/11	Newark airport parking	$108.00	$2,049.06
12/20/11	lunch in airport	$9.00	$2,058.06
12/29/11	register FBI clearance	$68.00	$2,126.06
12/30/11	PA Child Abuse Clearance	$21.00	$2,147.06
12/30/11	PA Criminal Background check	$21.00	$2,168.06

We have not paid for transportation or lodging in Haiti yet, but expect that will be more than $500.

Lawyer's fees begin with a $4,000 deposit very soon.  We are expecting to spend either side of $20,000 before the process is over.

Adopting older kids in PA costs essentially nothing.  Maybe a lot of gas money during the transition, but that is much less than air fare to Haiti.

Happy New Year!!!