the how you can adopt a child handbook
TRANSCRIPT
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TheHowYouCanAdopta
ChildHandbook
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Pleasefeelfreepassthisebookalongtoanyoneyoudlike,aslongasyou
makenochangesoreditstoitscontentsordigitalformat.
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Contents
Mythsaboutadoption
AdoptionTerminology
TheAdoptionProcess
HowLonganAdoptionTakes
Costs
HelpWithFinancinganAdoption
FinalWord
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Mythsaboutadoption
MYTH1:ALLADOPTIONSAREEXPENSIVECostsvarybyagencyandmayberelatedtohowtheagencyisfunded,wheretheirchildrencomefrom,andwhatservicestheyprovidetobirthparentsandadoptivefamilies.AdoptionsofhealthyinfantsintheUnitedStatesandofchildrenfromabroadtypicallycostbetween$5,000and$25,000,andcouldpossiblybehigherinsomecircumstances.Theadoptionofachildwaitinginfostercare
canbevirtuallywithoutcostifthefamilyworksdirectlywithapublicsocialservicesagency.Infact,manypublicagenciesprovideadoptionsubsidiesforchildrenwhoarewaitingforafamily.(Subsidiesarediscussedlaterinthisbook.)Ifthefamilyworksthroughaprivateadoptionagency,thecostsarelikelytobehigher,butrarelyashighastheywouldbeforadoptinganinfant.Finally,someprivateagenciesmayadjusttheirfeesbasedonfamilyincomeorothercriteria.
MYTH2:PROSPECTIVEADOPTIVEFAMILIESMUSTBE"RICH"
Manypeoplewithmodestincomesadopteveryyear.Adoptionprofessionalswhomakedecisionsaboutplacingchildrengenerallyaremoreconcernedaboutthefamily'sfinancialstabilityandhowwelltheymanagethefinancialresourcestheydohavethanabouttheactualincome.
MYTH3:FAMILIESMUSTOWNTHEIROWNHOME
Familieswhorenthomesorliveinapartmentsadoptchildrenallthetime.
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MYTH4:ADOPTIVEPARENTSMUSTBEMARRIEDANDWITHOUTCHILDREN
Singlepeople,coupleswithoutchildren,andfamilieswhoalreadyhavechildrenbybirthorbyprioradoptioncanadopt.However,manyprivateagenciesandmanyforeigncountrieshavespecificrequirementsforthemaritalstatus,age,numberofchildren,orreligionofpeoplewhoadopttheirchildren.
MYTH5:ADOPTIVEFAMILIESMUSTPAYFOR
EVERYTHING
Thereareavarietyofresourcesforfinancialassistancetohelpfamiliescoversomeofthecostsofadoption.Forexample:
Manyagencieschargefeesonaslidingscale.Adoptionsubsidiesareavailableformanychildrenadoptedfromfostercare.Increasingnumbersofemployersareofferingadoptionbenefitstotheiremployees.
MYTH6:LEGALFEESAREHIGH
Legalfeesusuallyareasmallportionoftheadoptioncosts,
exceptforindependentadoptionshandledbyanattorney.Thelegalfeesmaybeincludedintheagency'sfeesormaybeanadditionalcosttotheadoptingfamily.
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AdoptionTerminology
PUBLICADOPTIONAGENCIES
Stateandcountyagencies(knownvariouslyasdepartmentsofsocialservices,humanservices,childrenandfamilyservices,andsoon)thatareresponsibleforplacingwaitingchildrenfromfostercareorinstitutionalsettingswithadoptivefamilies.
PRIVATEADOPTIONAGENCIES
Non-profitorfor-profitagencieslicensedbythestatethatdependonfeesanddonations,ratherthantaxdollars,tooperate.Someareprivateagenciesthatplaceinfantsorchildrenbornlocallyorfromothercountries,thoughsomeworkwithpublicagenciestoplacechildrenwhoareinfostercare.
WAITINGCHILDREN
Thesechildrenalsoarereferredtoaschildrenwith"specialneeds."(NOTE:InternalRevenueService[IRS]publicationsusetheterm"specialneeds.")Thelargemajorityofchildrenadoptedthroughstateorcountyadoptionagenciesareconsideredwaitingchildren.Theycomeintothepublicwelfaresystem(fostercare)becauseofparentalabuse,neglect,orabandonment.Manyofthesechildrenhaveemotionalandbehavioraldifficultiesasaresultoftheir
experiences.Somealsohavephysicalanddevelopmentaldisabilities.Themajorityofthesechildrenareschoolaged,somearebrothersandsisterswhoneedtobeadoptedtogether,andmorethan50percentarechildrenofcolor.
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SPECIALNEEDS
Sameastheabovedefinitionfor"waitingchildren."This
bookusestheterm"waitingchildren";however,theIRSandsomestateagenciesusetheterm"specialneeds"intheirpublications.
OPEN,SEMI-OPEN,ANDCLOSEDADOPTION
Differentagenciesororganizationsmayhavevaryinginterpretationsofthefollowingterms.Thedefinitionsherearemeantonlytoprovideageneraloverviewandmaynotmatchcompletelyhowaparticularagencyusesaspecificterm.
AnOPENADOPTIONisoneinwhichlastnames,addresses,andtelephonenumberstypicallyareexchangedandthebirthparent/s,theadoptivefamily,and,insomecases,thechildmayvisitonaregularbasis.Inafullyopenadoption,thebirthparent/sandtheadoptivefamilyknow
eachotherandhaveongoingcommunicationaboutthechild.
InaSEMI-OPENADOPTION,communicationismorelimited.Lastnames,addresses,andtelephonenumbersusuallyarenotexchanged,sharingofphotosorotherinformationislessfrequent,andallcommunicationtakesplacethroughathirdparty,usuallytheadoptionagency.
InaCLOSEDADOPTION,noidentifyinginformationaboutthebirthfamilyortheadoptivefamilyisshared,andthefamiliesdonotcommunicate.Theadoptivefamilyusuallyreceivesnon-identifyingbackgroundinformationaboutthechildandthebirthfamilybeforeplacement.Afteradoption,therecordsaresealedandtypicallyarenotavailabletothe
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adoptedchild.Formoreinformationabouttheavailabilityofadoptionrecords,refertothe"BirthParentSearch"sectionunderPlanningforYourChild'sFuturelaterinthisbook.
IDENTIFIEDADOPTION
Inthistypeofadoption,thebirthmotherhasidentifiedthefamilywhomshewishestoadoptherchild.
INDEPENDENTADOPTIONS
Theseadoptionsarearrangedthroughanintermediary,such
asalawyeroraphysician,ratherthanthroughalicensedadoptionagency.Theintermediarymayfindthebirthmother,whoplanstoplaceherchildforadoption,ormayhelpthebirthmotherlocateafamilyinterestedinadoptingherchild.NOTE:Independentadoptionsarenotlegalinallstates;checkwithyourstatedepartmentofsocialservices.
INTERNATIONALADOPTIONS
Theseareadoptionsofchildrenwhowereborninorarenationalsofothercountries.
HOMEORADOPTIONSTUDY
Ahomestudy,alsocalledanadoptionstudy,isawrittendescriptionofyouandyourfamilypreparedbyanadoptionagencyorprivateadoptionprofessional.Itisusedto
determinewhichchildwouldbestfitintoyourhome.Thehomestudyprocessshouldbeaneducationalandenlighteningexperiencefortheprospectiveadoptivefamily.
Havingastudyperformedbyanadoptionagencyorlicensedsocialworkeroftenisthebestwaytoproceed.Thetypeof
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adoptionlikelywillinfluencewhoshouldperformthehomestudy.Itisimportanttochoosetheappropriateadoptionagencyorlicensedsocialworkertodoyourstudysoitwillbeacceptedbythecourt.Checkwithyourstateorcountydepartmentofsocialservicesforguidanceinthisarea.You
canexpectsomeorallofthefollowingtobepartoftheprocess.
-interviewswiththeparent/sindividuallyandtogether(ifacouple)
-groupmeetingsinvolvingseveralapplicantfamilies(manyagenciesdothis)-autobiographieswrittenbyeachparent-ahomevisit-medicalreportsfromyourphysician-referencesfromfriendsandassociates-proofofemployment-investigationsintoanycriminalrecord,includingthestate'schildabuseregistry-participationinadoptioninformationtrainingclasses-personalfinanceinformation-copiesoftaxreturns
Inthecourseofthehomestudyprocess,youwillhavetheopportunitytotalkwithyoursocialworkeraboutthefollowingtopics:
-whyyouwanttoadopt-yourreadinesstoparent-yourfamily'svalues-yourhopesandexpectationsfortheadoptivechild-yourfamily'sstrengthsandweaknesses-howyourfamilyhandlescrisesandchange
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-whereyou'llgetsupportorprofessionalhelp,ifneeded
It'squitepossiblethat,asyoumovethroughtheadoptionprocess,you'llbeworkingwithmorethanonesocialworker.
PRE-PLACEMENT
Thisistheperiodoftimeafteryourhomestudyiscompletedandbeforeyourchildcomeshome.
PLACEMENT
Placementoccurswhenthechildyouplantoadoptmovesintoyourhome.
FOSTER/ADOPTPLACEMENT
Achildisplacedwiththefoster/adoptfamilybeforethebirthparents'rightshavebeenlegallyterminatedsothereisstillapossibilitythatthechildmaybereunitedwithhisorherbirth
family.Ifthebirthfamily'sparentalrightsareterminated,thefoster/adoptfamilywillbeconsideredtheadoptivefamilyforthechild.
POST-PLACEMENT
Thisisthetimeafterthechildhasbeenplacedinyourhomeandbeforefinalization.Thesocialworkerdoingpost-placementsupervisionwillvisityourhomeseveraltimesduringthe6to12monthsbetweenplacementandfinalizationtoprovidesupportforyouandyourchildandtohelpyougetotherprofessionalassistance,ifneeded,to
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maketheplacementsuccessful.Acertainnumberofvisitsarerequiredbythecourtsbeforetheadoptioncanbefinalized.
FINALIZATION
Thisiswhenthecourttakesthenecessaryactiontomakethechildalegalmemberofyourfamily.Usually,yourwholefamilywillgotocourtwithyouradoptionworkerorlawyer.
POST-ADOPTION
Thisisnotaspecificperiodoftime;instead,itistheactive,rewarding,andchallengingprocessoflivingasafamilyaftertheadoptionhasbeenlegallyfinalized.
ADOPTIONEXCHANGES
Theseorganizationsaredesignedtoprovideconnectionsbetweenprospectiveadoptiveparentsandadoptionagenciesthatplacechildren.Manystateshavetheirownstate-operatedexchangethatkeepsalistingofadoptablechildrenwaitingintheirfostercaresystem,aswellasfamilieswhohavecompletedtheiradoptionhomestudywithastateagency.Manystatespublishaphotolistingbookofthechildrenwaitingintheirstate.
Regional,national,andinternationalexchangesarenon-profitorganizationsthatservewaitingchildrenandfamiliesin
morethanonestate.TheyoftenpublishinprintorontheInternetaphotolistingofwaitingchildren,provideotherservicestohelprecruitadoptivefamilies,makeconnectionsbetweenprospectiveadoptivefamiliesandtheagenciesthathavecustodyofthewaitingchildren,andprovideadoptioninformationtoprospectivefamilies.Someexchangesalso
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listfamilieswhohavecompletedhomestudiesandarewaitingtoadopt.
TheAdoptionProcess
Theactualstepsofadoptionmayvarydependingonthetypeofadoptionbeingconsidered.Ingeneral,though,asyoubegintheadoptionprocess,you'llneedtotakemostofthefollowingsteps:
Learnaboutadoptionbyreading,talkingtootheradoptiveparents,searchingtheInternet,andcontactinganadoptiveparentgroupthatwelcomesprospectiveadoptivefamilies.
Attendadoptioninformationclasses.
Consideryourfeelingsaboutadoptionandconsiderwhattypeofadoptionyouwanttopursue:infant,waitingchild,international,open,semi-open,closed,agency,independent,oragency-assisted.Interviewseveralagenciesorlawyerswhodothekindofadoptionyou'vechosen,attendorientationmeetings,thenselecttheagencyorlawyerwithwhomyouwishtowork.Beginyouradoptionhomestudy.
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Findoutwhatyouragency,licensedsocialworker,orlawyerrecommendsyoudotohelplocatetherightchildforyourfamily.Whileyou'rewaiting,continueyoureducationalprocess.
Prepareforyourchildtocomehome.Thismayinvolvevisitswiththebirthparent/s,ifyou'redoinganopeninfantadoption;pre-placementvisitswithyourchild,ifyou'readoptingawaitingchild;ortraveltothechild'scountryandpreparationtofinalizetheadoption,if
you'readoptingachildfromabroad.Bringyourchildhome.Inthecaseofaninternationaladoption,petitiontheImmigrationandNaturalizationServicetomakeyourchildanaturalizedcitizenoftheUnitedStates.Begintheadjustmentperiodasanewfamily.
Finalizetheadoption.Continuethelife-longadoptionexperience.
Hereisaveryhelpfulchecklist:1.Readasmuchaspossibleaboutadoptions.2.Talktofriendsoracquaintanceswhohaveadopted.3.Attendorientationsessions.4.Decidewhattypeofadoptionmostappealstoyou,andreviewitsmostimportantpointsandfeatures.
5.Interviewseveraladoptionagenciesorotherintermediaries.
6.Clarifyandcompareadoptionfees.
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7.Estimateallotherpotentialexpenses.8.Applyforanadoption.9.Haveahomestudyconducted.10. Beginthesearchforachild.11. Selectachild.12. Reviewandadjustexpenseestimates,ifnecessary.
13. Prepareyourhomeforthearrivalofyourchild.14. Educateyourselfabouteffectiveparenting.15. Seekandapplyforadoptionloans,ifnecessary,orforassistance(government,employer,andsoon).
16. Addyourchildtoyourhealthplan.17. Finalizetheadoption.(Withinternationaladoptions,alsoapplyforU.S.citizenshipforyourchild.)
18. GetanewSocialSecuritynumberforyourchild.19. Getanewbirthcertificateforyourchild.20. Updateyourwill,lifeinsurancepolicy,andotherappropriatedocuments.
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HowLonganAdoptionTakes
Allprospectiveadoptiveparentsusuallyfeeltheyare"waitingparents."Adoptioncanbealong,slowprocess.Atthisbeginningstage,itcanallseemabitoverwhelming.
Thetimeittakestobringachildhomevariesdependingonthetypeofadoptionoranyunforeseeablecircumstancesthatmayarise.Herearesomepossibletimetables:
HealthyInfant=1upto7years
International=6upto18months
WaitingChild=4upto18months
Thefinalizationofanadoptionusuallyoccurssixmonthstoayearafterplacement.Mostinternationaladoptionsarefinalizedbeforethechildleaveshisorhercountryoforigin.Foraninternationaladoption,it'simportanttonaturalizethe
childasaU.S.citizenassoonaspossibletoensurethatheorshehasthefullprotectionofcitizenship.Delayingnaturalizationcouldcreateproblems;forexample,ifayoungpersongetsintroublewiththelaw,citizenshipcouldbedenied.
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Costs
1-StateLawsandFees
Sinceadoptionisgovernedbystatestatute,eachstatemakesitsownlaws,andeachagencyorotherentityassistingintheadoptionprocesssetsitsownfeesforadoptionservices.WhenadoptingachildofNativeAmericanheritage,thespecifictribelikelywillhavetheirownadoptionlawsandprocedures.Ifyou'reconsideringadoptingachildfromanothercountry,youwillfindthateachcountry'slaws
andrequirementsvary.
Unfortunately,atthistime,thereisnocentralratingservicethatchecksonadoptionagencies.YoucancallyourlocalBetterBusinessBureautoseeifanycomplaintshavebeenfiledagainstaparticularagencyoradoptionintermediary.Inaddition,yourstateorcountysocialservicesdepartmentshouldbeabletoprovideyouwiththenameofthegovernmententitythatoverseesadoptiontoverifythereputationofanadoptionagencyorintermediary.Also,talktofamilieswhohaveadoptedandtomembersofadoptiveparentsupportgroupstogetrecommendationsorwarningsabouttheagenciesinyourarea.
Youshould:
Compareadoptionfeesamongadoptionagencies,adoptionattorneys,orotheradoptionintermediaries.Clarifyupfront,inwriting,exactlywhatthestatedadoptionfeewillandwillnotcover.Someagenciesorintermediariesmayquoteafee,butlateraddothercharges,suchaspost-placementfeesandcourtcosts.
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Askaboutthepaymentplan.DoNOTpay100percentoftheadoptioncostsinadvance.Paymentsshouldbemadeaseachstepoftheagency'sorattorney'sservicesareprovided.
Bewaryofagenciesorintermediariesthatchargehighfees,wantaretainerpaidinfulluponapplicationwithoutanyprovisionsforarefund,guaranteeachild,orwantyoutosigndisclaimersbeforemeetingsorsearchingforachildforyou.
2-ADOPTIONFEES
Thisbroad,sometimeslooselydefinedtermisusedforthevariouscostsofworkingwithapublicorprivateadoptionagency,orwithanattorneyorotherintermediary.Theadoptionfeeshouldincludethecostsofdoingahomestudy,pre-adoptivecounseling,identifyingachildforyourfamily,
placementfees,andpost-placementvisits.Foranindependentadoption,thebirthmother'slivinganddeliveryexpensesmaybeincludedormaybeseparateexpenses.Foraninternationaladoption,theadoptionfeemayormaynotincludethecostsofvisas,dossierpreparation,documenttranslation,andotherexpensesuniquetoadoptingchildrenfromothercountries.Adoptionsofwaitingchildrenthroughstateorcountyagenciesmayincuronlyminimalcostsand
oftenarefreeofcharge.Feeschargedbyprivateadoptionagenciesandintermediariescanrunfrom$5,000toashighas$25,000,andpossiblymore.BESUREyouunderstandwhichservicesintheadoptionprocessareincludedandwhichmaybeseparateoradditionalfees.
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3-MISCELLANEOUSEXPENSES
Duringtheadoptionprocess,activitieswillarisethatwill
resultinout-of-pocketexpenses.Althoughthesecostsusuallyareminor,it'sbesttobepreparedforthem.Forexample,considerthecostsrelatedtothefollowingpossibleactivities:
travelingtoandfromtheagencyorlawyer'sofficecompletingandphotocopyingrecordsandotherpaperwork
takingtimeoffworkforinterviewsandsoonobtainingshots,passports,etc.,ifinternationaltravelisnecessaryarrangingforchildcareforanychildrenyoualreadyhave
4-HOMESTUDY
Althoughthecostofthehomestudyusuallyisincludedintheadoptionfees,itcanbeaseparatecostinsomesituations.Forexample,ifyouresideoverseas,aredoinganindependentadoption,orhaveanindependentprofessional(usuallyalicensedsocialworker)performingthehomestudybutnottheotherpre-orpost-placementservices,thehomestudymaybeaseparatecost.Somepublicagenciesdochargeforhomestudies,butsomemayreimburseyoufor
thatexpenseorhaveothermethodstooffsettheexpense
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whentheyplaceachildfromtheircountyorstatewithyou.Dependingontheagency,ifthisisaseparateexpenseforyou,afeeof$300to$3,000isnotunusual.
5-PARENTINGORADOPTIONINFORMATIONCLASSES
Theseclassesmayberequiredaspartoftheadoptionhomestudyprocess.Aregistrationfeetocoverthecostsofmaterialsmaybecharged.
6-UPDATINGYOURHOMESTUDY
Homestudiesareconsideredcurrentforalimitedperiodoftime,usuallyoneortwoyears.Inmanystates,courtswanthomestudiesupdatedafterayear.Waitingforachildcantakeseveralyearsandthusthehomestudymayneedtobeupdatedoneormoretimesduringthewait.Youmaywanttoadoptagainafteryourfirstadoptionisfinalizedandyourhomestudywillneedtobeupdated,thoughifyouchoosetoworkwithadifferentagencyorwaitseveralyearstoadopt
again,youmayhavetostartovercompletely.Therewillbeanadditionalfeetoupdateyourhomestudy,evenifthecostofdoingtheoriginalstudywasincludedintheadoptionfee.
7-TRANSFERCOSTS
Sometimesadoptiveparentsmustmoveasaresultofajobtransferormilitaryreassignmentbeforecompletingtheadoptionprocess.Inthebestofsituations,theadoptioncan
becompletedifyouradoptionagencyiswillingtocollaboratewithanadoptionagencyinyournewlocation.Otherwise,youmayhavetostarttheadoptionprocessalloveragain.Ineithercase,newadoptionexpensesmaybeincurred.
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Adoptionfeesalreadypaidtotheoriginaladoptionagencyoftenwillnotberefundablesincethatworkhasalreadybeencompletedbytheagency.Ifyou'relikelytohavetomoveduringtheadoptionprocess,youshouldclarifythisinadvancewiththeagencyoradoptionfacilitator.
8-FINDINGACHILD
Findingthechildthatisrightforyourfamilyissoimportanttoasuccessfuladoption.Searchcostsforthisprocesscanvarywidelydependinguponyourdesiresandsituation.
9-AttorneyandCourtCosts
Alldomesticadoptionsmustbefinalizedinastatecourtor,forsomeNativeAmericanchildren,inanIndianTribalcourt.Manyinternationaladoptionsarefinalizedinthechild'scountryoforigin;however,insomecases,theinternationaladoptionmustbefinalizedinthiscountry.Evenwhentheadoptionisfinalizedinthebirthcountry,manyfamilies
choosetofinalizeintheUnitedStatessotheycansharethatimportantdaywithfamilyandfriends,inadditiontogettingabirthcertificateinEnglish.Yourinternationaladoptionagencyshouldbeabletotellyouwherethefinalizationneedstooccur.Asstatedpreviously,it'simportantthatforeign-bornadoptedchildrenbecomenaturalizedcitizensoftheUnitedStates.
Forachildtobelegallyadopted,thebiologicalparentsmustvoluntarilyandlegallyrelinquishtheirparentalrights,orthecourtsmustinvoluntarilyterminatetheirrights.Theadoptiveparentsarenotresponsibleforthesecourtcosts.However,insomeinternationalandindependentadoptions,theadoptiveparentsmayhavetopaythelegalcostsofterminatingtherightsofthebiologicalparent(s).Itisvery
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importanttobesurethattheparentalrightsofbothbiologicalparentshavebeenrelinquishedorterminatedbeforeyouadoptachild.Theadoptioncasesthathavereceivedmediaattentionand"movie-of-the-week"notorietyoftenresultfromparentalrightsnotbeingcorrectlyterminated.Whenachildisadopted,thecourtcreatesanewlegalrelationshipbetweenthechildandtheadoptiveparents.
Inthoserareinstancesinwhichanadoptiveplacementischallenged,thelegalexpensesfortheadoptivefamilycanbeextremelyhigh.However,despitetheimpressiongivenby
theoccasionalsensationalstoryinthemedia,fewfinalizedadoptions-evenindependentadoptionsofinfants-arecontestedlegally.Lessthan1percentarechallenged,accordingtotheNorthAmericanCouncilonAdoptableChildren.
Youcantakefinancialsteps,suchasestablishinganemergencyfund,toreducetheimpactofalegalchallengetotheadoption.Butthebestadviceistogocarefullythroughallthestepsoftheadoptionprocesstoreducethelikelihoodofalegalchallengeinthefirstplace.Thesafestwaytoavoidexpensivecourtbattlesistobecertain,inadvance,thatthechildyouadoptislegallyfreetobeadopted-thattheparentalrightsofbothbiologicalparentshavebeenrelinquishedorterminatedbythecourts.
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HelpWithFinancinganAdoption
1-Checkwithyourchild'sagencytobesureyouunderstandwheneachtypeofassistanceisavailableandwhatyouneedtodotobesuretheplansstayineffectforyourchild.Someprivateadoptionagenciesofferreducedfeesbasedonyourincome.Inthecaseofawaitingchild,mostoffersliding-scalefeesandsomerequirenofees.Whenconsideringanadoptionagency,askiftheyofferthebenefit
ofsliding-scalefees.
BESUREtoapplyforsubsidiesandreceivesubsidyagreementsinwritingbeforetheadoptionbecomesfinal!Itispreferabletonegotiatethesubsidybeforethechildisplacedinyourhome,ifatallpossible.Itisverydifficulttoobtainassistanceafterfinalization.
2-SpeakwithyouraccountantaboutthecurrentFederal
AdoptionTaxCreditavailable.(Congresspassedlegislationprovidingtaxcreditsforfamilieswhoadopt.ThislegislationbecameeffectiveinJanuary1997.)Also,askaboutDependencyExemption.(Adoptiveparentsmaytakethesamedependencyexemptionontheirincometaxesfortheiradoptedchildren,andchildrenplacedwiththemforadoptionbutnotyetfinalized,astheywouldfortheirbiologicalchildren.Theexemptionreducestheirtaxableincome.)
Adoptionassistanceisexemptfromtaxation.Likechildsupportthatacustodialparentreceivesfromadivorcedspouse,adoptionassistanceisnotconsideredasincome.However,theleveloramountofassistancemayaffectwhetherthechildcanbeclaimedasadependentandbe
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listedasanexemptiononyourincometaxes.(Refertotheprevioussectiontitled"DependencyExemption.")
Upto$5,000inemployer-providedadoptionbenefits(upto$6,000forspecialneedsadoptions)perchildmaybeexcludedfromyourincome.Youmayclaimbothataxcreditandanexclusioninconnectionwiththeadoptionofaneligiblechild,butmaynotclaimthesameexpensestwice.Aswiththetaxcredit,tax-freeadoptionbenefitsaregraduallyphasedoutoncefamilyincomerisesabove$75,000.
3-EmployeeBenefitsPrograms
Roughlyaquarterofthenation'semployersoffersomeformofadoptionbenefitstotheiremployees,accordingtoa1995study.Benefits,typicallyavailableonlytothecompany's"regular"employees,mayinclude:
directreimbursementintherangeof$2,000to$10,000uponactualplacement(usuallyaflatamountdesignatedforspecificadoptionexpenses)paidleave,inadditiontoorincludingvacationtime,sickleave,orpersonaldaysunpaidleave(personal,hardship,medical,orchildcare)(mayrangefrom3to12months)medicalexpensesofthebirthmotheradoptionseminarsandinformationclasses,aswellascounselingandsupportbeforeandafterplacement
Ifyouareagovernmentemployee,it'spossiblethatadditionaladoptionbenefitsmaybeavailable.
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Evenifyouremployerdoesn'tcurrentlyofferadoptionbenefits,askabouttheiravailability.Youmaybeabletopersuadeyourcompanytobeginofferingthem.Workwithotheremployeesinterestedinadoption,gatherinformationfortheemployer,andpresentyourcase.Also,findoutifyouremployeroffersanEmployeeAssistanceProgram(EAP).Thisbenefitwasdesignedtohelpemployeesdealwithdramaticpersonalsituationsorproblems.TalkingwithanEAPcounselorcouldhelpreducethestressandanxietythatissooftenapartoftheadoptionprocess.
4-Loans
Whileit'sfarfromidealtoborrowmoneyforanadoption,adoptivefamiliesmayfindaloannecessarytocoverthelargeandimmediateexpenses.Insomecases,youmaybeabletopaytheloanbackquicklyonceyoureceiveataxcreditorarereimbursedbyyouremployerorthemilitary.Possibleloansourcesinclude:
HOMEEQUITYLOANS.Interestratesoftenarereasonableandtheinterestistaxdeductible.Justremember,you'reputtingyourhomeatrisk.INSURANCE.Youmaybeabletoborrowfromthecashvalueofyourlifeinsurancepolicy.LOW-INTERESTLOANS.Somebanksofferlow-interestloansorcreditlinesforadoptiveparents.PRIVATEGRANTANDSPECIALLOAN
PROGRAMS.Adoptionloans,bothhomeequityandunsecured,maybeobtainedthroughtheNationalAdoptionFoundation.Theyalsoawardgrantstoneedyadoptiveparents.(RefertotheResourceListformoreinformation.)RELIGIOUSORGANIZATIONS.
http://adoptionreasons.blogspot.com/http://adoptionreasons.blogspot.com/http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/family/adoption/resource.htmlhttp://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/family/adoption/resource.htmlhttp://adoptionreasons.blogspot.com/ -
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RELATIVES-Ifyouhavelovedoneswhoaregenerousandcanaffordtolendyouthemoney,byallmeansASK,andyoustandaverygoodchanceofyourrequestbeinggranted.
Twootherpossiblesourcesprospectiveparentsmaybetemptedtouseforadoptionexpensesarecreditcardsandloansonretirementaccounts,suchas401(k)sandprofit-sharingplans.Creditcardsareaneasysourceofcash,buttypicallychargehighinterestrates.Loansonretirement
plansoffersomewhatlowerinterestrates;however,ifyouloseorchangejobsandcannotrepaytheloanwithinashorttimeperiod,theloanbecomesataxablewithdrawal.Inadditiontoincometaxesyou'llhavetopayonthewithdrawal,you'llalsohavetopaya10percentpenaltyifyou'reyoungerthan591/2.Mostfinancialplannersrecommendthatyounottapthesesourcesunlessit'sabsolutelynecessary.
Thedecisiononwhethertotakeoutaloantohelppayforadoptionexpensescanbedifficultandhasseriousconsequencesfortheentirefamily.It'simportantasadoptiveparentstomaintainfinancialstabilityforthegoodofthechild.Dippingintofutureretirementsavingsorrunningupcreditcarddebtcanaddtoyourfinancialstressandfamilystressingeneral,aswellasthrowingyourlong-termgoalsandplanningoffcourse.
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FinalWord
Hopefullytheinformationcontainedwithinthisbookwillhelpto
giveanyprospectiveadoptiveparentabetterunderstandingof
whatisrequiredwhenitcomestoadoptingababy.
Participationinadoptionsupportgroupscanbehelpfulwhile
you'rewaitingforachild,andisespeciallyimportantfollowing
adoption.Thesegroupsaredesignedtohelpadoptiveparentscope
withthechallengesofraisingadoptedchildrenthroughthesharing
ofexperiencesbyfellowadoptiveparents.Groupsmayhavebeen
formedindependentlyorundertheauspicesofanadoptionagency.
Iwishyouthebestofluckandsuccesswithyouradoption!
-SamSamSamSam
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