the how you can adopt a child handbook

7/30/2019 The How You Can Adopt a Child Handbook

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TheHowYouCanAdopta

ChildHandbook

Broughttoyouby:http://adoptionreasons.blogspot.com

Pleasefeelfreepassthisebookalongtoanyoneyoudlike,aslongasyou

makenochangesoreditstoitscontentsordigitalformat.
http://adoptionreasons.blogspot.com/http://adoptionreasons.blogspot.com/


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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

the how you can adopt a child handbook

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