Some adoptive parents-to-be are scared by t
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The main types of adoption include domestic and International adoption; domestic refers to within your country and the latter, to adoption across International borders. We focus on the former type here: for US citizens, it is important to understand that once the procedure for adoption has
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Adoption resources help to educate couples interested in adopting a child about the various kinds of adoption processes, procedures and fees involved, professional
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Most of what we know of adoption we get from the media or from our past. We see Angelina Jolie and Madonna adopting kids from around the globe. We remember adopted kids from our childhood neighborhood. But neither is a true picture of adoption today.

There are many myths and mistruths out there concerning adoption, and domestic adoption in particular. Families considering adoption need to know the facts in order to make an informed choice.

Myth #1 – Most Birth Mothers are Teenagers

When you think of adoption, do you picture the pregnant high school girl in the movie Juno? In reality, most birth mothers who choose adoption for their child are between 19 and 30 years old. Many are already single mothers who understand the realities and sacrifices involved in raising a child and choose adoption to give their child a better life. Adoption is a mature and loving choice and many birth mothers want an active role in their adoption plan.

Myth #2 – There are No Healthy Babies to Adopt in the U.S.

Tens of thousands of healthy newborn babies are adopted each year in the U.S – that’s as many, if not more, than the number of international adoptions. The myth that the only infants available for adoption in the U.S. are drug-exposed is simply false. Most women considering adoption for their child are not using drugs and are receiving prenatal care. In fact, babies placed for adoption are just as healthy as all other babies born in the U.S.

Myth #3 – The Adoption Process Takes Many Years

With domestic adoption, the timeframe is unpredictable because it depends on when you’re chosen by a prospective birth mother. Depending on the quality of the profile you create and how open you are to different situations, many domestic adoptions can be completed in only a few months.

Myth #4 – The Birth Mother Can Show Up and Ask for the Baby Back

If an adoption is done legally, through reputable attorneys and agencies, the adoptive parents have full parental rights as soon as the adoption is finalized. Before finalization, some states have a revocation period during which the birth mother can revoke her consent but adoptive families can assess the risks on a case-by-case basis before entering into an agreement. Other states don’t have any revocation period at all. Despite the publicity surrounding a few high-profile cases, post-adoption revocations are extremely rare.

Myth #5 – Closed Adoptions are Better (or Vice Versa)

Adoption isn’t a one-size-fits all arrangement. Some families do great with open adoption, while closed adoption is better for others. There are options available and varying levels of openness so each family can choose what type of adoption is best for them.

Myth #6 — Adopted Children are Emotionally Unstable or Have Behavior Issues

Research shows that adopted children are as well adjusted as their non-adopted peers. Some studies even indicate that adopted children are better adjusted due to the fact that adoptive parents tend to be mature and financially stable. As with all children, some are very talented or brilliant and some are less capable and have more factors pre-disposing them to potential difficulties. Most adopted people fall within the normal range.

Myth #7 – All Adoptions are Expensive

The cost of adoption varies greatly. Domestic adoptions can cost less than $10,000 and as much as $40,000. As an adoption consultant, most of the adoptions I see are of healthy, Caucasian newborns and the costs usually range from $25,000 to $35,000. Adopting an older child can be significantly less expensive and there are foster adoption programs in many states that can involve little, if any money. Starting in 2009, the government will offer new adoptive parents a tax credit of up to $12,150 that can help to significantly defray the costs.

These are just a few of the pervasive myths that often cloud the decision-making process for pre-adoptive families. There are many factors that go into a couple’s decisions regarding adoption. Fortunately, there are many resources and much support available to prospective adoptive parents to gain information and prepare them for the challenges and joys adoption can bring to their lives.

The following are the necessary steps for setting up an adoption agency. However, love for what you’re doing should be the most important consideration.

1/ Industry Knowledge

Starting an adoption agency requires primarily good knowledge of the industry. For example, what are the sources of babies for adoption? How often people adopt? Infants or older children are mostly demanded for adoption? Are there cultural inferences that should be taken into consideration? Are there racial preferences in adoptive families? Individuals interested in starting an adoption agency, should perform a thorough industry analysis in order to identify the trends of the adoption industry and how these may affect their business. The goal is to be able to show to prospective investors that the venture’s potential is real because industry forces are favorable.

2/ Market Research

A detailed market research should follow. A prospect adoption agency owner needs to understand the area. For example, how many families live there? What are the family demographics? What are the education and income levels? Is ethnicity an important consideration? Do younger or older people live in the area? Are those families interested in adoption? Are there neglected or abused children in the area? Are there other adoption agencies in the area? All this information is valuable in order to identify the market niche the agency will occupy as well as the competitive advantage in relation to other agencies in the area.

3/ Business Plan

A business plan should be developed. The new venture should be described including mission, vision, values, location, operations, target groups, and opportunity assessment to support why such a business makes sense in relation to the industry. The types of adoptions offered and the services provided as well as the legal form of the venture, the management team as well as the roles and responsibilities of personnel should be mentioned. Information about advertising plans, staff training, projected financial assumptions, sources and uses of funds, and proforma statements for at least 2 years should be included in the plan along with a risk assessment to anticipate unexpected and threatening events.

4/ Getting familiar with adoption laws

Adoption laws vary from state to state. Hence, starting an adoption agency requires a thorough knowledge of the pertinent state laws and regulations that govern the placement of children for adoption. State Licensing Specialists may provide such information as well as provide the licensing application to the adoption agencies that are to become licensed agencies. In addition, owners of adopting agencies should be aware of the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC) regulations that establish standardized legal and administrative procedures governing the interstate placement of children.

5/ IRS laws and regulations

The adoption agency should also be incorporated under the state laws and regulations of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In the majority of the states, an agency casework supervisor should hold a Master’s degree in Psychology or Counseling or a Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW). Also, he or she should be familiar with any licensing requirements and regulations regarding adoption agencies in the particular state as well as informed on the latest updates on current practices and research in regards to family assessment, post-placement supervision, and post-adoption service resources.

6/ Other sources of gathering information

Even if someone doesn’t have too much experience in the adoption field, reliable information can be gathered from social workers, adoption magazines and federal adoption departments. Adoptive Families of America, Child Welfare, Child Welfare League of America, Children & Youth Services Review, National Resource Center for Special Needs Adoption, National Association of Social Workers, Roundtable, Pergamon Press, Adoption Studies Institute, Adoptalk, Adoption Quarterly, Adoptive Families and North American Council on Adoptable Children are some of them.

When exploring international adoptions, Russian children seem to come up more often than others. It is one of the two most popular countries for United States families to adopt from. The reason Russian adoptions are popular is because it is a poor country that has many children who need homes. Many of the children come from teenage mothers or families who are too poor to support a child. These children are kept in institutions while waiting for a home, which hinders their growth. The good thing to note is that with proper care and nurturing, Russian children bounce back and assimilate well. Before you hop on the first flight to Moscow, there are things to note before starting the adoption process of a Russian child.

1. Russians are not immediately available. Russian children are only allowed to be adopted domestically for six months from the date they are put up for adoption. Only then, will they be allowed to be adopted internationally. This allows the child a chance to remain in their own country with people of the same background. However, if a suitable family cannot be found, Russian children will get a chance at a life with a family from another country.

2. Fees for Russian adoptions are not cheap. Fees are in the $20,000 range. Note that this does not include travel expenses, visas and similar documents. This sum is usually just for adoption agency.

3. Not anyone can adopt a Russian child. The government only allows single mothers or married couples to adopt.

Choosing the right adoption agency is important when adopting an international child. Make sure the agency specializes in Russian adoptions or at least has a considerable amount of experience in the field. These agencies will be able to give all pertinent information when it comes to Russian adoptions. They will be to explain the whole process and tell you what to expect. The adoption agencies will be able handle any questions you have about Russian adoptions.

From start to finish, a Russian adoption takes an average of nine months. The process starts with a home study on the adoptive parents. A social worker creates a report listing everything they know about the prospective parents. Once the home study is finished parents are asked to fill out a dossier, which is a packet of paperwork that is required by the Russian government. The dossier should be notarized, but before you do this, find out when the notary’s stamp expires. Most countries allow a leeway of one year when it comes to this. Once this is finalized, the adoption agency will send the paperwork to Russia. There it will be translated and given to the Russian government.

Once there is a child ready to be adopted, the Russian government will inform you that there is a match. Parents have to go to pick up the referral in front of the Russian Ministry of Education. It includes a video of the prospective child and any pertinent information such as medical history. There is a possibility that parents are not content with the referral. The adoption agency will work with you in finding the right one.

When you are pleased with the referral, the adoption agency will contact the proper authorities. The correct documents are prepared and you will then be informed on when you can meet the child. Usually, a family takes two trips to Russia. The first is to meet the adopted Russian child. This trip lasts about a week. The second trip is for a court hearing, which is usually a few months after the first trip. It takes ten days from the date of the hearing for your newly adopted Russian to go home with you.

Adopting a Russian child may seem like a long wait and a lot of hard work, these are children who will be served better in a loving home. Russian adoptions are time consuming, but both parties will be better off in the end.

Although it seems harsh and selfish to give up on a child, there are times that placing parents do not really have any option. Unexpected pregnancy is nothing new. It has happened before and it still happens. However, regardless of the reasons that a parent would decide to place a child for adoption, adopting has to be an intentional decision.

Depending on the requirements of the parties involved, parents choose to have a closed or an open adoption. Often, there is confusion between the two types, but a good pregnancy counselor can definitely help parents out on deciding the better adoption type for their child. 

Closed Adoptions

Closed adoptions were common practice for many years, but today they are rare. In closed adoptions, placing parents do not come to contact with adoptive parents prior to or after the placement of the child. As the process is being completed through the adopting agency, birth parents and adoptive parents have little or no information on one another.

In closed adoptions, the prospective adoptive parents put their name on a list waiting for the adopting agency to find a match with a birth family. Although they provide information on where they live, what work they do, what are their hobbies, what is their daily routine, they do not get to know the placing parents. Hence, they do not know where their child-to-be comes from, or the background of the birth family.

Typically, in closed adoptions, the adopting files are sealed and adoptive parents and birth parents get to meet for the first time at the time of the adoption. However, they breech any contact after the adoption process is completed. The child doesn’t get to know the birth parents before turning 18, or may even never find out, unless told, that he or she came into the family through adoption. Also, in many cases, adopting records may have endured changes from the original records thus making it difficult, if only impossible, for the child to find his or her birth parents.

Closed adoptions are very common when international adoptions are on schedule. 

Open Adoptions

Unlike closed adoptions, open adoptions are very commonly preferred. In open adoptions, placing parents agree to exchange phone calls, visits, letters and contact information with adoptive parents without requiring the adopting agency to play the role of the intermediary. In fact, open adoptions begin as semi-open adoptions where birth parents go over multiple profiles of adoptive families and derive valuable information on each one of them.

Once the adoptive parents have been selected, both parties come to contact with one another.  Some birth parents choose to have contact with adoptive parents prior to and after the placement of the child. Also, in many cases, it is agreed that the placing parents would pay periodic visits as the child grows older.

Typically, in open adoptions, the adopting records are not sealed and hence, any name changes or other changes can be easily documented. This makes it easier for the child to find out the biological parents. 

Which one is the best?

In general, both closed and open adoptions have disadvantages. In regards to closed adoptions, birth parents may experience feelings of guilt for placing their child for adoption. In many cases, birth parents develop an attitude of denial when it comes to the child they have placed for adoption as a result of not having any contact with the child after the adoption has taken place. On the other hand, adoptive parents may experience feelings of fear related to a possible change of mind from the birth mother, who may want her child back. Also, many adoptive parents fear the lack of medical record for the child as they cannot know what the case is if the child develops any disease.

Similarly, open adoptions have disadvantages. In many cases, birth parents, being able to observe how their child is being brought up, may experience disappointment if the adoptive parents do not meet their expectations. Also, conflicts may arise as a result of cultural and/or religious traditions. On the other hand, adoptive parents may develop feelings of uncertainty feeling that their parenting role is being put at stake.

In order to decide which type of abortion suits best to the parents’ needs, adopting has to be an unselfish decision. Birth parents should always and foremost consider the best for the child without prejudices. Similarly, adoptive parents should realize how important is their decision to bring up a child who is not theirs. In the context of an open abortion, proper communication between the two sides will only ensure that the child will grow up in a structured environment with the love of birth parents and adoptive parents.

With advances in computer technology and DNA science, it seemed likely that a way would be found for the far-flung children of China to find their birth families. That day seemed far off in the future. However that day is here now, and it has arrived 20 years before I expected it. A new kind of internet website provides the means for adopting parents of children adopted from China to discover if their child has a sibling, half-sibling, cousin or other relative adopted anywhere in the world. In addition, birth parents in China will be able to search for their biological child who has been adopted by a family living somewhere in the world. While China adoptions are the largest example of what is now possible, it applies to every adoption in the world today. I don’t think it is an overstatement to say that this is the most startling development in the field of adoption information in the past 25 years.

There are two new kinds of sites in particular that seem useful to the adoption community. They are interesting because both kinds are the first of a new genre of websites. The first are DNA social networking sites; the second are primarily gene-decoding sites.

1. DNA Adoption Networking

DNA Adoption Networking is a part of a new internet service the New York Times has called Zygotic Social Networking. These networking services permit users to build a social network around shared genetic material. Similar to Facebook, users are able to post photos, update their profiles, blog, and send messages to each other. More importantly, for adoptive families they facilitate searches for relatives and allow members to compare genetic makeup.

Basically, you sign up with the service, do a cheek swab, send it in, and a portion of your genetic makeup gets compared to others on the databank. You or someone else (somewhere in the world) can then click on a map that shows a marker for every other member around the world who shares genetic markers found in your DNA profile.

Perhaps even more amazing is that the creators of these sites believe that we are only at the beginning of their abilities and usefulness. Experts believe that every new discovery in the field of genetics will provide the users with new information about their identities.

Who Would Use This Service?

A broad spectrum of the adoption community will be able to make use of these sites:

(i) Biological parents who placed a child for adoption (or perhaps abandoned a child) can search for their child worldwide with one registration.
(ii) When adopted children become teenagers or young adults, they often want to find out more about their roots. While they may not find their birth parents immediately, they may locate other relatives. In order to identify siblings, half-siblings, cousins or grandparents, it will be necessary for one of their biological parents to register on the site (At this time you need a parent to also register in order to say definitively that two relatives are siblings). Those relatives may turn up immediately or a decade or two later as new relatives register on the site.
(iii) Adopted Adults. Life is long, and at some point when adopted children have become adults, they frequently want to look for their roots. While adoptive parents today usually explain to their children that they were adopted, that has not always been the case, nor is it universally true. As a result, individuals registering on these sites, who had no idea that they were adopted, may be in for a surprise.
(iv) Adoptive parents who want to find siblings, birth parents, or other relatives of their adopted child can register their child. Parents registering children over 13 require the child’s agreement to do this. In fact, it appears that inquisitive adopted teenagers could likely register themselves if they have access to $149.
(v) Adoption Agencies may want to include information about DNA Adoption Networking in their adoption education programs. It’s a reality check for parents who state they want to adopt, but never want anything to do with the birth family and that’s why they want to adopt overseas. At some point their child may register and find relatives in other countries.

Not everyone involved in adoption will want to participate in this worldwide experiment in genealogical research. While most adopted children want to know who their biological parents are, this is not always true. However, for those who do want to know where their child is, or who their biological parent is, these websites are already producing results and matches. An ABC News video clip, which is accessed by a link on the GeneTree.com home page, includes an interview with an adopted adult who only knew his birth date and place, and subsequently found relatives in several parts of the world.

Since DNA Adoption Networking will essentially provide a worldwide adoption reunion registry, people should think carefully before registering. While anyone can use one of these sites, special precautions need to be taken when they are used by the adoption community. Some individuals may wish to obtain counselling before registering. Adoption Reunion Registries are located in most jurisdictions in North America and they frequently provide counselling to the parties both before and after a reunion.

What makes these sites so different from the sites described next is that no genetic information is given back to you (the participant).

2. DNA Gene Decoding Sites

The second type of service now on the web that will impact adoptions is the ability to decode your child’s DNA. Adoptive families will find this site useful for many reasons. Your child’s DNA is decoded, providing you with much valuable information. The experience is simultaneously unsettling, illuminating and empowering.

While these decoding sites provide the opportunity for DNA Adoption Networking, that seems to be a by-product of their main function, which is to decode your DNA. For the adoption world, services like this have extraordinary implications, including:

(i) In the majority of adoptions in the world, there is little or no information about the birth father. This includes domestic adoptions, as well as adoptions from other parts of the world. Decoding your child’s DNA will provide you with significant information about the birth father and the birth mother. The websites claim they allow you to look 20 or 40 years into the future at significant DNA markers that will affect your child’s health (such as pre-disposition to certain diseases).
(ii) Once registered with some sites, you will be automatically advised over the next 10, 20 or 30 years, as medical science makes new discoveries and advances.
(iii) In some situations DNA decoding may become available as part of pre-adoption medical and social information about the child. Currently, parents receive limited medical information, photographs, and sometimes a video. Perhaps in the future a DNA swab will become part of this pre-adoption information package.
(iv) As countries become more selective about whom may adopt their children (such as China) will they want DNA tests of the adopting parents? Adopting Parents already have to supply medical and lab reports as part of a dossier for international adoption. Are DNA reports next?

These websites will bring great opportunities, but also great quandaries. We will no longer have the problem of not knowing, but instead have the burden of whether we want to know in the first place. We will know whether our children are predisposed to certain traits or talents, athletics, music or languages, and we’ll encourage them to pursue certain paths. I have recently described these websites to clients, friends and relatives. It is interesting how many people have said, “But do you really want to know this information?”. Clearly, some people would rather not know and just let the future unfold.

Cautions

Be careful what you wish for. By going down this road, you may be opening a Pandora’s Box. In short, we are on the brink of scientific and technological breakthroughs that are going to change adoption in a way that has never happened before. Please consider the following:

1. Privacy: What is more personal than your DNA? Each of these websites has a privacy statement. Please read these before registering. It is important to understand what privacy protection is offered and whether you can set your own level of privacy on the site. Also keep in mind that the world doesn’t always work perfectly. If you put information on the internet, there is a chance of it getting loose by accident or otherwise.
2. Concerns: There are social, moral and ethical issues involved in registering your or your child’s DNA on a website. Before registering on any site prospective applicants should read the China Adoption DNA Project website where the site creators have considered the implications of parents taking the step of trying to find biological relatives in this way. Please read and think about these issues before registering on a DNA Adoption Networking site.
3. Second Test: If you join one of these websites and find a match that is important to you, please confirm it with a second and more formal DNA test. An article in the October Journal of Science warned that popular do-it-yourself DNA tests could produce incomplete results.
4. Early Days: These websites have just started up. It will take time for enough families to register worldwide for there to be many matches of close relatives. Keep your expectations low for now and check in from time to time.
5. Men and Women: Men can get a lot more out of DNA testing than women because they inherit both an x and y chromosome. For women to get the same results, they need to supply a sample from a close male relative like a brother or father.
6. Language: The scientific words and terminology used on these websites can be challenging. Some sites have a glossary or definition section. That’s a good place to start in understanding this field of research.

Registering: A recent survey of adopting parents (by the China Adoptions DNA Project) found that while the adoption community is keenly interested in learning more about how a DNA database could benefit their children and families, the overwhelming majority of parents currently do not know enough about it or are not comfortable enough with what they do know to take the next step and join a database. I encourage adoptive families to spend time on the DNA websites listed at the end of this article. Review their DNA science lessons, read the FAQ’s and watch the videos. You will learn a lot.

Of course, if you’re only registered on one site, it reduces the possibility of matches. Perhaps all the members of the adoption triad in the world who want to share this information should register on only one of these sites , or on a site yet to be created specifically for the adoption community. In the future there will undoubtedly be more of these kinds of websites, and their usefulness will advance as science advances. If you do register with one of the websites listed below, let us know about your experience with it.

Welcome to the Age of Genomics Adoption will never be quite the same!

Websites to Visit

A. DNA ADOPTION NETWORKING SITES

1. www.GeneTree.com

This service:

• operates world-wide;
• is easy to understand and easy to use;
• is free (except for the DNA swab collection kit $99 – $149);
• matches relatives (such as cousins), which greatly increases the chances of finding out more information about the child’s family of origin.

The site is part of a worldwide genealogical and genetic research project. Anyone who joins is a participant in this project. (Unfortunately, this information is not made clear on the website until a registrant orders a DNA swab kit and is presented with a 6-page contract to sign.) Parents who don’t like the trade-off of being part of a research project may want to pass on registering. Others will be happy to be part of a DNA research project that also provides the opportunity for free DNA Adoption Networking. This site is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, which is already known as the largest center of genealogical research in the world. Clearly, they want to make it bigger.

When you order your DNA swab kit ($149) you will be asked to sign a 6-page contract. Read it carefully. It has some interesting terms, including:

• you are a participant in a research study;
• no genetic information is provided back to you;
• you can withdraw from the study at any time and have your information deleted;
• while this site will match two voluntary users of the site together if they want, the site will not get involved in providing adoption or paternity information (that it may learn of) to anyone.

The website has a “Facebook” aspect to it, except you are networking with people you share similar DNA with around the world instead of your chosen friends. Participants set their own level of privacy on this site. In other words, you can register your DNA and then set privacy parameters as to the disclosure of information and whether you want contact with other members of your extended family. Of course, in addition to privacy concerns, the idea of adoptive families around the world registering their DNA on a master database certainly has a “Big Brother” feel to it. As a result, this service may not appeal to everyone.

2. www.dnaancestry.com

This site is part of www.ancestry.com and allows you to use DNA to search for ancestors, clans and by surname groups. www.ancestry.com is an established genealogical research site also headquartered in Utah. It already has a user base of 15 million, of which 3 million have posted their searchable family trees. It is the internet’s largest family-history archive. The test kit costs $149 to $179, depending on how sophisticated you want the results to be.

3. www.familytreedna.com

This website claims to have the largest DNA databases in the field of Genetic Genealogy (178,000 records). Their website includes tutorials on the use of your DNA. It also has a DNA user’s forum which has posts from adoptees who have had varying degrees of success at finding relatives. The tests cost $149 to $199.

4. www.a-chinadnaproject.org

Although this site is not yet operational as a registry, it does have interesting things to say. It is a site worth reading and thinking about the points raised there. In addition to searching for relatives, a second, equally important mission of the website, is to create a voluntary, anonymous DNA database that will provide information that could benefit all Asians of Chinese descent. The China Adoptions DNA project states numerous times on this website that it is not yet underway since it has no funding. It worries about the costs to parents and the cost of providing the service. Some adopting parents will want to wait and see if this adoption-oriented website becomes operational because of the additional safeguards that have been created for the adoption community.

5. www.tracegenetics.com

• This site has an extensive FAQ section that will teach the reader a lot about this area of science in understandable language.
• It offers testing for both the child’s maternal and paternal lineage. It then issues a report based on the percentage of ancestry from each of the world’s biogeographical areas.
• This site claims to have the largest Native American DNA database in the world.
• This website will also provide you with custom DNA projects. You can tailor your genomic requests to what you want.

B. DNA GENE DECODING SI
TES

6. www.23andme.com

This is a web-based service that helps you understand your DNA. Send in a sample of your child’s saliva and see how the decoded genes indicate your child’s future. This site is partly funded by Google. The cost for a DNA analysis is $999, and you will receive a report analyzing almost 600,000 DNA checkpoints.

At this time their service is only available in the USA, Europe and Canada, although it will expand in the future to other countries. In response to my question to this site as to whether adopting parents could use it to have the DNA decoded for a child proposed to them for adoption, the response was “Our service is not intended to be used for genetic screening purposes.”

The decision to adopt is one of the most exciting moments in one’s life. Yet, financing an adoption is an overwhelming stress for most adoptive families. The costs involved in the adoption process can be devastating, and prospective adoptive parents may get discouraged.

The Adoption Tax Credit is one of the valuable funding options available to prospective adoptive families, but also one of the most intricate tax law provisions. Received by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Adoption Tax Credit asserts that the adoption expenses are subtracted against the yearly tax liability. However, adoptive families need to learn what the tax credit covers, what the directly related adoption expenses are, who qualifies, and how the provision works.

The tax credit is applicable both to domestic and international adoptions. For a domestic adoption, adoptive families can claim the credit regardless if the adoption process is not finalized. Instead, for an international adoption, adoptive families cannot apply for the credit until the adoption process is finalized. In case the adoption process of an international adoption is interrupted, families may claim the adoption expenses to the maximum amount that may be credited on a second adoption.

Eligibility requirements of the adoption tax credit require that adoptive families have adopted an eligible child and that they have paid qualified expenses on their own. The tax credit defines as eligible any child younger than 17 or any child who is US citizen, or resident alien, mentally and physically incapable of taking care of oneself.

If the adopted child is a US citizen or resident alien, adoptive parents collect the credit for qualified expenses based on when the adoption was finalized. For example, for expenses paid before the adoption is finalized, tax credit is collected the next year; for expenses  paid the same year that the adoption is finalized, tax credit is collected the same year; for expenses paid after the adoption is finalized, tax credit is paid the year the expenses are made.

If the adopted child is a foreigner, adoptive parents collect the credit for qualified expenses the same year that the adoption is finalized. Also, for any expenses made after the finalization of the adoption, adoptive families are eligible for collecting tax credit the same year that they made the expenses.

The IRS (Publication 968) defines as directly related adoption expenses the adoption fees, legal fees, transportation fees, meals, and accommodation expenses provided they are all “reasonable and necessary.” Prospective adoptive parents should revise the IRS guidelines very carefully with a tax expert so that they are sure about the expenses they are eligible to claim. For example, expenses related to surrogate families are not included in the qualified expenses for the tax credit. Also, expenses that are already reimbursed by private programs such as employee benefits are not qualified either.

Currently, the States of Arizona, California, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin exercise the Adoption Tax Credit providing a full credit of $12,150 for offsetting adoption expenses. Adoptive families that have been reimbursed by the tax credit provision consider that is more valuable than plain tax reduction because qualified adoption expenses are subtracted on a dollar to dollar basis. Hence, if someone has a tax liability of $8,000 and has incurred adoption expenses of $5,000, tax liability will be reduced to $3,000. In case the tax liability is lesser amount than the tax credit, the difference is carried forward for up to five years.

Generally, prospective adoptive parents should consult tax experts in order to clarify their eligibility, to investigate if their State offers the Adoption Tax Credit, and overall, to ensure that all their claims are appropriately filed.

The number one reason otherwise qualified families state for not moving forward in their
adoption is because of funds. They are ready to love a child through adoption, but are unable to adopt the child that they have always wanted due to money concerns. As sad as this is, we faced the same thing 20 years ago and found if there is a will there is a way.

Adoptions can be expensive, running from around $12,000 to $25,000 for home studies, agency fees, legal representation costs, facilitation fees and travel, among other items. What many people don’t realize is that there are alternatives for adoption funding.

Most people don’t think twice about signing loan papers for a car, but don’t want to do the same for an adoption. An adoption will last longer than the car and give more joy over a lifetime. The following information is to help you find a way to get started sooner than later and find a way to adopt no matter what your financial situation is.

Getting creative with funding is the key to financing the adoption you’ve been dreaming
about. Working toward adding a child to your family may not be easy, but it will be well
worth the effort taken to find these resources. Some families are finding through these suggestions they are able to adopt for free or for less than they had ever expected. Remember you get out what you put in, so the more research you do, the better you will be at finding money for your adoption.

” Employer’s adoption benefit – The first thing you want to check into is your employee adoption benefit- this is becoming more popular and more small and medium size companies are offering some type of adoption credit for their employees. For example, Verizon has a $10,000 adoption benefit, and Pepsi has a generous adoption benefit as well. Small companies have found tax benefits to offering these adoption incentives to their benefit package – ask your Human Resource Dept for
details. Or visit Adoption-Friendly Workplace Program. They offer free materials to help
people advocate for adoption benefits in their workplace. Call 877-777-4222 for details.

” The Federal Tax Credit is over $10,000. To learn more about this credit, visit Let’s Talk Adoption for an audio interview with a Tax Specialist explaining the details about the adoption tax credit and what you can and can’t deduct. Or, visit IRS for forms.

” Savings- sounds simple, but you have to start somewhere and it will help motivate you to add to it. If you have made the decision to adopt, start saving money right away; the sooner the better. Just cutting back on Starbucks lattes can help – at $5 a day you can stash enough to get you started.

” Raising Money With Online Auctions – Go through your garage, attic and house for treasures and unused items that you have stowed away and forgotten about. Ask friends for donations of items they don’t want. Run a free ad to ask for donations for funding your adoption. Selling these online through auction can aid you in raising a good amount of money. Try Ebay or Craigs List.

” Have a Yard Sale – Whatever you cannot sell online, you may be able to sell at a yard sale. Ask relatives and friends if they have any old usable items that they can donate toward your “Adoption Yard Sale.” Two hopeful adoptive mothers I know created banners to hang over their garage – stating they were funding their adoption and neighbors and other community families donated boxes and also bought at top dollar to
help them. Be sure to keep your signs all looking the same and mentioning Adoption Garage Sale. You might also make up flyers to pass around at church, local schools, and work.

” Adoption Grants – Though you may not be aware of them, there are some grants that perhaps may help with some of the expense of adopting a child. Many of these grants will help cover international adoptions, or adoptions of special needs adoptions. Most grants range from $2,000 – $5,000, but can go much higher if you fit the requirements. Often, these grants are need-based. Some are faith based – a list is
included the book Adopting Online found online or you may request a copy from your library. African American Adoptions offers grants for African
American infant and older child adoptions to qualifying adoptive parents

” Adoption Loans and Lines of Credit – Loan programs geared toward adoption are another alternative many prospective adoptive parents are unaware of. An adoption loan makes it possible to have the money needed to adopt a child now. It also allows you to repay the loan in payments. A line of credit can be even better, as you only borrow when you need it. This is a great idea if you simply do not have a large amount of cash on hand to fund an adoption, and payments would make adoption a great deal more affordable and allow you to get started faster. You might also ask your parents for a loan to help you adopt. Depending on the relationship, this might be the best way to get started and pay your adoption loan back. Visit Adoption Financing Information, they have more than one program and can also help families with less than perfect credit.

” Plan a Fundraiser – some families have successfully planned a Spaghetti Feed at their church. You might ask for donations of food and plan a silent auction from local businesses that want the extra exposure.

” Set up an “adoption walkathon” – ask friends and family to pledge a dollar per mile to help bring your child or baby home through adoption.

For any successful fundraiser, be sure to contact the local press, including radio stations for interviews and to post your event on www.craigslist.com and in flyers at local schools, churches, businesses and remember to let friends and family members know.

There are several ways to raise the money needed for adoption if you are creative. Having a yard sale or raising money through online auctions may not seem like it would bring you a lot of help, but it will. One mother I helped raised over $1,200 on one garage sale and over $2,500 on her online auctions. Two hours per night is all it takes to sell in online auctions. An exceptional amount can be raised if friends and family donate items to your cause. You might be surprised at how the extra items can make a difference.
Any amount helps, and if you still find yourself short of what you need, there are grants
and loans to help you obtain the money you need.

Remember the tax credit and employer benefits – these are the first to investigate.

With a little foresight and planning and the many adoption funding options available today, the average family has a chance to bring the light of love into their home with the adoption of a child. Families are able to adopt for much less than they might have thought. There are so many children out there that need the warm and secure home you have to offer; why not take advantage of every funding alternative available to you?
Completing your family circle with an adoption will soon be more than just a dream!