About how much does it cost to adopt a child

Average Adoption Costs — How Much Does It Cost to Adopt

Because of several serious health conditions, Leah Atkins knew that when she and her husband were ready to expand their family, adoption was the way to do it. 

Atkins, an interior designer in Lawrenceville, GA, says she and her husband carefully chose an adoption agency that felt like a good fit for them, but they also wanted an agency that focused on the birth mother during and after the adoption. They found the agency and the birth moms, and now the couple has two children. 

While they planned for the adoption costs, the numbers still shocked them. “We knew that it wasn’t cheap, but we had no idea just how expensive it truly was,” said the mom-of-two. “A lot of it goes towards legal fees, which is understandable, but can still be frustrating.” 

While talking about adoption costs can be uncomfortable, Atkins said it’s necessary. “Bringing money into any conversation about adopting a human child sure makes it feel taboo. I think it is important for all parties involved in adoption to educate themselves thoroughly as well as see a therapist to work through any emotions that come up during the process.”

Average adoption costs can vary greatly based on the type of adoption and circumstances around the adoption. If you are considering adopting a child, these are some of the costs you can expect so that you can begin planning for your family’s future. 

The three types of adoption

There are three routes to adopting a child:

• Domestic Adoption: Adopting an infant in the United States
• International Adoption: Adopting a child from another country
• Foster-to-Adopt: Adopting a child from the foster care system

“Researching the various types of adoption is an important part of beginning the adoption journey,” said Rita L. Soronen, President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. “The costs of each kind of adoption differ widely. It is important to know that there are also many options for financial assistance for families hoping to adopt and that understanding these options can go a long way toward alleviating the worry about cost.”

Cost of a domestic adoption

According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the average costs of adopting a child in the United States is between $20,000 and $45,000. This price can cover legal fees, home studies, travel and lodging, court fees, and medical and living expenses for the birth parent. Soronen said it’s important to get clarity from the adoption agency or the attorney involved on specific costs prior to making a commitment.

Parents can expect a private adoption agency to be more expensive. However, some agencies will offer a sliding scale based on the adoptive parents’ income. 

For an independent domestic adoption, parents find the birth mother without an agency and use an adoption lawyer to facilitate all of the legal aspects and paperwork. Costs can range from $15,000 to $40,000, according to the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

Adoption costs by state may differ since adoption laws vary state to state. 

Cost of an international adoption

Depending on the country of adoption, international adoption costs will vary greatly. Parents should plan to pay between $20,000 and $50,000 for an international adoption, according to the Child Welfare Information Gateway. 

Be sure to budget for multiple trips to the country before and during the adoption process and add the extra expenses of travel and hotel costs. 

Cost of adoption through foster care

Morgan Lampp and her wife Mara Hill dreamed of adopting a baby and were surprised to learn that in their home state of Florida, foster care adoption costs were almost nothing. “Through our adoption classes it was very clear that there would be little to nothing out of pocket with our adoption,” says Lampp. “The classes, home study, fingerprints and background checks — all covered. Even our lawyer costs for adoption were covered in full.” 

While every state has different rules and fees associated with adoption through foster care and every case is different, for this couple, the process moved very quickly. “Last year we had our home study completed and within a month we were matched with our baby Kai. She was officially adopted by us at the end of May,” said Hill.

According to Soronen, here’s what prospective parents need to know about adoption through foster care:

Adoption from foster care entails working with the public child welfare system and their contract agencies. 

Since the agency holds custody until they are adopted, most of the fees are the responsibility of the public system. 

There are some costs that can occur, including home studies or other out of pocket fees, but these are typically reimbursable and range from $0-$3,000. 

Children adopted from foster care often qualify for state or federal subsidies that follow the child through age 18 or in some circumstances until age 21.  

Many states also offer educational vouchers for youth adopted from foster care. This can include college or trade schools.

New parents Lampp and Hill said they hope adoption through foster care is one that more hopeful parents will explore. “We encourage anyone interested in adopting because these children need a safe and loving environment, and a forever family. If money is something stopping you, know that this may be a route for you.”

Unexpected adoption fees

Even with careful planning, there may be additional fees and expenses that prospective parents should budget for during the adoption process. “Depending on the circumstance and age of a child when adopted, there may be a need for post-adoption medical or mental health assistance,” said Soronen.  

There may also be legal fees to consider. “Since adoption is a legal exchange, families may want to consider engaging an attorney, even if one is not required, to assure that all aspects of the adoption are handled appropriately. ”

How to pay adoption costs

While the cost of adoption can be expensive, there are a variety of ways to save and pay for adoption, including:

• Federal and state subsidies for foster care adoption
• Loans and grants for individuals
• Employer benefits
• Military reimbursements 

The bottom line

“The adoption journey is one that, in the end, joyfully creates or expands a family and provides a child a permanent and loving home,” says Soronen. “Although costs can be a challenging part of that journey, there are multiple options and supports available.”

How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Child?

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The adoption process can be long and cost anywhere from less than $1,000 to more than $50,000.

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Bringing a child into your family is a big decision, emotionally and financially. The process can be long and cost anywhere from less than $1,000 to more than $50,000. Here’s a breakdown of the different ways you can grow your family through adoption — and how much you could expect to spend.

How much does adoption cost?

The cost of adoption depends on the type of adoption you pursue. As you consider how you might want to move forward, keep in mind there are several ways to pay for adoption, from fundraisers and grants to personal loans.

Public agency adoption

How it works: Adopting children through the public welfare system often means beginning as a foster parent. Each state has its own agency, which oversees licensing, education, placement and support for adoptive families.

What it costs: Adoption from foster care is a low-cost option for parents. Child Welfare Information Gateway, a service of the Children’s Bureau under the federal Office of the Administration for Children and Families, characterizes foster care adoption as “virtually free of cost.” The majority of foster adoptions cost less than $1,000, according to the most recent Adoptive Families magazine adoption cost survey conducted in 2016-17.

This path to adoption is inexpensive because of state and federal adoption assistance programs put in place to make it more accessible and appealing to adopt children who are in foster care. These children are often older and may have experienced trauma or have special needs.

Helpful resource: The Children’s Bureau offers a state-by-state guide to adoption assistance.

Private adoption

How it works: Parents can work with an adoption agency or attorney to find and adopt children in the U.S. Generally, the process of adopting a child is similar whether you work through a private agency or independently with the help of an attorney. It involves a home study, placement, counseling, training and legal documentation.

What it costs: The cost of a private adoption varies. Working with an agency, you can expect to spend between $30,000 and $60,000, according to the Child Welfare Information Gateway. It’s slightly less expensive to pursue an independent adoption, which involves working with an attorney. That process ranges in cost from $25,000 to $45,000. Private adoptions are more likely to involve newborns. That means in addition to paying for the adoption process, you would also cover the birth mother’s medical and other expenses.

Intercountry adoption

How it works: This path involves working with private or public adoption agencies in countries outside the United States. The process and fees vary by country and depend on the organization you work with, which could be a government office, agency, orphanage, nonprofit or an individual like an attorney. Some aspects of the process are unique. You’ll have to work through the immigration process, including applying for passports and travel visas, and navigate foreign legal systems. The road can be long. Child Welfare Information Gateway estimates intercountry adoption can take one to five years to complete.

What it costs: On average, intercountry adoption costs $20,000 to $50,000.

Expenses that may arise when adopting a child

Home study

A home study marks the beginning of the adoption process.

During a home study, prospective parents — and their family members — are checked out to make sure they would provide a safe and loving place for a child. A home study requires you to produce documents, including financial statements, employment records and a letter from your doctor about your latest physical. You’d also undergo background checks and interviews. This evaluation phase can cost from $2,000 to $4,000, according to The Gladney Center for Adoption, an adoption agency based in Fort Worth, Texas. That price may be adjusted based on your family’s income.

This step in the process also includes education and training. Some of it may be provided by the state agency that administers the home study at a cost ranging from $300 to $600. Additional hours of training are likely required and would be done on your own through books or online courses, which can cost $100 to $200 per person.

Lastly, during the home study, you’ll agree to a post-placement reporting phase. In the United States, a social worker visits the family multiple times over a six-month period after the child has been placed in the home. Fees for post-placement reporting can range from $1,500 to $2,000.

Search fees

When working with a private agency or an attorney, a major expense in the process goes to searching for and getting matched with a birth mother. Fees for a consultant and advertising may be rolled into an adoption agency’s overall fee. But if you’re pursuing an independent adoption, you’ll likely pay for these services separately and costs can range more widely, depending on how and where you want to advertise. The Gladney Center estimates consulting and advertising can cost between $3,000 and $7,000 for an independent adoption.

Birth mother expenses

People adopting a newborn will be responsible for paying the birth mother’s expenses. This can include medical bills and some living expenses, as well as counseling, legal fees and travel. The Gladney Center estimates these expenses can cost between $6,000 and $8,000 for parents pursuing a private adoption.

Legal fees

There are a lot of legal requirements in adoption, including terminating the rights of the birth parents, court filings, negotiating birth mother expenses and finalizing the adoption after the post-placement reporting period. An adoption agency may roll some of these expenses into its overall fee.

If you’re pursuing an independent adoption, legal fees will be the bulk of your expenses, costing between $7,000 and $15,000.

Travel

Travel costs can crop up for domestic adoptions, though they’re most significant in intercountry adoptions. Distance is a key factor in how much you’ll pay for travel. Another is time. You might be waiting days or weeks for the final legal approval to bring a child home, especially when crossing state lines or country borders.

For private domestic adoptions, you could pay up to $3,000 in travel expenses, according to the Gladney Center. (You could look at getting a travel credit card to offset some of those expenses. )

Estimates vary for intercountry adoption-related travel. The cost can depend on the country where the child is living and the organization you’re working with. In a cost estimate on its website, New Beginnings — an international adoption agency based in New York — says the adoption of a child in South Korea could include $6,000 to $9,000 in travel expenses. The Child Welfare Information Gateway advised in a September 2020 intercountry adoption guide that adoptive parents are often required to be in the child’s country to finalize the adoption. It may require multiple, extended visits.

Raising a child

Adoption in itself can be a long and expensive process, but that’s only a precursor to the full cost of raising a child. New parents should budget for those expenses, which can top $21,000 in the first year alone.

About the author: Taryn Phaneuf is a writer at NerdWallet. Read more

On a similar note...

procedure and legal consequences of adoption, what is needed, conditions, documents, consent of the child, rights and obligations of foster parents

Tamara Skokova

creates a benefit for the family

Author profile 37 thousand children.

In the understanding of many people, "to adopt a child" means to take an orphan from an orphanage. However, from a legal point of view, everything is not so simple. Today in Russia there are several forms of family placement for children, and they are regulated differently by law.

I worked in the guardianship and guardianship authorities for 17 years, 14 of them as a supervisor. In the article I will tell you who and under what conditions has the right to take a child into a family, what documents are required for adoption and how the procedure takes place.

What is adoption of a child

In Russia, there are several forms of placement of orphans and children left without parental care. Federal legislation establishes three main ones: adoption, guardianship and guardianship, foster family. At the regional level, others may be provided, but so far this is only patronage. Briefly describe how they differ from each other.

Custody and guardianship. The most common form of placement for children: often used as an intermediate step on the path to adoption.

Guardianship and Custody Act

Guardianship is established over children under 14 years of age, and guardianship over minors from 14 to 18 years of age. Guardians and trustees have all the rights and obligations of a legal representative in matters of upbringing, education, maintenance of the child and responsibility for him.

Unlike the guardian, the guardian is liable for harm caused by the ward. He is also obliged to make all transactions on behalf of the ward, except for those that the child can conclude personally: for example, these are donation transactions when a minor receives some thing or money as a gift.

Art. 1073, paragraph 2 of Art. 26 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation

The trustee usually must give consent to the transactions of the ward, with a few exceptions: for example, minors aged 14 to 18 years have the right to independently manage their income or make small household transactions.

Art. 12.1 of the Federal Law on state benefits to citizens with children

p. 3 art. 38.1 of the Social Code of the Belgorod Region

Monthly, the guardian and trustee are paid an allowance for the maintenance of an orphan child. Its size depends on the region: for example, in the Belgorod region, where I live, in 2022 the allowance is 10,310 R.

In addition, guardians are entitled to a one-time payment from the federal budget - 22,472.77 RUR. This amount is set for all guardians from the Russian Federation, regardless of place of residence.

Lump-sum allowance when a child is brought up to a family

If a child is brought up by a guardian or custodian, the biological parents are not released from the obligation to support him and must monthly transfer alimony to his personal account: the amount of alimony is determined by the court.

Art. 148, paragraph 2 of Art. 71 SK RF

At the same time, the guardian decides whether the biological parents will be able to communicate with the child, but if the child is 10 years old, then his opinion will also be taken into account.

Art. 148.1 SK RF

Foster family. This form of arrangement is similar to guardianship, but in addition to child support and a lump sum payment, foster parents also receive remuneration for their work.

Art. 152 SK RF

The amount depends on the region of residence. For example, in 2022 in Moscow it is 18,150 R, and if a family accepts a child with a disability, then the amount of the payment will be higher - 30,885 R.

Clause 2.5.1 of Appendix 1 to the Decree of the Government of Moscow on establishing the amount of social payments for 2022

In the Belgorod Region, foster parents are paid 8288 R per month for the first child taken into the family, and for each subsequent adopted child the amount is increased by 20%. If a family accepts up to four children, the remuneration is paid to one of the parents, five or more children to both. In rural areas, there is still a monthly supplement of 25% of the remuneration due to foster parents. Foster parents have more privileges than guardians: they are provided with a 50% discount on utility bills, fuel, gas, telephone.

paragraph 5 art. 148.1 of the RF IC

Law of the Belgorod Region on Foster Family

Law of the Belgorod Region on Amendments to Article 2 of the Law of the Belgorod Region “On Foster Family”

The seniority can be accrued to both one parent and both - it all depends on who has concluded a civil law contract with guardianship.

Art. 7 Federal Law on compulsory pension insurance

The foster child and biological parents can communicate. Foster parents have the right to prevent this only if communication does not meet the interests of the child.

Section 5, Art. 148.1 SK RF

Patronage . Foster care is a relatively new form of family structure, in which the rights and obligations to protect the rights of children are delimited between the foster caregiver and the guardianship and guardianship authority. Laws supporting patronage have been adopted in 42 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, for example, in Moscow, Vladimir, Kaluga, Ivanovo and Kaliningrad regions.

Laws and regulations on patronage of the Moscow, Vladimir, Kaluga, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad regions shelter.

The child is transferred to foster care under a fixed-term contract. The period of stay in the family is set individually: it can be a short period - up to six months or a long one - over six months. The maximum term is until the minor reaches the age of eighteen.

For a long time, a child is placed in a foster family only if, for some reason, it is not possible to transfer the child to a guardian, custodian or foster family. In this case, the foster family receives a monthly allowance from the state for the maintenance of the child. The amount is similar to that allocated for guardianship and guardianship. But the right to receive a one-time allowance when a child is adopted into a family does not apply to foster parents.

Foster care gives the child the opportunity to prepare for an independent adult life - this is difficult to do in an orphanage. But this form of arrangement has one big drawback - children often become attached to new families and parting with it causes them stress. With all this, the child does not lose touch with the blood family: he can maintain relations with his parents, if they are not deprived of parental rights and do not pose a danger to him, brothers, sisters and other people significant to him.

/list/sos-dd/

9 uncomfortable questions about orphans

Adoption. The Family Code of the Russian Federation considers this form of placement of children a priority: only it allows you to most effectively ensure both the interests of the child and the interests of foster parents.

Adoptive parents completely replace the child's parents. Here there is no such temporary nature of upbringing as in guardianship, guardianship or when transferring a child to a foster family. The state does not provide adoptive parents with any special assistance, with the exception of social support measures established in each subject separately, as well as measures that are provided to all families with children on a general basis.

Adoptive parents can change the child's first and last name. For children under one year old, even the date of birth can be changed, but not more than three months from the actual one. This happens in order to ensure the secrecy of the adoption, as well as for other reasons, if the court considers them valid. In my practice, there was such a case: the spouses raised an adopted boy born on September 8, 2007, and then adopted a girl born on July 25, 2007. The adoptive parents asked the court to change the boy's date of birth to July 25, 2007, so that the children could be considered twins. The court granted the request.

Art. 139 SK RF

art. 155 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation

In many regions, adoptive parents receive benefits for an adopted child. To apply for it, you must apply to the guardianship authorities at the place of residence. For example, in the Belgorod region, the amount of the allowance depends on how much money was allocated for the monthly maintenance of a child in an orphanage in the current year, the adoptive parent is entitled to 50% of this amount. And in the Stavropol Territory, a monthly allowance for adoptive parents is not provided, but a lump sum payment is made - 150,000 R.

cl. 1 art. 60 of the social code of the Belgorod region

art. 2 of the Law of the Stavropol Territory on the amount and procedure for assigning a lump-sum allowance to adoptive parents

In Moscow, the monthly compensation payment to persons who have adopted or adopted an orphan child or a child left without parental care in the city of Moscow is:

• 18 937 R for each child from 0 to 12 years old who is not a disabled child;
• 25,249Р for each child from 12 to 18 years old who is not a child with a disability;
• R 31,561 for each disabled child.

Clause 2.9 of Appendix 1 to the Decree of the Government of Moscow on establishing the amount of social payments for 2022

Also, adoptive parents are entitled to a lump-sum allowance, which is issued for all forms of family placement. From February 1, 2022, this is 20,472.77 R. But in the case of the adoption of a disabled child, a child over seven years old, as well as children who are brothers or sisters, the allowance will be higher - 156,428.66 R. To receive a payment, you need to apply to the Pension Fund at the place of residence.

Lump-sum allowance when a child is placed in a family for upbringing

What is the difference between the forms of placement of a child in a family

Form	Who is considered the child's parents	What rights do carers have	What are the duties of caregivers	How the state supports child caregivers
Adoption	Adoptive parents	The rights of adoptive parents are identical to those of natural parents	Obligations of adoptive parents are identical to those of natural parents	Adoptive parents receive payments provided by the regional authorities. Also, adoptive parents receive the right to use maternity capital, if it was not used by the birth mother, and all child benefits in accordance with age. A child who at the time of adoption has the right to a pension and benefits due to the death of his parents retains this right after adoption
Custody and guardianship	Blood family	The guardian or custodian has the right to raise the child and act as his legal representative	Guardians and trustees are obliged to take care of the maintenance of the wards, to provide them with care and treatment, to protect their rights and interests. At the same time, biological parents are not released from the obligation to pay alimony	Guardians and custodians receive a one-time allowance upon adoption of a child into a family, allowance for the maintenance of a ward, alimony payments, survivor's pension, if it is due to the child
Foster family	Blood family	Similar rights as under guardianship	Similar duties as under guardianship	The foster family receives a one-time allowance when the child is adopted into the family, a monthly remuneration to the foster parent for the performance of duties and an allowance for the maintenance of the child in the family of the guardian, depending on the legislation of the region, benefits for utilities. The period while the child is in the family is counted towards the foster parents in the insurance period
Patronage	Blood family	Determine the daily routine of the pupil, resolve current issues of the pupil's life in accordance with the plan for the protection of the rights of the child and the concluded agreement	Raise a child, protect his rights and legitimate interests, take care of his health and development	The amount of payment for a foster caregiver is determined by a fixed-term employment contract of the region. The monthly payment to foster care providers for the maintenance of an orphan child or a child left without parental care is established by each region separately

Adoption

Who is considered the parents of the child

adoptive parents

What rights arise in persons to care for the child

Rights of the adoptive parents are identical to blood parents

What are the obligations to ensure care of child

The obligations of adoptive parents are identical to those of natural parents

How the state supports persons providing care for a child

Adoptive parents receive benefits provided by the regional authorities. Also, adoptive parents receive the right to use maternity capital, if it was not used by the birth mother, and all child benefits in accordance with age. A child who at the time of adoption is entitled to a pension and benefits due to the death of his parents retains this right after adoption

Guardianship and guardianship

Who is considered the child's parents

Blood family

What rights do caregivers have

A guardian or custodian has the right to raise a child and act as his legal representative.

What obligations do persons who provide care for a child have? At the same time, biological parents are not released from the obligation to pay alimony

How the state supports child caregivers

Guardians and guardians receive a one-time allowance for the adoption of a child into a family, support for the maintenance of a ward, alimony payments, survivor's pension, if the child is entitled to it

Foster family

3

3 Who is considered the child's parents

Blood family

What rights do caregivers have

Similar rights as in guardianship and guardianship

What are the obligations of persons providing care for a child

Similar obligations as in guardianship and custody

How the state supports persons providing care for a child for the performance of duties and allowance for the maintenance of a child in the family of the guardian, depending on the legislation of the region, benefits for utilities. The period while the child is in the family is counted towards the foster parents in the insurance period

Employment

Who are considered the parents of the child

Blood family

What rights do caregivers have

Determine the child’s daily routine, resolve current issues of the child’s life in accordance with the contract and child protection plan

What are the responsibilities of those who care for a child

Raise a child, protect his rights and legitimate interests, take care of his health and development

How the state supports child caregivers

The amount of payment for a foster caregiver is determined by the region's fixed-term employment contract. Monthly payment to foster care for the maintenance of an orphan or a child left without parental care is established by each region separately

Who can adopt a child

Married couples or single adults can adopt a child: if citizens are not married to each other, they cannot jointly adopt the same child.

Art. 128 SK RF

Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation on approval of the rules for the transfer of children for adoption

Another important condition is that a man or woman must reach the age of majority, and the age difference between the adopter and the child must be at least 16 years. But if the adoptive parents are a married couple, and the age difference is less than the established norm with only one of them, then the guardianship department may, as an exception, give consent.

Other requirements for an adopter:

1. Legal capacity: own and spouse, if any.
2. Absence of a conviction for a grave and especially grave crime.
3. A health condition that allows you to fulfill parental responsibilities: for example, a child will not be allowed to be adopted by patients with tuberculosis or people with disabilities of the first group.
4. Home ownership or rental.
5. Substitute parents have a school leaving certificate.
6. No information about deprivation or restriction of parental rights, cancellation of adoption, removal from the duties of a guardian.

If there are several people who want to adopt a child, his relatives will have the priority right, but taking into account the interests of the adoptee: they are expressed in trusting relationships, attachment to relatives, long-term cohabitation.

Community 24.05.22

How is the secrecy of adoption protected in Russia?

Next, I will tell you what documents future parents will need to collect and how the adoption procedure goes.

Step 1

As a rule, there is an adoption specialist in each district municipality. He can work both at the education department and at the department of social protection of the population: this needs to be clarified in the social protection or education authorities at the place of residence.

In some cities, for example, in St. Petersburg, Vladimir, Krasnoyarsk, special adoption and guardianship centers have been created, where future adoptive parents are assisted in paperwork, passing medical examinations, and selecting children. Such an integrated approach greatly simplifies and speeds up the entire procedure.

Center for Family and Children Assistance, St. Petersburg

Center for the Development of Family Forms of Education, Krasnoyarsk

Center for Psychological, Pedagogical, Medical and Social Assistance, Vladimir

At the first visit, candidates for adoptive parents should simply talk with an employee of the guardianship authority is, in fact, an acquaintance. The task of a specialist is to listen to you, to find out the motive for adoption, to understand how fully you understand the responsibility of such a step, whether your housing, family and material conditions meet the requirements of the law.

The guardian must explain your future rights and obligations in relation to the adopted child, the procedure for the adoption procedure, answer your questions, and issue the necessary forms, referrals and a list of documents. Here it is:

1. A copy of the adoptive parent's marriage certificate, if he is not married, then a copy of the birth certificate: sometimes the court asks him to see if the adoptive parent's surname has changed.
2. Passport copies.
3. Original and copy of the medical certificate for each of the adoptive parents.
4. Certificate of criminal record or non-conviction.
5. When a child is adopted by one of the spouses, the consent of the other spouse or a document confirming that the spouses have terminated family relations and have not lived together for more than a year.
6. Certificate from the place of work on the position held and salary, or a copy of the income statement or other document confirming the income of the adoptive parent or family of adoptive parents.
7. Documents confirming the right to use the residential premises or the ownership of the residential premises.
8. Certificate of completion of training for persons wishing to adopt a child without parental care into their family.
9. CV (needed only for the guardianship authority).

The main part of the documents is required to obtain an opinion from the guardianship authorities on the possibility of being an adoptive parent. Later, they will also be needed to apply for adoption to the court. Documents for the child will be prepared by guardianship officials.

Step 2

I recommend that you start collecting documents from this certificate. Since the request is sent to the Main Information Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a response will have to wait from a week to a month.

An application for issuing a certificate can be filled out at the MFC or independently on the public services portal.

/guide/ne-sudim/

Why do you need a certificate of non-conviction

Step 3

People without serious health problems can take a child from an orphanage.

The list of diseases preventing adoption includes:

1. Tuberculosis - patients of the 2nd and 3rd dispensary groups.
2. Infectious diseases.
3. Mental illness.
4. Drug and alcohol addiction, substance abuse.
5. Grade 3 and 4 malignancies.
6. The first group of disability.

List of diseases that make it impossible to adopt a child

The form for referral for a medical examination is issued by the guardianship and guardianship authorities along with a list of documents for adoption.

It will not be possible to pass an examination in private clinics: according to the law, only state medical institutions are engaged in this, and free of charge. The medical report will be valid for six months from the date of its approval by the chief physician or the head of the polyclinic.

Medical examination procedure and conclusion form

What is included in the medical examination - public services website

To avoid misunderstandings, immediately after issuing the completed form, you must carefully check whether everything is in order with the execution. In particular, the conclusion of each doctor must be certified by the round official seal of the institution.

Step 4

Adoptive parents must prove to the specialists of guardianship authorities the ability to financially support the child.

To do this, you will need to provide a certificate from the place of work on salary and position or copies of the income declaration certified by the tax office. The certificate is prepared in free form indicating the salary and other payments for 12 months.

/prava/opecunam/

What rights do guardians have

Step 5

CV is only for guardianship. It should reflect the main points of the life path: education, marriages and divorces, labor activity. Based on this information, the specialist judges the stability of the financial and family situation of the candidate for adoptive parents, as well as his experience of communicating with children. An autobiography should not be too voluminous: one or two A4 pages is enough. The document can be either written by hand or printed on a computer.

CV must include:

1. Personal information. Surname, name, patronymic; date and place of birth; information about parents or persons replacing them; information about sisters, brothers, if any; place of permanent registration and address of actual residence, if it differs from the address of registration.
2. Education. Basic education - years of study, school number and city where one is located. Higher education (if any) - years of study, name of the university, specialty.
3. Professional activity. Beginning of work experience - place of work and profession; listing periods of work and the name of employers, positions. The last place of employment is included with an indication of the position and salary; awards or events that positively characterize the candidate.
4. Marital status. Family composition: spouse, children (last name, first name, patronymic, date of birth, occupation). Data on previous marriages and divorces (if any): information about spouses and children born in these marriages; the facts of changing the surname (if any) indicating the reason and the previous surname.
5. Interests and additional information. Creative, sports, achievements in them; participation in public organizations, volunteer movement, awards and promotions; experience working with children or helping elderly relatives.

It is also necessary to briefly explain the reason for contacting the guardianship department.

Step 6

The list of required documents for adoption includes a certificate of completion of a program of psychological, pedagogical and legal training, or a school for future parents.

Art. 127 SK RF

Only close relatives of the child, namely grandparents, older full and half brothers and sisters, stepfathers and stepmothers, as well as those who are already a guardian, trustee or adoptive parent, can not be trained.

At school, prospective adoptive parents are helped to understand if they are ready for this serious step, and to figure out what form of guardianship will suit them; introduce the legislation, talk about the psychological difficulties that children and adults face both during the period of adaptation and after.

The length of study varies from school to school: a course can last from 56 to 80 academic hours. At the end, a final certification is carried out: after it, future adoptive parents will be issued a certificate of completion of training.

/child-custody/

I took three children from the orphanage

You can study for free at any school, regardless of the place of registration.

Step 7

When all the documents on the list are collected and transferred to the guardianship authorities, the adoptive parents will be assigned an inspection check of living conditions.

The guardian must inspect the housing and assess whether the child can live there. If other people live in an apartment or house in addition to the adoptive parents, guardianship workers will take an interest in their state of health and the relationship that connects them with the candidates for adoptive parents.

For verification, potential adoptive parents provide:

1. An extract from the USRN confirming the ownership of housing or a contract of social or commercial employment.
2. Information on the number of residents registered in the housing area.

/guide/get-egrn/

How to get an extract from the USRN

Adoptive parents are not required to provide any other documents other than the above. The conclusion on the possibility of being a candidate for adoptive parents and registration takes place within ten days after checking the housing conditions.

What should be the place of residence of the adoptive parent. The place of residence of a person wishing to adopt a child does not have to coincide with the place of his registration. But it is necessary to have a permanent registration. If the candidate rents an apartment, he must provide a lease for more than one year. If living with relatives - a written agreement between them for the right to use.

A room in a hostel or apartment cannot be considered a permanent place of residence, no matter how comfortable it may be.

What should be the living conditions. In order for the child to live safely for his health and development, the living space of the adoptive parent must comply with sanitary standards. The main criterion is the availability of communal amenities: water supply, sewerage, central heating, gas supply, and so on.

Guardianship authorities can evaluate this without involving SES, BTI and other third-party organizations.

There are no federal restrictions on the size of housing for adoptive parents - the issue is at the mercy of the regions. For example, in Moscow, there should be at least 18 m² per person. But even when this rule is not observed, the final decision remains with the court: if the adoption is in the interests of the child, permission can be given to families with a smaller apartment area.

Art. 50 ZhK RF

Law on amendments to the RF IC

Step 8

To select a child, candidates can apply, at their choice, to any municipality in whose territory the orphanage is located, to a regional operator that is in each subject of the Russian Federation or in the Federal Data Bank on orphans and children left without parental care. But the law does not prohibit the independent search for a child in orphanages. You can also search for a child before the candidate receives a conclusion on the possibility of being an adoptive parent, but they will not give a referral to view the child until that moment.

Federal Child Data Bank

When and which child can be adopted. A child who has the status of an orphan, or a child left without parental care, can be adopted at least a day before his or her majority.

Requirements for adoptive parents do not depend on the age of the child they want to take into the family. But if the case concerns a baby, whom the mother abandoned in the maternity hospital, then from her, as a legal representative, an additional statement of consent to adoption will be required.

Community 26.04.22

Is it possible to adopt an adult?

What are the health groups of children during adoption. Health groups is a scale that determines the state of the body and the development of the child. This information is provided to adoptive parents by the regional operator of the database of orphans.

There are five health groups:

1. The child is absolutely healthy.
2. Practically healthy children without chronic diseases, but with some functional disorders. For example, children who have had severe and moderate infectious diseases, children with a general delay in physical development without endocrine pathology - short stature, low or overweight. The same group includes frequently ill children and children with noticeable consequences of injuries or operations.
3. Children with mild curable pathologies and chronic diseases with rare exacerbations who are in remission at the time of the examination.
4. Children with chronic diseases, injuries or operations that limit the child's life or require supportive care.
5. Children with disabilities.

Pathologies in children are not an obstacle to adoption. However, before you take a child with a complex diagnosis, you need to soberly assess the strengths and capabilities. It is better to consult with specialists in advance on how to organize the process of education. You can also discuss this topic with foster parents whose families have children with similar diagnoses.

In reality, completely healthy orphans are rare. Children of the 1st-2nd health group, as a rule, are babies, who are abandoned in the maternity hospital by very young mothers. Basically, children of the 3rd group are taken to families, and orphans of groups 4-5 more often remain in children's homes.

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How I became a foster mother to three girls

How is the meeting with the child. After the child is found, prospective adoptive parents go to the guardianship to which the specific institution belongs, or to the operator of the regional data bank through which the information was received, clarify the details and request a referral for a face-to-face visit.

The referral is valid for 10 days, during this time, future parents can see the child one or more times, talk with his caregivers, pediatrician, psychologist. A conversation with the institution's specialists takes place before meeting the child. If, after this conversation, the failed parents turn around and leave, the child will not be traumatized by failure.

The number of referrals issued is not limited by law, that is, the search continues until the future adopter finds "his" child. A child who is ten years old will also have to express his opinion: agree in writing to a family placement or refuse it.

Art. 132 SK RF

At the end of the ten-day period, the candidate for adoptive parents will have to write on the referral one of the words that can radically change their future life: “I refuse” or “I agree”. If it was possible to find contact with the child and the consent in the guardianship authorities was recorded, the next step is to file an application with the court.

Step 9

This is a rather formal process: you need to come to the court during office hours, submit the documents according to the list, get their list in your hands and wait for the notice of acceptance of the case for proceedings, appointment of the court date. You don't need to pay state duty.

sign. 14 p.1 art. 333.36 TC RF

By law, the period for consideration of an application should not exceed two months from the date of its acceptance in the office. But the judges, as a rule, schedule a hearing for the next possible day.

How is the court session. Adoption cases are handled in a special manner. The adoptive parent, the representative of guardianship, the prosecutor and the child, if he is over 14 years old, must necessarily participate in the process.

/prava/prava-deti/

Rights of children under 18 years of age

Usually, a court decision enters into force 10 days after it is issued: only from this time do mutual rights and obligations arise between the adoptive parent and the child. If there are special circumstances and there are no objections on the merits of the case from all the participants, the judge may decide on the immediate execution of the decision: for example, if something threatens the life and health of the child and he needs urgent hospitalization.

An adopted baby can be taken home immediately after a positive adoption decision has been made by the court. At the same time, the maternity hospital must issue a postpartum sick leave from the date the decision enters into force when the baby reaches the age of 70 days, and when adopting two or more children - 110 days. A sick leave is needed to apply for maternity leave at the work of one of the adoptive parents.

Art. 157 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation

Step 10

To do this, you need to contact the registry office: they will issue an adoption certificate and a new birth certificate of the child.

ch. V Federal Law on acts of civil status

The child is registered at the place of residence of the adoptive parents.

When can an adoption be canceled and parental rights deprive

Most often, cancellation occurs due to the guilty behavior of the adoptive parents. For example, if they shirk parental responsibilities, abuse their rights, abuse a child, abuse alcohol or take drugs.

A claim for the annulment of an adoption may be filed by the adoptive parents themselves, the guardianship and guardianship authorities, the prosecutor and the child if he has reached the age of 14.

Art. 142 SK RF

However, the court has the right to cancel the adoption even if there are no violations on the part of the parents.

Such cases include the identification of hereditary developmental abnormalities in a child that make it difficult or impossible to bring up. As a rule, when receiving an expert medical opinion on an adoptee, the future adopter confirms in writing his consent to familiarize himself with the diagnosis of the child and the history of the mother. If the violation was not listed in the document and appeared later, or the adopter for some reason was not notified under the signature about the presence of a pathology in the child, the adoption may be canceled.

/guide/lishenie-parent/

Why they can deprive of parental rights

But in practice, I came across the fact that foster parents became attached to children and even when a serious illness was detected, they left them in the family.

Adoption in brief

1. Before adopting a child, you need to analyze your motives, weigh the pros and cons.
2. When visiting guardianship authorities and other authorities, be sure to ask and write down the last name, first name, patronymic of the specialist, as well as his position. You are required to provide this information. This way you will show that you are competent in matters of communication with officials and are able to appeal against illegal actions. In the future, this may be useful for contacting higher and regulatory authorities.
3. Submission of applications, medical examinations of adoptive parents and children, obtaining all certificates - all this is free of charge for future adoptive parents. The court fee is also not charged.
4. You can study at any school for foster parents, regardless of the place of registration.
5. A child can be adopted not only by a married couple, but also by unmarried persons. The main thing is that they comply with the requirements established by law.
6. The conclusion on the possibility of being a candidate for adoptive parents is valid for two years.

answers » Official website of the urban district of the Arkhangelsk region "Mirny"

QUESTION: Can people who are able to give birth or already have children adopt? If not, is it required to provide a certificate of impossibility to give birth to the guardianship authorities?

Surely they can! There is not a single legal restriction on adoption by people who are able to give birth and / or have children, relatives and / or adopted children, guardians, etc.

It happens, nevertheless, that applicants for adoptive parents are required to provide a certificate of infertility. However, this is completely illegal. In this case, you should demand from the guardianship specialist a regulatory document on the basis of which such a requirement is made. You can demand a written request from the guardianship authorities to the medical institution to obtain such a certificate, but with this request, do not go to the medical institution, but contact a higher authority or the district prosecutor's office to challenge this illegal requirement.

OUR OPINION: It would be terrible if someone came up with the idea to ban people who already have children from adopting. Such adoptive parents are perhaps the most valuable, they also have experience in upbringing, and the environment contributes to a better adaptation of the child, they less often insist on secrecy and more often take older children.

QUESTION: Can a single person adopt a child?

Yes, maybe. The legislation provides for adoption by a married couple, one of the spouses or a single, unmarried adoptive parent. The difference in procedure is minimal: a married couple presents a marriage certificate to the court, a single adoptive parent - a birth certificate.

It should be noted that the guardianship authorities treat single adoptive parents more carefully, carefully study the motives for adoption and the family situation in the candidate's house.

In addition, the Family Code (clause 2, art. 127 of the RF IC) prohibits persons who are not married to each other from jointly adopting the same child.

OUR OPINION: In some countries where there are enough willing to adopt, there are such restrictions and only a married couple can adopt. Such requirements are justified: a single parent faces great difficulties in raising and providing for a child. Incomplete families are at risk, and first you should think very carefully whether you can cope with psychological and financial difficulties, give a full-fledged upbringing to a child, whether your “rear” is strong enough for this and whether the risk is justified.

QUESTION: What are the age limits for adoptive parents and guardians?

Only adult citizens can adopt, there are no upper legal age limits for adoptive parents and guardians. The legislation does not stipulate the minimum age for custody or adoption of children. There is only a restriction on the minimum age difference between a single adoptive parent and a child - it must be at least 16 years old (clause 1, article 128 of the RF IC).

OUR OPINION: In addition to the norms of the law, it is necessary to take into account one's own possibilities for the future, the perception of others, and after a very short time - the opinion of the child. First of all, difficulties arise with the fact that the needs of the child increase with age both in material terms and in terms of active communication. The hardest thing for parents is with teenagers - they need to buy expensive fashionable clothes, spend money on additional classes, etc., be flexible and have a reserve of strength and patience in order to actively participate in the life of a teenager, otherwise his life will fill the street. No matter how much we want to be distracted from our own age, no matter what forces and intentions guide us, we must understand that age matters.

It would be wise for adoptive parents to focus on older children and, for starters, choose such a form of arrangement as guardianship, since it allows both the guardian and the child to receive support from the state (payment for the maintenance of the child, material assistance upon exit from under guardianship, benefits for admission to a university, provision of housing if the child is not already assigned, etc.).

QUESTION: How much does it cost to adopt a child for Russian citizens?

All adoption procedures are free of charge. Submission of applications, medical examinations of candidates and children, obtaining all certificates - everything is free. No court fee is charged.

However, the costs associated with adoption are unavoidable. It is worth considering the costs of: transportation, if you have to look for a child in another area, and temporary accommodation there; possibly the services of lawyers and hiring a lawyer to participate in court; and, of course, preparing the house for the adoption of a child: the purchase of furniture, clothes, toys, books, etc.

QUESTION: I heard that there is a long waiting list for adoption. Is it so?

No, it is not. Unfortunately, there are many more abandoned children than those who want to adopt them. Whether or not you have to stand in line depends on the requirements you place on your child. Very often, adoptive parents want to adopt an absolutely healthy newborn girl with light eyes and hair. But there are few such children, and there are many who want to take just such a child. Some want to resort to imitation pregnancy, and picking up a newborn baby is even more difficult.

On the other hand, there are a lot of unclaimed children who are slightly older or have minor health problems that leave them without parents. Therefore, one should either prepare for an indefinite waiting period for a suitable child, or yield somewhat in their demands. Moreover, getting into a warm home environment filled with love and care, any child flourishes, and medical problems are compensated.

QUESTION: What housing benefits do adoptive parents receive?

There are no such benefits for adoptive parents. Moreover, the requirements for adoptive parents include the requirement to have a living space sufficient to accommodate a child in compliance with current sanitary standards. Additional living space or a house can only be provided to foster families who, under an agreement with local authorities, take several children to raise. Recently, some regions have adopted laws to support adoptive parents, according to which successful families can be allocated additional housing for adopted children. If the adoption is canceled, this housing remains with the child, and not with the former adoptive parents.

QUESTION: Guardianship authorities, what is this and where?

"Guardianship and guardianship authorities" is the general name of all bodies that ensure the protection of children's rights.

Specialists in the protection of the rights of children of local self-government bodies work directly with adoptive parents, guardians, foster families (clause 2, article 121 of the RF IC). In our city, specialists of the guardianship and guardianship authority are located at: st. Lenina, d. 33, room. No. 207; Reception days: Tuesday: 9.00-13.00; Thursday: 14.30-17.00. Contact phone: 5-04-20.

The duties of the guardianship authorities, among many others, include: identifying children in need of protection, placing them in institutions and families, protecting property rights, checking the situation of children.

When working with adoptive parents, guardians and foster families, specialist:

• Keeps records of citizens who have expressed a desire to become adoptive parents / guardians / create a foster family (hereinafter referred to as candidates).
• Advise candidates.
• Conducts a survey of their living conditions and gives an opinion on the possibility of being adoptive parents / guardians.
• Provides assistance to adoptive parents in the selection of a child.
• Prepares an opinion for the court on the advisability of adopting a child chosen by the adoptive parents;
• Prepares documents for children transferred to families, an order for the transfer of a child under guardianship and documents for the appointment of a guardianship allowance.
• Provides assistance to guardians and foster parents in education, organization of summer holidays.
• Monitors the living conditions and health of wards and adopted children.
• If necessary, prepares draft administrative documents on the release, removal of guardians from the performance of their duties, cancellation of adoption.

QUESTION: Can I adopt an adult?

Alas, the adoption of adults in Russian law is not provided. First of all, because adoption in Russia is seen as a way to protect children left without parental care, giving them a home, family and homeland. Adoption of adults was widespread in the ancient world, especially during the imperial period of Rome. Thus, property rights, patrimonial privileges and titles were transferred there. Now in some countries the adoption of adults is still preserved, for example in Japan.

QUESTION: Is there a big risk that the birth mother will persistently look for the adopted child and try to take it away from me?

Such cases are quite rare and occur more often when adoptive parents violate the elementary foundations of ethics. First of all, this happens when childless spouses, wishing to adopt a healthy newborn from a young or distressed mother, seek out unscrupulous doctors who promise to find such a child. By persuasion, and sometimes by deceit, they contribute to the thoughtless abandonment of the mother from her child. Subsequently, having matured, having come out of the crisis, such a mother, and often all her relatives, start searching for the child and even sue to cancel the adoption, and the adoptive parents are forced to hide, explain to the guardianship authorities, the grown child, or may become a victim of blackmail.

QUESTION: What is the procedure for adopting a wife's (husband's) child?

The procedure differs little from a regular adoption. However, since the child is known and the wife (husband) agrees to the adoption, the guardianship authorities do not need to draw up a separate Conclusion on the possibility of being an adoptive parent and there is no need to contact the database operator with a request to search for the child and you can immediately go to court, which means the whole procedure will pass much faster, most stepfathers of such adoptions do not take more than 1-2 months. It will be enough for you to write one application instead of three, which is much faster. For stepfathers and stepmothers, there are no housing requirements (clause 12 of article 127 of the UK) and restrictions on the age difference between the adopter and the adoptee (clause 2 of article 128 of the RF IC). Keep in mind that if the father (mother) of the child has died, then at the request of relatives on the father's side, their rights can be preserved by a court decision.

QUESTION: We have no time to deal with paperwork and search for a child, but we are wealthy people and we can pay for the services of a company, where can we turn?

Intermediary services in the selection of children for adoption are prohibited by law and there are no legal organizations, except for guardianship authorities and regional operators, authorized for such activities (Article 126.1 of the RF IC), in addition, the adoption procedure is structured in such a way that the most important and time-consuming stages are: medical examination, choice of a child, acquaintance with him and his documents, participation in court, adoptive parents are required to go through personally!

QUESTION: What is the first step in adoption?

The first step is to apply to the guardianship authorities at your place of residence to obtain a Conclusion on the possibility of being an adoptive parent.

The task of the specialist is to listen to you, find out the motive for adoption, explain the requirements of the law, the rights and obligations of adoptive parents in relation to the adopted child, outline the sequence of the registration procedure, answer your questions and issue the necessary forms.

Don't be surprised if you get a cold welcome at first. The fact is that quite often people with serious mental problems or unscrupulous people apply for adoption, which requires the specialist to always be on guard. In addition, in addition to working with adoptive parents, he has a lot of other responsibilities and very often he simply lacks the time and patience. It happens to get on a specialist who is illiterate and does not care about the interests of children. Therefore, it makes sense to start with an independent study of the law and understand for yourself the requirements and restrictions for candidates, the rights and obligations of guardianship authorities and yours. In order not to be ignored in the guardianship authorities, prepare an application in advance with a request to give a Conclusion on the possibility of being an adoptive parent (s) in triplicate. Submit the first copy to the office of the institution where the specialist department is located. The second will remain with you, and on it the office is obliged to put a stamp on admission, indicating the date, incoming number and name of the recipient. Give the third copy to a specialist so that he can start working with you immediately, and not wait for someone coming from the office. Ideally, if you can immediately bring at least some of the documents required by the list, at least be sure to bring copies.

OUR OPINION: Well prepared, you will feel much more confident. Speaking the same language as a specialist will make it easier for you to communicate and convey the subtleties of your situation, and a negligent specialist will be much less likely to ignore you.

QUESTION: In what terms and from what moment should the application of citizens intending to adopt be considered in the guardianship authorities?

The law establishes a period of 15 working days (Government Decree No. 275, art. 9) from the moment of acceptance of the application and the necessary documents prepared by the future adopter. This period includes consideration, verification of these documents, examination of living conditions (if the adopter actually lives in this territory) and the issuance of a conclusion on the possibility of being an adoptive parent.

The guardianship and guardianship body shall bring to the attention of the applicant a negative conclusion and, based on it, a refusal to register as candidates for adoptive parents within 5 days from the date of its signing. At the same time, all documents are returned to the applicant and the procedure for appealing the decision is explained.

QUESTION: Our chosen child has two older brothers, can we adopt only the younger girl?

The law allows children to be separated only as a last resort, when the children do not know each other or one of the separated children is disabled and is in a specialized institution and the adoption of one of them is in his interests. The interests of the adoptive parents are not taken into account, since adoption is a form of protection for children. However, such a requirement is presented only in case of adoption (adoption). it destroys family ties and decides on the possibility or impossibility of such adoption by the court. However, the separation of children is allowed when establishing guardianship, since in this case the children do not lose family ties with each other. Nevertheless, even when establishing guardianship, they still try not to separate children if they are brought up in the same institution and are attached to each other.

QUESTION: Can the selected child be taken home before the trial?

Sometimes this is possible, but it depends on many factors. First of all, from the state of paperwork, the time remaining until the trial and the type of institution in which the child is located. It is most difficult to take a child adopted from home, mainly because this is a medical institution, the children there are small, doctors try to limit the contact of children with strangers in order to exclude diseases of children, and all the troubles associated with subsequent quarantine. Therefore, fearing the situation while the child will be with you on "bird rights", doctors may not allow this - after all, the responsibility lies entirely with them! Another thing is older children who are in orphanages, orphanages or hospitals.

If all the documents have been prepared, there are no fundamental problems left and it is only necessary to wait for the court, then everything is decided by the type of institution and the human factor: how the director of this children's institution and the specialist of guardianship authorities treat you. With a trusting relationship, you can hope that, with the consent of guardianship, the child will be transferred to you as a visitor (for adaptation) before the trial.

OUR OPINION: Each such situation is very individual. Despite your keen desire to quickly take the child into the house, still try to take into account the interests and understand the positions of all parties, and, first of all, the interests of the child.

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