How much to put a child up for adoption

How Much Does It Cost to Put a Child up for Adoption?

Finding yourself in need of adoption services can be a difficult position as a birth mother. However, there are plenty of resources available to birth mothers who choose adoption for their newborns. While there are often many questions regarding adoption, one of the most frequently asked questions regards the process’s financial part. Learn more about how much does it cost to put a child up for adoption.

No Cost to Find Out More

The first step to deciding on adoption for your child is to look into local adoption agencies within your area. There is no cost to make an appointment and speak to adoption specialists about the process. Plenty of other birthmothers have done the same in the past, and adoption agencies welcome you to learn all you can about the process. The law protects birthmothers during this process. There is no obligation to sign up or surrender your rights to the child.

No Cost to Choose an Agency

Once you’ve decided on an adoption agency that you want to help with the adoption process, there is no cost to do so. In fact, many adoption agencies have reserved funds where they can help you with food, housing, and medical needs. Steer clear of any adoption agency that requires you to put any money down at all.

No Cost to Choose a Family

As the birth mother, the adoption agency includes you throughout the entire process. You will have full rights to select your child’s adoptive parents from the people who are working with the adoption agency. These parents have been through a rigorous process to make sure that their home and lives are stable enough to welcome a child. Many birth mothers enjoy going through the books of profiles to choose the best family for the child. Many families are eager to adopt, so you should have a wide selection of parents to choose from. 

No Cost to Meet the Family

After you’ve selected a few adoptive families that you like, you should be able to meet them if you choose to. All of the meetings are at no cost to you, and be sure to tell the adoption agency if you need help with transportation. Once you decide on a family to adopt your child, there is still no cost to you whatsoever.

No Cost to Have the Baby

It can be expensive to have a baby at a hospital, but you don’t need to worry about any of it. Medical costs are a normal part of the adoption process, which the adoption agency will pay on behalf of the adoptive parents. This also includes all of the regular appointments and checkups during pregnancy.

So, to put it plainly, there is no cost to put a child up for adoption. Many birth mothers receive financial assistance with pregnancy-related expenses. While you don’t get paid for choosing adoption, you can get help with areas of your life that affect the baby’s well-being, including groceries, rent, utilities, and medical bills. However, it is always essential to work with a licensed adoption agency to ensure that your adoption process is legal and done correctly.

American Adoptions - The Cost of Giving a Baby Up for Adoption

Because financial hardship is one of the reasons you might be considering placing your baby for adoption, you might also be wondering, “Does putting a child up for adoption cost the mother money?” 

The answer is: No, it does not cost anything to place your baby for adoption.  

To get free, basic information about adoption, contact us at 1-800-ADOPTION now or start by browsing profiles of waiting adoptive parents.

At American Adoptions, it is always 100% free to put a baby up for adoption. As a prospective birth mother, one hundred percent of your expenses are paid for through financial assistance with our agency and by the adoptive family. Some of the services that we cover for you include:

• Free 24/7 support and counseling

• Free adoption planning and case management services

• Free medical care for you and your baby

• Free legal services to ensure your rights are protected

• Free financial support through living expenses for things like rent, groceries, and utilities, depending on your circumstances

• And more

These zero-cost services help keep you on track toward a successful adoption and ensure you are getting the best support and resources available.  

To find out what adoption financial assistance you might be eligible for and to get free information about adoption, contact us online or by calling 1-800-ADOPTION. Until then, keep reading to find answers to 15 questions expectant parents have about how much putting a baby up for adoption costs:

“Does Putting a Baby Up for Adoption Cost Money” and 15 Other Questions Women Ask

When you’re financially struggling and unable to provide for a baby at this time, you may find yourself wondering, “Does it cost to give a child up for adoption?” Or, “How do I find an adoptive family for my baby for free?”

Here are 15 questions pregnant women have asked about the costs of placing a baby for adoption:

1. “Is adoption free for pregnant mothers?”

Yes. Adoption is always free for pregnant mothers. Not only is putting a child up for adoption free, but you may also be eligible to receive financial support.

Jessica, a birth mom and one of our scholarship recipients, talks about how her financial struggles were one reason why she chose adoption for her daughter.

“It was a difficult decision being that I already had two kids, was recently divorced from their father and also took care of my disabled mother. I also love and adore kids. But financially, I could not afford another child. I was already struggling to make ends meet since the divorce,” Jessica explains. “I knew it was the right decision.”

2. “Is giving a baby up for adoption free for the biological father, too?”

Yes. Some expectant fathers are involved in helping the expectant mother place their baby for adoption. Adoption is free for both expectant parents as they navigate this experience together. 

3. “Will it cost me money if I’m looking for a family to adopt my baby for free?”

Free profiles of adoptive families are available here. It does not cost you any money to look at profiles of potential parents for your baby, to learn more about that family, or to choose them as your baby’s family. 

From start to finish, the entire process of placing your baby for adoption is free. 

We know that financial strain can be scary, and you’re worried for the future of your baby. Adoption is one way to give you and your child the futures you deserve, and it’s what birth mom Cori chose. 

“I continued to wait tables throughout my pregnancy, and I continued to barely get by. The bills kept adding up and the mere thought of taking on another child was so daunting and overwhelming that it kept me awake and pacing the floors on a nightly basis,” Cori says. “I miss him, but I know how wonderful his life is and will be. He will have a loving, secure home to rest his head in for the rest of his life.”

4. “How much does it cost to give a child up to the state versus working with a private adoption agency?”

Many pregnant women assume that it will cost them money to place their baby through a private adoption agency, so they believe that relinquishing their child to the state (foster care) is their only option. However, it’s 100% free to place your child through an adoption agency, and it actually gives you more options and rights than you’d have if Child Protective Services were to get involved. (For example, the right to choose your child’s adoptive parents and to have an open adoption.)

Additionally, a parent can’t voluntarily give their child to the state in most cases, but they can choose to place their baby with a permanent family through a licensed adoption agency. 

5. “Does giving a baby up for adoption cost money if you do it through an adoption agency?”

No. It is 100% free to place your baby for adoption through American Adoptions, or any agency.

Not only is “giving up a baby for adoption” free, but you also have access to free services that include: 

• Free help finding and choosing the right family for your child.
• Unlimited access to free profiles of waiting families who have been screened and approved to adopt a baby.
• Free medical care for you and the baby.
• A free attorney throughout the legal steps, separate from the adoptive family’s representation.
• Free counseling and emotional support before, during and after the adoption.
• Financial support for things like your rent, groceries and utilities, depending on your eligibility.
• And much more.

If you’re financially struggling and think that parenting this baby might not be best for you and your family, you’re not alone. Janelle and her husband were excited to have a child, but when they found out they were having twins they knew they weren’t financially prepared. 

“We were having trouble paying our bills and our rent and affording food, and that was when we made the decision to look into adoption,” Janelle says. “[There was] no hesitation going into the adoption process. .. I already loved the babies, even though they weren’t born, and I knew that’s what they needed. For me, there was no question after I made that decision.”

6. “Does it cost to do adoption for my baby if we don’t work with an adoption agency?”

No. It’s always free to choose adoption for your baby. However, we encourage you to work with a licensed professional like American Adoptions for your safety. Agencies like us help ensure that you are never responsible for any pregnancy- or adoption-related costs, and they can also provide you with access to free services you might not otherwise receive. 

By working with a licensed agency, you can also get financial assistance to cover living expenses during your pregnancy, such as rent, utilities, groceries and more. Some women are financially struggling to the point of facing homelessness. American Adoptions can help you continue to pay your rent or can help you find someplace where you can hopefully stay long after your child is born.  

Sara was in a similar situation and was living with her mother. When her mother made it clear she couldn’t afford to allow Sara and her 3-year-old to stay, Sara told her, “‘I'm pregnant, I'm placing the baby up for adoption and they’re going to help me get a place.’” And we did. “It was a really stressful day but things continuously got better,” Sara said.

Tara received similar support, which helped her get back on her feet. “American Adoptions also helped me by providing me with a place to live and the resources I needed to get back on my feet. I am very thankful to them for that,” Tara said.

7. “Is putting a baby up for adoption free for the people who adopt my baby, too? Do they get money to adopt my child?”

Adoption is always free for the pregnant mother. However, that means that the adoptive family and agency will cover the woman’s pregnancy- and adoption-related costs. 

In foster care, the foster family may receive a small stipend to help offset some childcare costs. In a permanent adoption, adoptive families do not receive financial incentives – they simply want to be parents.

8. “How much does putting a baby up for adoption cost if I want counseling services?”

It is 100% free to place a baby for adoption, and the services that you receive through American Adoptions are also free. That includes free counseling services before, during and after the adoption, to ensure that you feel informed and supported.

The adoption process is an emotional time, and having someone to talk to about your feelings is essential to a healthy adoption process. Whether you have an important question needing to be answered, an emergency, or you just need someone to talk to, we’ll be here. Your adoption specialist will be available by phone 24/7 for support, education, and counseling — all at no cost to you.

9. “Does putting a child up for adoption cost money for the biological parents after the adoption process is complete?”

No. Before, during and after the process, adoption is free for the birth parents. If you choose to place your baby for adoption, you will never be responsible for any costs incurred by the child. The adoptive parents become financially, legally and emotionally responsible for the child.

Additionally, you’ll have continued access to several ongoing birth parent resources for free after the adoption, should you ever need them. This includes:

• Post-adoption counseling
• Scholarship opportunities to eligible birth parents
• Referrals to helpful post-adoption resources
• Post-adoption communication support between you, your child, and the adoptive family for up to 18 years if you choose an open adoption
• Help with navigating direct post-adoption communication between you, your child, and the adoptive family if you choose an open adoption
• And more

Watch this video to learn more about birth parent living expenses and how it can help you stay afloat throughout your pregnancy and beyond:

10. “Do you pay to put your child up for adoption if the child is already born, or an older child?”

Not all adoption agencies are licensed to complete the adoptions of older children. However, it is always free to place a baby or child for adoption, whether you’re:

• Thinking about adoption for your unborn baby
• In labor at the hospital
• Recovering in the hospital after delivery
• At home with your newborn
• Or even after you’ve been parenting your child

If you feel that’s what’s best for you and your child, you can still choose adoption, and it’s still free.

11. “How much does giving a baby up for adoption cost in medical fees?”

Nothing. When it comes to medical expenses, the average cost of “giving a baby up” for adoption is $0. That's because when you are “giving up” a baby for adoption, fees not covered by insurance or Medicaid will be paid for by the adoptive family. 

American Adoptions will help you receive prenatal care (if you haven’t already), as well as any other medical care you or your baby might need for a healthy pregnancy. We will also work closely with you to create an adoption hospital plan that perfectly fits your wishes for when your due date arrives.

Having an adoption birth plan in place allows you to focus on a healthy pregnancy without worrying about the costs of medical bills.

12. “When it comes to legal fees for the potential birth parents, how much is putting a baby up for adoption?”

Nothing. American Adoptions and the adoptive family will cover the cost of your attorney and legal expenses. Your attorney is separate from the adoptive parents’, to ensure you are fairly and equally represented throughout the legal steps of your adoption. These legal services, like every service you receive throughout your adoption process, will be completely free to you.

13. “What about maternity leave and time off from work? Does it cost to put your baby up for adoption in that sense?” 

You will need to take time off to recover from childbirth, and we know this can be a scary thought if you’re financially struggling. So, these two facts may help ease your mind:

• Parental leave for adoption works similarly to traditional maternity leave, in most cases. Parental leave for both the birth mother and the adoptive parents is protected by the FMLA. American Adoptions can give you the tools you need to talk to your employer about giving you appropriate time to physically recover.​
• You may be eligible to receive living expenses to help you cover lost wages, rent, utilities, and other bills. Your American Adoptions specialist will work with you to understand your financial needs during your pregnancy, and then make sure you receive the living expenses for which you are eligible by your state laws and court-ruled financial need.

We’ll help set you up for success after the adoption is complete, so you won’t be left unemployed and struggling as a result of your pregnancy.

14. “Why is it free to give a baby up for adoption?”

Facing an unplanned pregnancy is stressful, and choosing adoption for your baby is one of the most emotionally challenging decisions you’ll ever have to make. It takes great love and many physical, mental, and emotional sacrifices to give this incredible gift to your child and to another family — it shouldn’t take financial sacrifices, as well. That’s why there are no costs to put a baby up for adoption. 

Pregnancy and childbirth alone can be extremely costly, let alone the cost of raising that baby. This is why many women choose adoption for their children. Through adoption, they’re able to have the costs of their pregnancy and delivery taken care of, and they’re also able to ensure that their baby will be taken care of — emotionally, mentally, and physically, as well as financially.

15. “What else should I know about how much cost to put a child for adoption?”

One of the reasons why many women choose adoption is because they’re not financially prepared for this baby at this time. So, not only is putting a baby up for adoption free, but you may also be eligible for financial assistance in the form of living expenses.

You’ll also receive all of the services of your adoption process for free. When you place a baby with a family through American Adoptions, it means that you’ll receive free counseling before, during, and after the adoption; free medical and legal services; the support system you need, and so much more.

We understand this is one of the biggest and toughest decisions you’ll make in your life, but it can also be one of the best. Call us at 1-800-ADOPTION or contact us online now for free adoption information.

Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. America Adoptions, Inc. provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.

I want to adopt a child. I was introduced to a woman who is ready to give me her child for adoption immediately after birth, she does not want to give him to an orphanage. Can you tell me how to legally transfer a child? . Adoption - we go to court...

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I want to adopt a child. I was introduced to a woman who is ready to give me her child for adoption immediately after birth, she does not want to give him to an orphanage. Can you tell me how to legally transfer a child? nine0005

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For those cases when the candidates for adoptive parents and the expectant mother, even before the birth of the child, have agreed to transfer him for adoption to a specific family, the family legislation of the Russian Federation provides for the so-called. “nominal” consent to adoption: “Parents may consent to the adoption of a child by a specific person ...” (clause 3, article 129 of the Family Code of the Russian Federation). Consent to adoption can only be given after the birth of the child.

How to practically use the right to transfer a child for adoption to specific persons in full compliance with the family law of the Russian Federation? I advise you to act according to the following scenario (I assume that the expectant mother is single, i.e. not married):

1. 2-3 months before the expected date of birth, adoptive parents receive an opinion on the possibility of becoming adoptive parents according to the general rules (read more in the "I want to adopt a child" section on the right, Step 2). I do not advise you to get an opinion earlier, because. The medical certificate for adoptive parents is valid for 6 months, and it must be valid at the time of filing an adoption application with the court. At the same time, taking into account all the formalities below, the court will most likely take place 1-2 months after the birth of the child. nine0014
2. After the birth of a child, the mother is discharged home with him, draws up a birth certificate. I do not advise signing consent to adoption immediately after childbirth (popularly known as “refusal”), since the widespread practice of the administration of maternity hospitals and guardianship and guardianship authorities is such that the child is immediately removed from the biological mother, and it can be extremely difficult to find out about his future fate. In my practice, there have been cases when, even with “nominal” consent to adoption given in the maternity hospital, the PLO insisted on transferring the child for adoption to the “general queue”, although the law does not support this practice. nine0002 Since we proceed from the fact that the biomother is not married, when registering a child’s birth certificate, I advise you to simply put a dash in the “father” column, and not indicate someone “according to the mother”. If the mother is married (it doesn’t matter if the husband is the real father of the child or not), then her spouse will be automatically entered as the father of the child, and then consent to the adoption will need to be obtained from him too.
   

3. After issuing a birth certificate, the biomother and prospective adoptive parents (who have already received a conclusion on the possibility of being adoptive parents) apply to the PLO at the place of residence of the biomother to report the impending adoption. Unfortunately, as experience shows, PLOs often turn out to be morally unprepared for a “peaceful scenario” of the development of events, so it can be useful to offer PLO employees some kind of “legend” (for example, that the candidates are distant relatives of the biomother, but the biomother does not have the opportunity to raise a child, so the family agreed on such a decision). It removes too emotional reaction. nine0015

Why is it important to let the PLO know about plans to put a child up for adoption in advance? The fact is that candidates apply for adoption to the court at the location of the child on their own, but in the process of preparing the case for the hearing of the PLO at the location of the child, they must, for their part, prepare and submit the following additional documents to the adoption court (Art. 272 of the Code of Civil Procedure of the Russian Federation):

• conclusion on the validity of adoption (this document is prepared by the guardianship authorities independently),
• act of examination of the housing of adoptive parents (this document will be submitted to the guardianship authorities by candidates for adoptive parents),
• birth certificate of the child (this document will be submitted to the guardianship authorities by the biomother - see paragraph 2 above),
• medical report on the state of health, on the physical and mental development of the child (this document is very important, more about it below),
• consent of the biomother (and her spouse, if the biomother was married at the time of the birth of the child) for adoption. nine0015

Consent to the adoption must be expressed in the application of the biomother, certified either by a notary, or by the guardianship authorities at the place of residence of the biological mother, or by the guardianship authorities at the place of approval of the adoption. Also, consent can be expressed directly in court, although I advise you to attach it in writing even when applying for adoption.

Important! The text of the application should have indicated: "I give consent to the adoption of my child" - only such a document is consent to adoption. nine0003

Why can a medical certificate for an adopted child present a certain difficulty? The fact is that it must be drawn up in a strictly defined way (namely, in form No. 160u - and signed by a commission of doctors), therefore, guardianship authorities sometimes try to take the child “for quarantine” to the nearest hospital in order to slowly produce this paper by the hospital doctors . In no case is it necessary to agree to such a “quarantine”, because. there is no objective need or legal requirement to separate a newborn child from its parents for several weeks. It is better to arrange with the PLO that the biomother or adoptive parents will bring the child on a specific day to the hospital designated by the PLO for an on-site examination. I invite you to read more about obtaining a medical certificate for an adopted child in the form No. 160u here. nine0003

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How to Give Up a Child for Adoption

When it comes to giving up a teenage child, the procedure is not much different. It is also required to draw up an application for waiver of parental rights.

Contents

How to Give a Child Up for Adoption

Thus, despite the imperfection of Russian legislation, citizens still have many ways to abandon a child. Recent trends suggest that PLOs are doing everything they can to keep families together. nine0003

Most often, guardianship authorities encounter abandoned children in maternity hospitals.

Is it possible to give a child for adoption to certain people? (read more...)

Applying to family assistance centers

In this case, most often this article is used to regulate relations between former spouses, when the new spouse becomes the adopter. The remaining cases of adoption and guardianship are not worked out by Russian legislation and are resolved through guardianship and guardianship authorities. nine0003

At the same time, citizens act in two ways: either they leave the medical institution, leaving the child and not writing any application, or by writing an application for abandoning the child.

Abandonment of a newborn

Voluntary renunciation of parental rights: legal regulations and consequences 71 of the RF IC, a child cannot be adopted, only after this time the registry office will make changes to the birth record of the baby. nine0026

Abandonment of a child (registered)

Conditions
129 of the RF IC, parents can indicate a specific person who can adopt their child.

To adopt an orphan or a child left without parental care, you will need:

Is it realistic for a consumer to protect his rights in the Russian Federation?

Yes No

How to Give a Child up for Adoption

A statement of claim must be filed with the Supreme Court of the Republic, the regional court, the court of a federal city, the court of an autonomous region and the court of an autonomous district at the location of the child. In Moscow, this is the Moscow City Court.

If you want to adopt an orphan child or a child left without parental care, before adoption you must meet with him in the presence of a child protection specialist of the guardianship and guardianship authority. In addition, you must show all the documents of the child. nine0003

8. How is the meeting with the child going? (read more...)

9. How to go to court?

If you have previously obtained a guardian or adoptive parent certificate and it is still valid, you do not need to obtain a new certificate.

It is not necessary to be married to adopt an orphan child or a child left without parental care. If you are already married (married), your spouse (wife) does not have to adopt a child with you - consent to adoption is enough. nine0003

How to adopt a child

The procedure for obtaining an opinion on the possibility of being an adoptive parent cannot take more than 10 working days after the submission of a full package of documents to the guardianship and guardianship authority.

3. How is the adoption procedure?

2. Who can become an adoptive parent?
If you permanently reside in a foreign country:

Unfortunately, there are not many NGOs in Russia dealing with the problems of children left without parental care who can create high-quality videos and take presentable photographs. nine0003

How to Give a Child Up for Adoption

It is possible that the guardianship authorities will not allow children to be separated, and then the adoptive parents must decide whether they can take several, and even different ages, into the family at once. The charitable foundation from St. Petersburg "Children are waiting" in the questionnaire of each ward indicates links to the portfolio of brothers and sisters, which makes it possible for future parents to consider further actions.

The regional or federal databank issues a referral to visit the child, but first coordinates the meeting with the district guardianship authority: it is possible that someone has already begun to visit the child by contacting the district directly, or relatives have appeared who decided to take him to the family. nine0003

1. Decide where to look (read more...)

2. Learn to read ads. Including between the lines

Usually, when children are officially abandoned by birth parents or parents are deprived of their rights, the child receives the status “to be placed in a family”. From this moment begins the search for a new family. A personal file is started, it is “attached” to the district guardianship of an orphanage or an orphanage (depending on age). If within a month the child has not been placed in a family, data about him are transferred to the regional catalog. nine0003

One of the pleasant exceptions is the Change One Life Charitable Foundation. The foundation's website contains the largest database of video profiles of children who dream of finding a loving family. There are currently 19,724 children on the waiting list. Each video is a mini-story about a child, his hobbies, dreams and desires. It is these video stories that give a child a chance to find their parents faster. The Foundation's employees also help the family prepare for the adoption of a child in a family: they advise on family placement, regularly hold webinars, and provide free tickets for parents who go to another region to pick up their child. nine0003

Instructions for future parents

I want to adopt a child

3) Relevance of information. Data on children enters the federal databases with delays and is updated quite infrequently. For example, information about children under the age of one is updated once a year, and for babies older than one year, the update is updated every three years. Therefore, you need to double-check whether this child has a family. This can be done most quickly at the regional level. nine0003

3. Remember the deadlines

Read more or removal of the diagnosis in children left without parental care, within 3 working days from the date of its receipt, but at least once a year; photographs of children left without parental care, until the child reaches 3 years old - every 4 months; for children aged 3 to 7 years - every 6 months; for children over the age of 7 years - every 2 years. nine0096