| This article is the first in a series. It is in no way | | | | from the agency prior to signing any contracts. Many |
| complete or thorough. Please look for further articles | | | | agencies reduce service fees to families who adopt |
| in the future. There are many legal aspects to | | | | children with special needs. You will need a home |
| adoption that vary from state to state, court to | | | | study, and because adoption is a legal process, you |
| court, and case to case. You will need an adoption | | | | will need an attorney. The cost of a home study |
| attorney for complete advice on the proper steps to | | | | vary. Plan to spend between $2,000-$3,000. Attorney |
| take for your situation.Step 1: Educate Yourself about | | | | fees and court costs can range from $1,500 to |
| AdoptionTalk to adoptive parents, read pertinent | | | | $7,000 depending on the complexity of your case. |
| books and articles, and contact local and national | | | | Fortunately, due to federal and employer-initiated |
| organizations that can provide you with information | | | | programs, parents have several options for covering |
| about adoption. Acquaint yourself with common | | | | the cost of special needs adoption.Loans |
| adoption terms, and learn about relevant laws in your | | | | Adoptive Families can apply for flexible loans such as |
| state to make sure that you are following legal | | | | home equity loans and insuranceloans.Grants |
| guidelines as you pursue your adoption.Step 2: | | | | The National Adoption Foundation (NAF) provides |
| Contact an adoption attorney.Adoption is a complex | | | | eligible families with financial assistance, services, and |
| legal process. an attorney versed in adoption can give | | | | support before, during, and after their adoptions are |
| you advice specific to your circumstances. | | | | finalized.Employer assistanceEmployers that offer |
| There are several places that you can look to find | | | | adoption benefits may provide workers with: |
| an adoption attorney. The local yellow pages under | | | | direct cash assistance for adoption expenses |
| adoption attorneys, the local court system, the local | | | | reimbursement of approved adoption expenses |
| or state bar association, the AAA (Association of | | | | paid or unpaid leave (above and beyond federal |
| Adoption Attorneys), and sometimes local adoption | | | | leave requirements established through the Family |
| organizations or agencies will have listings.Step 3: | | | | and Medical Leave Act of 1993) |
| Consider the type of child you can best parent.Open | | | | resource and referral servicesTax CreditSince tax |
| your mind to the different children available for | | | | year 2002, adoptive parents whose annual adjusted |
| adoption. You will need to consider age, race, | | | | gross income is less than $190,000 have been able to |
| number, ethnic background, special needs issues, and | | | | take advantage of up to $10,000 in tax credits or |
| sex. Each of these possibilities opens new doors for | | | | per child to offset qualifying out of pocket adoption |
| you. The type of child you choose will affect your | | | | expenses. |
| waiting time.Step 4: Decide what type of adoption is | | | | For special needs adoptions finalized in 2003 and |
| right for you.There are several kinds of adoption, | | | | after, adoptive parents can claim up to $10,000 |
| each with its own complications, wait times and | | | | adoption tax credit per child regardless of their out of |
| advantages. No matter which option you choose, | | | | pocket expenses. The tax credit can be carried over |
| starting with an attorney is always your best choice. | | | | for 5 years if not all used in the first year.Adoption |
| Public Social Service Agency AdoptionPublic agency | | | | AssistanceIf adopting a child who has special needs, |
| adoption involves any child in public foster care, those | | | | adoptive parents may be eligible for a federal or |
| involuntarily terminated from their parents, most | | | | state adoption subsidy (also known as adoption |
| children with special needs (abuse issues, medical | | | | assistance). Special needs children are considered |
| needs, sibling groups, age, etc.), or any child in the | | | | hard-to-place and therefore qualify the adopting |
| custody of the state or county. Cost is usually none | | | | parents for special services. Special need is decided |
| or minimal.Private Agency AdoptionPrivate agency | | | | by each state but is always based on age, number |
| adoption offers more flexibility, younger children and | | | | of siblings in the group, medical needs, or history of |
| babies. Private agency adoption fees start at $15,000. | | | | severe abuse or neglect. These children can be from |
| Intercountry, also called foreign or international, | | | | a public or private agency but must fit the state |
| adoption is also in this category.Independent | | | | criteria to qualify. Benefits vary from state to state, |
| AdoptionIndependent adoption involves an attorney, | | | | but commonly include: |
| the birth parents, and the adoptive parents. The | | | | monthly cash payments |
| choise of adoptive parents depends on the individual | | | | medical assistance |
| birth parents' wishes. Costs include attorney fees, | | | | social services |
| court costs, travel and any support given to the birth | | | | one time adoption costs (travel, legal fees, court |
| mother.Paid Facilitator (Unlicenced Agency) | | | | costs)Step 6: Begin the Home Study ProcessA home |
| AdoptionPaid facilitator adoption is not allowed in | | | | study is best described as an educational and |
| most states and poses a legal risk. Facilitators are not | | | | evaluation process designed to help your social |
| licenced in most states. Paid facilitator adoption offers | | | | worker learn more about your ability to provide a |
| less protection for the adopting couple, birth parent, | | | | stable home, to teach you about adoption and its |
| or the child. Some facilitators charge the same or | | | | affect on children and families, and to prepare you to |
| more than licenced adoption agencies. Check carefully | | | | parent a child whose experiences and history may be |
| when choosing this option.Step 5: Investigate ways | | | | different from your own. |
| to cover adoption expensesAdoption agency service | | | | With few exceptions, everyone who hopes to |
| charges vary widely. Always request information | | | | adopt must have a completed home study. |