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Before Adopting a Child- Practical Advice for Future Parents

If you look at it from a financial level, the adoption process is usually quite taxing and expensive. There is a long waiting period that will tire you out. Here’s how you can prep yourself better.
Before Adopting a Child- Practical Advice for Future Parents
You can adopt via the foster system which helps to reduce the cost of adoption and also provides financial aid. You can get additional benefits with government programs, food, and clothing, tax deductions, and create a family. 
In this article

Everyone wants to expand their family and have a house blooming with children. However, this privilege is not biologically possible for everyone. But does that stop you from adding family members to your home? No, adoption is a great way to overcome the problem of infertility or other medical complications if you’re a couple looking to become parents. 

It is easy to say “Just adopt” but the actual reality does sit well with that phrase. It is an intense process that needs determination, commitment and love. Much like the real process of having a child. However, you do not need to worry as this article will put your mind to ease as it provides some of the best advice for adoption.

Make it affordable by fostering

You can adopt via the foster system which helps to reduce the cost of adoption and also provides financial aid. You can get additional benefits with government programs, food, and clothing, tax deductions, and create a family. 

Finances do not provide the different variables of this option. Everything depends on your mission and vision of parenting. You can get extra funding for special needs, and medical and mental issues. You can also get more aid for sibling groups for the people who can stay together. However, this is not an easy road and you have to define the purpose and needs for your parenthood before you make those decisions. 

If you look at it from a financial level, the aid process is usually done by the reimbursement method and it can also be expensive and there is a long waiting period that will tire you out. Read more on how to be financially ready to have kids here.

Adoption through agency

Adoptions for all nations, Alliance adoption, Adoptions together, and Nightlight Christian Adoption have great motivating names because they have a purpose of finding the best families for the children there. They do match-making of potential parents with pregnant women and children with families. 

The costs of this process can be uncertain. That is because they do not comprise the medical fee, legal fee for adopting parents, fees for home evaluation by social workers, etc. This cost ranges from $20,000 to $45,000 and this is a lengthy process, and it can be a little over the top with all the psychological checks and all the other factors. 

The agency that you contact will also have some charges that will be different from agency to agency. Some agencies investigate your credit scores and student or credit card bills to define your eligibility.

Independent adoption

This is also known as an Attorney assisted adoption. This type of adoption is done without the implications of the agency and with an adoption attorney. This is quite a feasible option because the amount cuts down to almost half of the other options mentioned above. 

In this type of adoption, the adoptive parents will have an already established bond with the mother and will go through the medical and legal fees with an attorney. There is no involvement of the agency and its connections. Hence, the costs are also low. This can be compared to selling on your own or selling with the help of a realtor.

The legal process is also not significantly different as social workers will still evaluate your condition and run a background check to examine the parents. The finance laws are rigid and ensure that parents are well off paying the direct expenses and not just paying for the child. 

This process has some complex regulations and without the help of an agency, there is an understandable amount of burden on the parents. These costs can be tedious to handle and lead to lingering legal complications.

International adoption

Celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Julie Andrews have done this intercountry adoption. This is an expensive option. You can incur almost $20,000 to $50,000 and is the most complex of all with added drawbacks.

The legal fee is wide and depends on the countries and agencies involved. This can be done through orphanages and private agencies, like America World Adoption. For example, while adopting from China, it is essential that your assets are at least equal to $80,000a and divorces that are lower than 2 and the rules also imply your body mass. 

Traveling is a peculiar expense for international adoption. This again is dependent on the country and case. All the money you spend is worth it since you also get a level of certainty that is not present in other methods. 

How to pay for adoption?

Adoption is neither easy nor cheap and other strategies can help with the cost and make your dream possible.

Tax credit for adoption

All methods of adoption include child credit for naturally born children. This credit is $14,440 at present and is updated for inflation every year. It is also updated for phase-out rates and low-level income slabs.

Loans and grants

The National Adoption Foundation also gives access to special loans and grants for adoption and this help can also be acquired through services like Your Adoption Financial Coach, which helps with adoption funding and reforming the financial condition for the vetting process.

Borrow from yourself

If you are looking to adopt in your 30s or 40s, you might not have $40,000 lying around but should have proficient funds in your 401(k) or other retirement accounts that can help take loans against them as collateral.

This is not a very prudent choice but if you are confident about reclaiming those losses then go for it. 

Employer assistance

Many employers also assist parents with financial aid, reimbursements, and paid/unpaid leaves. Parents considering adoption should look for such opportunities. 

Employers also provide leaves like maternity and paternity leave, in your case, adoption leave, and hence you get the time with your adopted child and learn about him/her. This applies to people who work in public or private agencies with more than 50 employers.

Adoption is your decision at last

Any parent knows how great it is to have a child and the overwhelming joy that accompanies it never ends while other times it can be a real pain. This is an experience that cannot be dictated by anyone but can only be defined as your calling 

Adoption is a unique decision that’s not easy for anyone to take and you get the phenomenal chance to thrive with a child. You can choose the option that fits you the best for you financially and emotionally. 

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Devanshee Dave

Devanshee Dave

With over 4 years of experience in financial writing and a master’s degree in mass communication & journalism, Devanshee is currently preparing for her CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) exams. In her spare time, she likes to dance and learn about cosmology, astronomy and anything that can expand her knowledge from the big bang to the big crunch.

This page is purely informational. Beem does not provide financial, legal or accounting advice. This article has been prepared for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide financial, legal or accounting advice and should not be relied on for the same. Please consult your own financial, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transactions.

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