A lack of financial resources is one of the reasons why some women consider adoption. So, it should come as no surprise that we often here the same question. Can a birth mother receive money for her baby? And the answer is no. A birth mother cannot be paid for the adoption. There are no adoption agencies that pay birth mothers for their babies. And it is illegal to receive money to place a child for adoption.
“When placing a child for adoption, a parent is required to sign legal papers stating that they have not been given money or gifts in exchange for their child,” writes Annaleece Merrill, Adoption.com.
However, certain reasonable expenses are covered for birth mothers here in Maryland. These include certain medical and other adoption-related expenses outlined below.
Adoption Expenses Covered in Maryland
“In domestic infant adoption, when a pregnant woman is making an adoption plan for her unborn child, the hopeful adoptive parents will often pay certain expenses on behalf of the pregnant mother,” writes Stacy Stark, Adoption.com. These expenses are regulated by state law and vary from state to state, says Colleen Marea Quinn, Adoptive Families. Once paid, these expenses are non-refundable, even if the adoption plan falls through.
“Often, legal and medical expenses are paid AFTER the revocation period expires to prevent families paying for expenses and losing the opportunity to adopt the baby,” says Dean Kirschner, Ph.D., LCSW-C.
Here in Maryland, House Bill 563, signed into law in 2013, allows adoptive families to help cover certain expenses, including:
- ALL medical expenses and hospital costs are covered by adoptive families, as are ALL legal expenses.
- This law also covers reasonable charge or fee for adoption counseling.
- Reasonable expenses for transportation for medical care.
- Reasonable expenses associated with any required court appearance relating to the adoption.
- “In some circumstances, living expenses are also paid,” says Dr. Kirschner, “if you can not work because of a condition directly related to the pregnancy – and prescribed by your physician.”
Creating an Adoption Plan
Adoption Makes Family is a non-profit (501-C3) licensed adoption agency based in Maryland. The professionals at Adoption Makes Family have many years of experience in adoption services and are able to facilitate financial assistance when assistance is truly needed, while, at the same time, protecting the legal rights of the birth mother.
If you have any questions, you can contact us by phone at 410-683-2100, by e-mail at dr.kirschner@adoptionmakesfamily.org or use our online contact form.
Sources
- “Allowable Adoption Expenses in Maryland.” Jennifer Fairfax, www.jenniferfairfax.com/family-formation-blog/maryland-allowable-adoption-expenses.
- “Do Mothers Get Paid for Adoption in MD?” American Adoptions — America’s Adoption Agency, www.americanadoptions.com/state_adoption/get-paid-for-adoption-maryland?article_id=4972&sitemedia=full.
- Fairfax , Jennifer , and Catelyn Slattery . “Allowable Adoption Expenses in Maryland under New Law.” Jennifer Fairfax, www.jenniferfairfax.com/allowable-adoption-expenses-in-maryland-article.
- Quinn , Colleen Marea . “Birth Mother Expenses: Reimbursement and the Law.” Adoptive Families, 16 Oct. 2017, www.adoptivefamilies.com/how-to-adopt/birth-mother-expenses-failed-adoption/.
- “What are Birth Mother Expenses?” Adoption Network, www.adoptionnetwork.com/what-are-birth-mother-expenses.