How much money do I have to show I make in order to make an adoption move more easily?

Question

I know there is business involved, and they want security for the child. What do they want to see? House, 401K, cash?? I'm not going to loose any more pride than necessary.... Who knows the deal?

Thanks

Answer 1

Frank, why do you want to raise someone else's child anyway?

The child will not look, smell, act, or think like you OR your wife.  This child will already have parents--s/he'll just be temporarily separated from them.

Take it from an adoptee--blood IS thicker than water!

Answer 2

100,000,000,000.00 USD

Answer 3

Considering the placement fee is incomebased, it could tkae longer for someone who has a smaller income to be matched.  The agency has modivation to place babies with wealthier famlies so they can get a larger comission. Does it acutually happen? Can't say for sure.

as far as income requiremens, I don't thinkthat there is ANY minimum requirement . It's just how you manage you money and how it will show in your parenting.

If your house and cars were paid off and you had  good insurance through work, and made only $15,000 then that's plenty to raise a child, so really what you bring in per-year is irrelevent, It's your debt to income that matters. Be careful though. Our adoption (private) was origionaly supposed to cost around $12,000 and ended up costing about $50,000. There was always some new home visit that wasn't included in the "homestudy " fee and it added up real quick. Of course I wouldn't have change my mind had I have known, but I would have been better prepared.

Answer 4

"They" do want security but you don't need to show that you have a ton of financial assests.  You just need to show that you can provide for an additional family member - and not just financially.

Not all agencies charge fees on a sliding scale based on income.   A lot of religious organizations do that, but not all agencies can afford to.

If you are looking into adopting an infant, start calling local agencies and adoption attornies to find out what your state laws are and what your best option might be.  Most agencies will offer a no-obligation orientation or meeting to discuss what services they offer and what they require of prospective adoptive parents.

If you are considering an older child, a child that is currently in the foster care system, call your local social services and ask about their foster care and adoption training.

If you do a quick search for your city's social service office you should be able to find their website with basic requirements for adoption and foster care.  That might be a good starting point for you.

One of my favorite resources is adoption.com  The forums there are excellent.  You can discuss adoption from every side - there are adoptive parents, birth parents, adult adoptees, and even a few social workers.  It's a great place and I hope you check it out (link below).  If you do, look me up, my user name is KenandShelly

I am currently a foster parent.  We are working towards adopting a 12 year old boy from another state.  We have also looked into domestic infant adoption.  We've decided to put that on hold until we know if we are fully approved for the 12 year old.  If so, we will wait at least a year before pursuing another adoption.  Just in case you wonder why I am so opinonated about this!!!!  

Please don't let anyone make adoption all about the money.  There are so many postive things about adopting.  Good luck!

Answer 5

Adoption doesn't work that way. Sounds like a scam to me.

Answer 6

That is not how adoption works at all. You don't have to be rich or even own a home to adopt. You only have to have enough money to support your chid.

Answer 7

In any adoption, you will need to have a home study to show that you have a safe and secure environment to raise a child.  I have heard some adoptive parents say that passing the home study is "a piece of cake".  (I find those comments kind of scary for placing parents - don't ya think?!)

The required finances depend on the adoption situation.  If you go through foster care, I think that you only need to show financial stability and don't need a lot of cash.

If you are considering a private domestic infant adoption, you will need about $20,000 and as maybe much as $60,000 in cash.

I think that in the current adoption practice, where the expectant parent picks the adoptive parents, there is bound to be some built-in bias toward wealthier families.  I am not in any way saying that all parents who place only look at money as a factor in choosing adoptive parents.  But they do want to be sure that their child is well cared for in all ways.

I do not understand your comment about losing pride.

Answer 8

To adopt you need to show that you are able to provide financialy for the child and give him/ her a stable and loving home. You can rent or own your home.

There is often a minimum income requirement, which is not very high, but no, having more money will not make the process go any faster.

Answer 9

I don't think that's the case; at least I certainly hope not. The financial end is only to make sure you are able to provide for a child's needs. I think that anything beyond that would be considered immoral. You either qualify to adopt a child or you don't. Having more wealth doesn't make an adoption move faster. I sure hope I'm right on this. It would be really disgusting to me if rich people were favored in the process--but not surprising I guess. Good luck with it.

Answer 10

Frank don’t listen to Sunny. There are many adoptees like myself who have had nothing but good experiences.  Blood thicker then water is such a joke. Love is thicker then anything.  I know a woman (not adopted)who isn’t even close to her blood family and is closer to people who aren’t her blood relations.   You adopt a child Frank and it will be your child in every way that is important hopefully you’re smart enough to know that.

As far as what you need I know you don’t need to live in a house, I know a couple who adopted while they were living in a apartment. Most likely they just want to know that you can provide the essentials for the child, not that you can afford to buy from expensive boutiques or get a new car every year.   Of course they will want you to have Health insurance.