Is it legal for someone adopting a child to ask for money from the parents they're adopting from?

Question

this is just a random questiont that came up in my mind

is it legal if, say a person is adopting a child from another family

and they are asking for money, like the child's living fees, education fees, all that.

Answer 1

Hi ihaveaquestion,

Perhaps the family should not be adopting if they cannot afford to support the adopted child on their own.  Finances is a big reason why many natural parents relinquish.  No doubt they were promised by an adoption professional that the child's new adoptive family would be able to provide for them everything their child would need.

If they originally qualified to adopt and have since lost their job or gone through a divorce, had major medical bills, or something like that, then they could go through the same resources for help that all other families would.

I don't think they would be asking the child's natural family for financial assistance.  In some cases, the families do not even know who the others are.  If they did, it would not be illegal for them to ask for help.  However, it would not be appropriate either.

julie j

reunited adoptee

Answer 2

There are privacy laws, you may not contact them

Answer 3

I guess they can ask, but not demand, expect or coerce money in any way, shape or form. It seems unethical to me.

Answer 4

what on earth???...usually when one puts a child up for adoption, it is gut-wrenching enough without demands of money too! Many adoptive parents not only pay the hospital bills for the child, but also the mother...it is the same in my eyes as if you give birth to the kid...it is your responsibility

Answer 5

Not unless it was shared custody or they were adopting a child that was related to them- like child support. All these issues first would have to go to court and be finalized and documented.

Answer 6

if your adopting the child you are soley responsible for the money.

Answer 7

no its not legal.

when you adopt a child you take it as your own in every single kind of way. this includes any financial responsibilities that may come about in the first 18 years of the childs life.

however if a person just has custody of a child and the biological parents still have their rights, then yes, the custodial parents are able to get money from the biological parents but only in the way of child support through the court.

ADDED~in most cases the adoptive parents dont know who the biological parents are so they wouldnt be able to ask for money any how. but if they did know and demanded money i imagine that they could have some sort of criminal charges brought against them

Answer 8

You can't demand money when you adopt a child. I imagine you could ask for it....but if you're going to adopt, the adoption can't be contingent on whether you receive money or not.