Your Employer Might Pay Some of Your Adoption Expenses

Did you know you could get adoption assistance from your employer? Nearly half of U.S. firms now offer adoption assistance, up from only twelve percent in 1990. You may wonder why an employer would offer to pay some of your adoption costs. Many employers say that it helps them be more competitive and they get a good return on their investment overall. Although I wonder if the more difficult economy we’ve experienced the last few months will lead firms to discontinue this benefit, I hope they will not. In any economic climate, a company is only as good as its … Continue reading

Adoption Tax Credit

Many people who hear how expensive adoption is do not realize what a dramatic difference the adoption tax credit makes. The tax credit for adoption is $10,000. This is not a deduction where you deduct adoption expenses from your taxable income. This is an actual credit, meaning you pay less money in taxes. For most people, that means you will be getting quite a refund! This one-time tax credit is available to those who adopt internationally as well as those who adopt US infants or US children in foster care, unlike the ongoing monthly subsidies for medical or psychological care … Continue reading

Will a “Perfect” Child Cost More?

Does a “Perfect” child cost more? There has long been a perception that agencies will “charge” whatever they want for a healthy infant, especially if blonde and blue-eyed, while parents who can pay less will be offered “damaged” children. It goes without saying that it is offensive to speak about children as if they were goods to be purchased. So is there any truth at all to these perceptions? First of all, adoption agencies do not set “prices” for specific children. Adoption fees represent the cost of a homestudy, the agency overhead for office space and operations, salaries of children’s … Continue reading

Funding Your Adoption – Getting Started

When starting to think about international adoption, the first thing most people ask is, “What does it cost?” The answer is staggering – costs range from $20,000 – $40,000 depending on the country and the situation. Many people hear this and then they decide that they can’t adopt. You have read this far, though, and maybe you have this glimmer of hope that perhaps you really can adopt, even if you aren’t due to inherit the Gates fortune. The truth is that families adopt every day. Normal families with moderate incomes have adopted and many plan to do it again. … Continue reading