The good news is that the vast majority of states permit a birth mother to receive no-cost housing set up through our program.  We can work with any landlord or management company across the country so you are not limited to specific housing arrangements or any particular city or state.  You can select the apartment that is right for you or utilize our case workers to help you find a place.   Every adoption plan is different.  You can reach us 24/7 at 1-800-637-7999.  One of our case workers would be happy to assist you in making an adoption plan and handling all of the details to ensure that everything is taken care of.

The answer is No.  However, the amount of the credit may be reduced significantly after December 31, 2010.  Indeed, the federal adoption tax credit was implemented in 1996, and provides a credit of $5,000 to adopting parents for the adoption of a child ($6,000 in the case of a child with special needs).  Fortunately, the law does not include a “sunset provision” whereby its provisions will expire and therefore, this version of the adoption tax credit is permanent.

However, in 2001, Congress ammended the original tax credit law increasing the amount of the adoption tax credit to $10,000 per child.  Congress also insured that the credit would increase each year for inflation.  Currently, the amount of the adoption tax credit is $12,150.  Unfortunately, Congress included a general “sunset provision” for the Act, which states that all provisions of the Act do not apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010. 

On January 6, 2009, Representative Wilson of South Carolina introduced House Bill No. 213 entitled: “Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2009.”  The purpose of the bill is to repeal the sunset provision of the 2001 bill.  In other words, this bill will remove the sunset provision and allow the more than $12,000 credit to continue in full force.  The bill was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means Committee and remains there as of now.

If Representative Wilson’s bill is not passed and Congress does not repeal the “sunset provision” as it applies to the adoption tax credit, the amount of the adoption credit will revert to the $5,000 original limit ($6,000 for special needs children) for all taxable years after December 31, 2010.   Fortunately, many believe that the bill will pass and the current version of the adoption tax credit (which increases each year to account for inflation) will be renewed.

Answer:  No. In domestic adoption, a birth parent’s adoption-related expenses are almost always 100% covered. This includes the costs of being represented by your own attorney, counseling, adoption agency fees, medical expenses, prescriptions, travel to and from the doctor and any other pregnancy-related or adoption-related expenses. In addition, in a majority of states, birth mothers are able to receive pregnancy-related living expenses that include rent, food, utilities, and maternity clothing for the last trimester of the pregnancy and for 1-2 months following delivery.

Answer:  The amount of contact that you’ll have with your birth mother will vary, depending on the situation. However, most birth mothers and adoptive families who pursue an open adoption email and/or talk on the phone about once a week. This is important for both parties as it’s a way for everyone to get to know each other and feel more comfortable with one another. Because prospective adoptive parents are almost always in the labor and delivery room for the birth of the baby, we suggest that you meet your birth mother in person prior to the hospital. This is a wonderful way to make everyone feel as comfortable as possible with one another. Your adoption caseworker will help you in deciding how often you should be in contact with your birth mother based on the birth mother’s comfort level, as well as your own.

As a birth mother who placed a baby through AdoptHelp two years ago, Mark asked me to answer this question.  I have spoken with many birth mothers who have placed over the years through my support group on the Web.  The good news is that I am not aware of any birth mothers who regret their decision.  I have talked with some who wished that they weren't in the position they were in.  Then again, I also have talked to women who have placed twice, who couldn’t be happier because there was no other option in their opinion. Every woman, no matter what their story, although they have had their hard times, does not for a single second regret what they did. They know they did what was best for their child, and they respect their story. It has changed more lives than one, and as birth mom’s, that’s what we strive for. Changing not only the lives of our child, but the life of the parent or parents that will love and nourish our child.  From my experience, most birth mothers have the same outlook; they are proud and stand with their heads held high!