Adoption Facts

Domestic Adoption Facts

Finding reliable adoption facts is easier than ever as long as you know where to look. If you're searching for reliable facts about domestic adoption of infants the NCFA’s Adoption Factbook IV provides current data including:

• Information on domestic and inter-country adoption trends
• State-by-state analysis of infant adoption
• Articles written by well-known adoption authorities cover current and timely topics including expense of adoption, single parenting, federal foster care reform and more.

Resources for More Facts on Domestic Adoption:

• Administration for Children and Families Adoption
• Infant Adoption Training Initiative
• Census 2000 Special Reports – Adopted Children and Stepchildren

Adoption and Foster Care

Many times people start out providing foster care, but through the day-to-day caring of the child or children grow to love them like their own. Adoption is a big step, and you may stop to wonder if you're really ready, and even if you know you're ready you may hesitate because you don't know how to proceed. When you decide you want to adopt it's important to know the facts which include the differences between foster care and adopting a child. Once the foster care adoption is final and post-placement visits are finished, you'll no longer be visited by social workers. The child becomes "your child" along with all the joys and responsibilities including the fact that you will be financially responsible and liable for his or her actions in legal disputes.

Resources for Further Information on Foster Care Adoption:

• Administration for Children and Families
• Adopt US Kids
• National Adoption Center
• Trends in Foster Care

International Adoptions

International Adoptions are one more avenue people use to welcome the blessing of children into the family. Stars like Madonna, and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have made the news with multiple international adoptions and with the added media attention, international adoptions increased substantially.

Every country is different, but most of the time the finalization of an international adoption takes place in the country of origin. Legally, when you arrive home the adopted child is legally yours. When checking your adoption facts, you'll learn that several countries cooperate with U.S. couples who hope to adopt. Identifying the country that works best will help you know how to proceed.

Resources and Facts About international Adoption:

• Immigrant Visas Issued to Orphans Coming to the U.S.
• Intercountry Adoption – Provides country specific information on how to proceed with an adoption.
• Intercountry Adoption News

Costs Involved in Adoption

Adoption.com offers a factsheet presenting estimated costs for domestic and intercountry adoptions. Facts support these estimates which include:

• Agency fees
• Legal fees
• Home study expenses
• Foreign country expenses

This handy factsheet also provides information dealing with adoption and taxes and other financial resources available to adoptive parents:

• Federal tax credits
• State tax credits
• Subsidies
• Adoption loans and grants

Additional Resources to Gather Facts Regarding Costs Involved in Adoption

• Child Welfare Information Gateway – Adoption specific expenses.
• Immigration Forms and Fees
• Help Defray Adoption Costs
• Employer-Provided Adoption Benefits
• Financing Your Adoption

Tax Credits

As an adoptive parent or couple, qualifying expenses related to the adoption of a child may be taken as a adoption tax credit. This credit is normally permitted the year after expenses are paid. It depends on when the adoption is final. For instance, if the expenses and adoption all take place in the current year, then the tax credit will be taken in the current year. However, if expenses are laid out in the last six months of one year and the adoption is finalized in February of the following year, it will be taken as a tax credit the year in which the adoption is final. When doing this, it is important to note that it is not legal to file for expenses that have been reimbursed.

No matter where you are in the adoption process, having the facts will help you to avoid mistakes and heartbreak.