Do You Get Paid for Adoption in Arizona?

If you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy, you may have considered placing your child for adoption because the financial weight of parenting can be overwhelming. If you’re in this situation, you may have wondered, “Is putting a baby up for adoption free in Arizona?” or, “Do mothers get paid for adoption?”

Rules about payments and expenses related to the birth of a child can be complex. Facing an unplanned pregnancy can be emotionally draining, and sorting through the regulations without the help of a great adoption agency can compound the difficulty.

You may have many questions about rules surrounding the issue, such as:

• Is giving up a baby for adoption free in Arizona?
• Is there financial assistance for adoption in Arizona?
• Do adoption families house and pay you?
• Do adoption agencies pay birth mothers in Arizona?

As a mother who’s considering placing a child, you need to know what financial assistance for adoption is available as you examine your options. While the financial aspects of an unplanned pregnancy aren’t the only areas of concern you may have, learning what you can expect financially will be helpful in setting your course.

When deciding whether you should place a child for adoption, it’s critical that you find an adoption agency staffed with caring professionals who can guide you through the process.

To find adoption agencies that specialize in helping birth mothers in Arizona, click here. In the meantime, read on to learn more about the expense of putting a child up for adoption in Arizona.

Is giving a baby up for adoption free?

There is no cost to give a baby up for adoption in Arizona. Placing a child with an adoptive family is always free for the birth mother. An expectant mother experiencing an unplanned pregnancy has financial concerns stemming from pre-natal care and hospital delivery costs. Any additional costs for placing a child would be excessive.

It’s important to note that some of those inherent costs associated with pregnancy, labor, and delivery may not fall wholly on the birth mother. Some of those costs may be defrayed thanks to financial assistance for adoption in Arizona that may be available to birth mothers.

Can I get money for giving my baby up for adoption?

Some mistakenly believe that because birth mothers sometimes receive financial assistance, you can get paid for putting your baby up for adoption in Arizona. However, that is not the case, as Arizona law prohibits adoption for compensation directly to birth parents.

In fact, not only is adoption for compensation not allowed, it can also result in criminal prosecution. That’s because when money is offered to birth parents in return for placing a child for adoption, it can be considered human trafficking.

Can you get paid for adoption by an adoption agency in Arizona?

In Arizona, you cannot receive money for putting your baby up for adoption from any source. The law prohibits  compensation from adoptive parents as well as payments from adoption agencies or anyone acting as a representative of a prospective adoptive family.

Because of the potential legal consequences of accepting compensation in exchange for putting a baby up for adoption, it’s wise to avoid any agency that promises payment outside of the recognized reasonable birth mother expenses stipulated by law.

Though birth mothers cannot get paid for adoption in Arizona, there are forms of assistance that can be provided under state law. There are many adoption agencies that help with living expenses. Expenses incurred by the birth mother before, during, and immediately after the pregnancy and birth can be paid by adoptive families through adoption agencies.

Is there financial assistance for adoption?

As an expectant mother facing an unplanned pregnancy, you can experience a tremendous amount of change in a short period. That change includes a litany of financial impacts related to medical care, diet and nutrition, and lifestyle costs. Your ability to work may also be affected as you progress through your pregnancy.

Even though it’s illegal for you to get paid to give your baby up for adoption in Arizona, it doesn’t mean that you’re on your own when it comes to covering critical expenses. There are several forms of adoption financial assistance in Arizona for birth mothers that are permissible under state law.

Adoption financial assistance for birth mothers is meant to provide help with the significant costs associated with carrying the child to term and delivering the baby. The costs that the birthmother can incur could include living expenses and costs related to medical care.

Any payment for birth mothers in Arizona must fall into one of the following categories:

• Living expenses: In Arizona, birth mother living expenses can be paid in most cases by the adoptive family. These expenses can include birthmother housing, food, utilities, and other expenses that the court deems necessary.
• Medical expenses: Cost of care represents a considerable burden for birth mothers. Therefore, the law provides for prospective adoptive families to pay for medical care and hospital costs for both the birth mother and baby.
• Legal expenses: The cost of legal expenses in an adoption can be a burden on birth mothers. Arizona law allows birth parents to cover those costs.
• Adoption resources: Finding a good adoption agency is important for birth mothers. Not only do such agencies coordinate adoption opportunities, but they also offer counseling and other important resources for birth mothers. The costs of those agencies can be paid by potential adoptive families in Arizona.
• Other expenses: Even expenses that aren’t enumerated by Arizona law may be payable if the court deems them so.

What rules govern payment of expenses to birth mothers?

There are some specific steps that must be followed under Arizona law to ensure that any expense payments are made legally.

If the adoption financial assistance being paid to the birth mother exceeds $1,000, then the prospective adoptive parents must first file with the court to gain approval. Then, a hearing is held within 10 days to determine if the expenses are warranted.

The prospective adoptive parents must provide an affidavit with the birth mother’s signature verifying that she has received written notice that payment of expenses does not obligate her to put her child up for adoption. A verified accounting of all adoption financial assistance paid to the birth mother must also be filed by the adoptive parents prior to the petition for adoption.

Again, it’s critical that you work closely with an adoption agency to ensure that the process is followed to the letter of the law. While giving your baby up for adoption for money in Arizona is disallowed, there are legal ways to get the assistance you need from potential adoptive parents who want to offer financial support.

Who decides how much adoption financial assistance can be provided?

Family courts in Arizona are responsible for determining what birth mother expenses are reasonable and allowable. They will consider many factors in making that determination, which may include:

• Your current standard of living
• The standard of living needed to promote the health and safety of you and your unborn child
• Any other sources of financial assistance you may be eligible to receive

While the legal system in Arizona offers some guidance on how much and what kind of adoption financial assistance is permissible, the financial resources of prospective adoptive families may also be a factor. Potential adoptive families usually develop an adoption budget when beginning the process, so expenses will have to fit within that budget.

What birth mother expenses cannot be paid by prospective adoptive parents?

Though the family court in Arizona has some leeway to determine what expenses are “reasonable” and therefore allowable, there are some types of expenses that don’t meet the legal threshold.

For example, if a birth mother needs assistance paying her water bill, it’s generally regarded as a reasonable expense. After all, it’s not safe for you or your unborn child to live without running water. Therefore, adoption financial assistance is warranted because running water is an everyday expense.

However, providing a down payment on a new luxury car for the birth mother may not be deemed reasonable because it’s not a necessary expense. In fact, it would likely be considered illegal compensation for placing a baby for adoption in Arizona. Unnecessary expenses are not considered “reasonable” under Arizona law.

Where can I get more information about adoption financial assistance?

If you still need additional information regarding allowable forms of adoption financial assistance, help is only a call or email away. It’s wise to seek counsel from a trusted adoption agency in Arizona as you navigate the laws surrounding the financial aspects of placing a child for adoption. You can find an adoption agency specializing in birth mothers at this link.