Can You Get Paid for Adoption? [7 Questions]

If you’re considering adoption because you are not financially equipped to support your child, you can’t get paid, but you can receive support for rent and bills to address your immediate needs.

Is this the situation you have found yourself in? If so, you’re not alone. There are many women wondering, “Do you get paid to ‘give your baby up’ for adoption?”

While giving baby up for adoption for money isn’t legal, there is adoption financial assistance for prospective birth mothers.

This guide will answer these questions and more about giving your baby up for adoption money. Our hope is that this can act as a helpful resource for anyone considering adoption. 

If you have additional adoption compensation questions and would like more specific advice, contact us today to get connected with an adoption professional.

DOES IT COST TO PUT A BABY UP FOR ADOPTION?

Many prospective birth mothers wonder if it is free to give a baby up for adoption.

Adoption is always free to prospective birth mothers. The prohibitive cost of medical care during pregnancy and the cost associated with raising a child are often some of the main reasons a woman chooses adoption. You are making an incredibly selfless decision to place your baby’s needs before your own, and you should never have to pay to do what’s best for you and your child.

In fact, not only is putting a baby up for adoption free, but most prospective birth mothers are eligible for adoption financial assistance. Your adoption professional will do everything in their power to ensure that you are well taken care of during your pregnancy and adoption plan.

IS GIVING BABY UP FOR ADOPTION MONEY LEGAL?

Payment in exchange for an adoption placement is not legal in any state. As we’ll see below, adoption for compensation is different from adoption financial assistance. Depending on your circumstances and state laws, your adoption professional will likely offer financial help for living expenses like rent, groceries, housing and more — this type of assistance is perfectly legal. However, if anyone offers you money to give baby up for adoption, then you should steer clear. Any money you accept for giving your baby up for adoption will have major legal consequences.

ARE THERE ADOPTION AGENCIES THAT PAY YOU?

One common question from women considering adoption is, “Do adoption agencies pay birth mothers?”

No. Direct adoption compensation for birth mothers from adoption agencies is illegal. This is the case in every state. If you speak with an agency (or other adoption professional) and they insinuate otherwise, then that professional should not be trusted. The act of paying a birth mother for her baby could be considered a felony.

However, there are many adoption agencies that offer financial support for mothers placing a baby for adoption. Your adoption agency may provide money to help cover your pregnancy-related expenses, like rent, groceries, maternity clothing and more.

CAN I GET MONEY FOR “GIVING MY BABY UP” FOR ADOPTION?

If you’re thinking, Are there adoption agencies that pay you for the baby?

What you’re most likely thinking of is adoption financial assistance. This is not payment for adoption — you do not receive money in exchange for your baby or for your consent to adoption. Rather, some of your expenses may be eligible to be covered during the process. This distinction between getting paid and adoption financial assistance may seem small, but it’s very important. Many adoption agencies want to ensure that prospective birth mothers don’t have to add financial strain to the complex emotions they may be experiencing.

HOW MUCH DO BIRTH MOTHER GET PAID FOR ADOPTION EXPENSES?

Adoption financial assistance is a way to relieve some of the financial costs that would be burdensome to a prospective birth mother during the adoption process. This assistance is regulated based on state laws, which are different in every state.

Generally speaking, financial assistance for putting a baby up for adoption can cover pregnancy and cost-of-living expenses during the process. This means things like medical bills and legal fees. Birth mother housing may also be provided, or rent or mortgage could be included in the adoption financial assistance. This housing is paid for by the adoptive family, as are most other things covered by financial assistance for adoption.

WHY DO BIRTH MOTHERS GET PAID FOR ADOPTION EXPENSES?

The adoption process has many challenges. It can be a difficult emotional journey, and there are logistical hurdles all along the way. When you’re a prospective birth mother, you should be free to focus on the journey and not worry about the finances. You are making a brave, loving and heroic decision to give your baby the best life and opportunities. That’s why adoption law allows for adoption financial assistance. Adoption professionals want you to be able to have a smooth adoption process free of obstacles. They’ll work to shoulder as much of the stress as possible.

ARE THERE COUPLES LOOKING TO ADOPT AND PAY EXPENSES?

When a couple decides to adopt, they work with an adoption agency to create a plan. Part of this plan is their overall adoption budget. When you choose adoption, you get to pick the adoptive family for your baby by looking through adoptive family profiles. Your specialist will only show you profiles of couples looking to adopt and pay expenses whose budget matches your expenses. Covering the cost of adoption financial assistance is something that all hopeful parents prepare for.

Angelica, a prospective birth mother, had unwavering support from her adoption specialist in finding the right adoptive family.

LEARN MORE ABOUT FINANCIAL SUPPORT WHEN “GIVING BABY UP” FOR ADOPTION

Do you get paid to adopt a child out to a new family? As you can see, the answer is a bit complicated. Adoption for compensation is illegal. However, adoption financial assistance can be a helpful benefit for many women considering adoption.

Janelle, a birth mom who chose adoption in part because she was struggling to make ends meet when she found out she was expecting twins: “Four months rolls around, and my husband and I were like, ‘Alright, this is real,’” she said. “We were having trouble paying our bills and our rent and affording food, and that was when we made the decision to look into adoption.”

Want to get more information about how financial assistance for adoption could make your journey easier? Get connected with an adoption professional today. 

You can contact us today if you’d like to be connected with a helpful specialist.