If you are considering adoption – or even if you have decided to place your baby up for adoption — you might be wondering: “Do you get paid for putting your baby up for adoption in South Dakota?”

The answer is no. You do not “get paid” for adoption. But, adoption is completely free, and the majority of birth mothers qualify for adoption financial assistance to support them throughout their pregnancy.

Any mother who is facing an unplanned pregnancy in South Dakota is likely thinking about the financial challenges that it presents. When you explore the possibility of adoption, you might have questions like:  

• “Is putting a baby up for adoption free in South Dakota?”
• “How much does it cost to give a child up for adoption?”
• “What kind of financial assistance for adoption is available in South Dakota?”

This guide was designed to give you the answers you need. Adoption professionals will work diligently on your behalf to make sure that you benefit from the financial advantages of adoption. If you are ready to speak to an expert about adoption, contact us today.

1. Do You Get Paid to “Give Up” Your Baby for Adoption in South Dakota?

It is illegal to receive direct payments for the exchange of another person in all 50 states. This means that no, you cannot get paid to put your baby up for adoption in South Dakota. It is worth noting, though, that there are financial benefits related to adoption. First, it is free for you to place your baby for adoption. Adoption will not cost you anything, and all the services you receive from your adoption agency will also be provided to you free of cost.

Working with the right agency, you can expect:

• Counseling and education
• A confidential, 24/7 hotline for prospective birth parents
• Advice and counsel while creating adoption and hospital plans
• Access to family profiles of potential adoptive parents  
• Legal counsel and representation
• Financial assistance
• Post-adoption support

Some adoption agencies even offer scholarships to women who need them for their next steps in life.

Secondly, your pregnancy-related medical expenses will be covered for you. Your doctor’s visits, ultrasounds, and hospital fees can add up, but when you are pursuing adoption, this is a part of the adoption financial assistance that every birth mother receives.

Other financial assistance for adoption that is given in South Dakota must be approved by the court. Some common forms of adoption assistance are categorized as rent and utilities, groceries, counseling, and other living expenses.

It is difficult to say how likely it is that you receive these sorts of subsidies. But, if you have questions about your needs, contact an adoption professional who can help you assess your situation.

2. Is Putting a Baby Up for Adoption Free in South Dakota?

Yes, adoption is always free for the birth mother. Neither the legal processes involved in the transfer of parental rights nor all the services provided by your adoption agencies will cost you anything. This makes adoption the least expensive unplanned pregnancy option available.

• Abortion can cost a woman between $0-$1500 but is rarely covered completely.
• Parenting costs a parent about $200,000 over a child’s lifetime – or $13,000 a year.
• Adoption will cost nothing.

You are making a brave and generous decision when you “give up” your baby for adoption, and you deserve the support you need. Your adoption agency will guide you through the process of accessing adoption financial assistance that will ease financial strain or worry.    

Some agencies who will help you receive the support you need in South Dakota are:

• American Adoptions
• Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota
• Children’s Home Society of South Dakota
• New Horizons Adoption Agency
• All About U Adoptions

3. Do Adoption Agencies Pay Birth Mothers in South Dakota?

No. Adoption agencies cannot pay birth mothers in South Dakota – or anywhere else in the United States.

Agencies must follow strict laws that regulate the way that they are able to provide adoption financial assistance to a birth mother. They cannot pay birth mothers with direct funds, but they can work to make sure that their needs are covered.

It varies state-to-state how much assistance is lawful, and South Dakota leaves it up to a judge. Under “Birth parent expenses allowed,” the law states that, “only charges that have been allowed by the court are allowed.”

Still, the adoption agency’s services and your pregnancy-related medical expenses will be covered. Your adoption professional will help you navigate the processes involved in receiving other financial assistance for adoption for which you are eligible.

If, however, you are working with an adoption professional who implies that you are eligible for direct payments in exchange for parental rights, this is a red flag. In fact, providing compensation for “giving baby up” for adoption in South Dakota can be considered a felony.

Start with the licensed South Dakota agencies above to ensure that the costs of your adoption are covered in a legal and ethical manner.

4. Do You Get Money from Adoptive Families to Support Your Adoption in South Dakota?

No, adoptive families cannot pay you. Even if they really want to, they cannot give you any direct payments in exchange for your decision to place your baby for adoption.  

It is true, however, that your adoptive family has a budget to cover the assistance you may need during your pregnancy. Early on in your adoption process, your adoption specialist estimates the financial need you might have and considers this along with your other needs as they gather family profiles for you to consider.

When adoption financial support is allotted to a birth mother, it must be put toward court-approved expenses, cannot be exchanged informally, and must be transferred by a third party (most of the time the adoption agency).

This is why it’s so important to work with an agency. They will handle all of the legal requirements, so you can focus on having a safe, healthy pregnancy.

5. What Birth Mother Expenses Can be Covered in South Dakota?

As stated previously, pregnancy-related medical costs, legal costs, and adoption agency services are almost universally covered for birth mothers. Beyond this basic adoption financial assistance, though, South Dakota law does not specify any other assistance that is commonly provided. Other statutes across the country name the following additional financial assistance. 

Rent

Often, a pregnancy can affect a woman’s housing situation. Whether they are forced to work less, have to flee a dangerous situation at home, or simply are having trouble covering the cost of rent, they may qualify to receive financial assistance for adoption.  

Living Expenses

Additional living expenses that women qualify to have paid for during their pregnancy are utilities, cell phone coverage, and transportation. Because access to these are considered essential for well-being of both you and your baby, these are commonly accepted ways to support a mother who is placing her baby for adoption.

Groceries

As you well know, a pregnant woman’s diet can have a significant impact on her and her baby’s health. It can also influence the comfort she enjoys while being pregnant. It is important for you to be able to access a variety of healthy foods. Eating right can prevent complications to your pregnancy, delivery, and health after birth.

Counseling

When you work with the right adoption agency, you are offered pre-adoption counseling and provided with post-adoption support, but there may be cases when you need to reach beyond the scope of your agency to get the help you need.

Childcare

Some states will allow adoption financial assistance to cover the childcare needs of minors in the care of the birth mother at the time of her pregnancy.

You may be surprised what you qualify for during your pregnancy. If you are curious, ask your adoption specialist about the financial assistance for adoption that you may be eligible to receive. For question about the specific kind of assistance that is allowable in South Dakota, you can be connected with an adoption professional today.