You’ve found out recently that you’re unexpectedly pregnant, and you’re thinking about giving your baby up for adoption. Does that describe your situation? If so, you may be wondering, “Do mothers get paid for adoption?” or, “Is putting a baby up for adoption free in West Virginia?”

Here are two things you should know:

• Putting your baby up for adoption is always free for expectant mothers.
• You may be able to receive adoption financial assistance in West Virginia.

With that said, there’s also a caveat.  Adoption financial assistance is complicated. If you’ve researched financial assistance for adoption in West Virginia, you’ve probably asked questions like:

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

We want to help you find answers and better understand the rules around adoption financial assistance in West Virginia.

Since it’s a complex topic, you need to find an adoption agency to counsel you about adoption financial assistance. To find adoption agencies in West Virginia, click here.

For now, check out the Q&A below to learn about the expense of putting a child up for adoption in West Virginia.

1.   Is giving a baby up for adoption free in West Virginia?

Birth mothers never pay a cost to give a baby up for adoption, regardless of their circumstances. Putting your child up for adoption is always free. Unplanned pregnancy often comes with financial concerns related to the cost of pre-natal care and hospital delivery costs. Any additional charge for putting your baby up for adoption would be excessive.

When you choose adoption, you should know that many (if not all) costs associated with pregnancy, labor, and delivery won’t be left for you to pay. Those expenses are often paid by prospective adoptive parents legally through financial assistance for adoption in West Virginia.

2. Can I get money for giving my baby up for adoption in West Virginia?

There’s a misconception that you can “get paid” to give your baby up for adoption in West Virginia. That probably comes from the fact that birth mothers often get financial assistance when they choose adoption. However, it’s simply not true. Adoption for compensation is prohibited under both state and federal law.

Adoption for compensation is illegal and will result in prosecution. When birth parents are given (or offered) money or anything of value to place a child for adoption, it’s considered human trafficking.

3. Can you get paid for adoption by adoption agencies in West Virginia?

Once again, receiving money for putting your baby up for adoption in West Virginia is against the law. It doesn’t matter where the payments originate. State and federal laws prohibit illegal payments to birth parents offered by adoptive parents, adoption agencies, or any representative of a potential adoptive family, including monetary  payments or anything else of value.

If any agency offers payment beyond the recognized expenses covered by state law or approved by the court, you should be wary. Payment in exchange for putting a baby up for adoption carries severe penalties, and you should be suspicious of any offers that seem questionable.

It’s true that birth mothers can’t get paid for adoption in West Virginia by law, but there are some expenses that can be covered through legal adoption financial assistance. In West Virginia, there are adoption agencies that help with living expenses. Birth mother expenses incurred before, during, and immediately after the pregnancy and birth can be paid by adoptive families or adoption agencies.

4. In West Virginia, Is there financial assistance for adoption for birth mothers?

Your life can change course when you’re facing an unexpected pregnancy. Unplanned pregnancy can be disruptive and result in significant financial impacts related to groceries, medical care, and lifestyle costs. You may not be able to work during your pregnancy, and that can affect your budget as well.  

You can’t get paid to give your baby up for adoption in West Virginia. But, you can get assistance regarding your pregnancy-related expenses. There are several kinds of adoption financial assistance in West Virginia for birth mothers, and it’s legal according to state and federal law for prospective adoptive parents to provide help.

Adoption financial assistance can help with many costs associated with carrying and delivering a baby, such as living expenses and costs related to medical care for the birth mother and baby.

For any payment for birth mothers to be legal in West Virginia, the expense must fall into one of the following categories:

• Living expenses: In West Virginia, 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. West Virginia 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 West Virginia.

5. Are payments of expenses to birth mothers governed by West Virginia law?

West Virginia law directly addresses birth mother expenses. It allows for legal payment of birth mother expenses such as birthmother housing, medical costs, and other reasonable living expenses as long as a detailed accounting of those expenses is provided to the court. 

Some states set a ceiling for adoption financial assistance, but West Virginia imposes no maximum amount for birth mother expenses. All expense payments must be reported in an itemized document filed with the court when the adoption is finalized.

You should speak with a licensed adoption professional to ensure all assistance payments are provided in compliance with the law and the required documentation is managed. While giving your baby up for adoption for money in West Virginia is not allowed, there are legal ways to get assistance from prospective adoptive parents who want to help.

6. Who decides how much adoption financial assistance can be provided?

West Virginia law doesn’t impose a maximum limit on birth mother expenses, so the family courts get to decide which birth mother expense payments are reasonable.

Even though West Virginia doesn’t limit birth mother expense payments, other factors can influence the kind of expenses covered and how much adoption financial assistance you may receive. Those factors 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

The amount of adoption financial assistance you may receive can also be impacted by the financial resources of the prospective adoptive family. Usually, potential adoptive families create an adoption budget when beginning the process, so expenses will have to fit within those boundaries.

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

The laws addressing financial assistance for adoption in West Virginia allow a wide spectrum of expenses that are considered “reasonable.” However, some payments may be considered illegal compensation for placing a baby for adoption. Talk with an adoption professional to find out more about adoption financial assistance in your situation.

8. Where can I find additional information about adoption financial assistance in West Virginia?

To learn more about legal adoption financial assistance and how you can get financial help, speak with an adoption professional today. Your licensed adoption agency in West Virginia will help you understand the laws related to financial assistance for adoption. You can find an adoption agency that specializes in supporting birth mothers at this link.