If you are pregnant and considering adoption for your child, it is likely you are facing many tough decisions and dealing with a variety of emotions.

With so much uncertainty surrounding an unplanned pregnancy, you may be wondering who can help pay pregnancy and baby bills and other unexpected expenses.

Did you know that prospective birth mothers can receive financial assistance for adoption?

An unplanned pregnancy is a lot to handle, you shouldn’t have to worry about the added stress of bills and expenses. This guide will explore the financial benefits of adoption and how they can positively impact prospective birth mothers during their pregnancy.

Keep in mind, you can always contact an adoption professional for free information and guidance on any questions or concerns you may have. In the meantime, continue reading to learn more about your assistance options during your pregnancy.

Do you get paid to give your baby up for adoption?

Let’s explore the financial assistance options available for women pursuing adoption. To start, we need to clear up a common misconception: birth mothers do not “get paid” to place their baby for adoption.

Question: Can a birth mother receive financial support to help cover pregnancy and adoption costs?

Answer: Yes.

Question: How much do you get paid for adoption?

Answer: You can’t “get paid” for adoption.

We cannot stress it enough: you do not, and legally cannot, get paid for adoption. It is illegal to sell a child.

The misconceptions behind financial support and compensation often lead to questions like, “Can I ‘give my baby up’ for adoption for money?” The answer is no, adoption agencies will not pay you for your consent to adoption.

You might hear phrases such as “compensation for placing a baby up for adoption.” But, this is a misunderstanding of the available financial help for birth mothers “giving a baby up” for adoption.

Adoption financial assistance has to do with the medical bills, legal representation and other costs specifically involved with your pregnancy — it is not “payment” for birth mothers.

Does Putting a Baby Up for Adoption Cost Money?

If you are in the early stages of your research, you may be unaware that when you work with an adoption agency, there are no costs associated with your adoption. By working with the adoptive parents and their insurance, as well as using adoption laws in place to support birth mothers, there are adoption agencies that pay for all expenses.

This is one of the biggest benefits of private adoption for prospective birth mothers. Not only are you in charge of the process, but it is completely free for you.

Choosing adoption for your baby is one of the bravest and most life-changing decisions you’ll ever have to make; it shouldn’t take financial sacrifices, as well. For these reasons and more, there are no costs to put a baby up for adoption.

Pregnancy and childbirth alone can be extremely costly, let alone the cost of raising that baby. The financial support when “giving baby up” for adoption that agencies provide is why many women choose adoption for their child.

Adoption provides a way for you to ensure your child is being taken care of in a loving home. This home will be able to support them emotionally, and financially as well.

Can You Get Living Expenses Paid — Adoption Financial Assistance for Prospective Birth Mothers

If you are wondering about getting living expenses paid, adoption can make this possible.

As a prospective birth mother, you will work with an adoption agency to determine your needs for adoption financial assistance.

The level of financial assistance for adoption you receive varies upon where you are placing your baby for adoption, as every state has unique laws. It will also depend on your living situation and what stage of your pregnancy you are in.

The adoption agency is rarely in control of how much assistance you’re able to receive, although they’ll be the ones to dispense those funds once they’re approved. The types of assistance you may eligible to receive include living expenses/utilities, adoption planning, medical expenses, legal expenses and more.

Keep in mind, your needs of financial assistance for putting baby up for adoption may change throughout your pregnancy. These changes can open up different options for financial assistance as well.

Once your adoption professional has a clear understanding of your situation, they can make a better assessment of your adoption financial assistance needs and begin working toward implementing them during your pregnancy.

“If you give your baby up for adoption, do you get money to cover living expenses?”

Yes, there are many adoption agencies that help with living expenses, and this is possible in many situations.

There’s no legal situation where mothers get paid for adoption. But, when you work with a licensed adoption agency, the agency will work with the adoptive family to establish a plan for the assistance you will be receiving.

Included in this assistance are ways to help with birth mother housing, groceries, transportation and other living expenses. For many women, this is one of the most important adoption services they are looking for.

Because living expenses are regulated through the court system and various state laws, all adoption agencies will be able to provide you with the same amount of financial assistance. During your pregnancy, living expenses may include:

• Rent and utilities
• Food and groceries
• Transportation
• Maternity clothing
• Phone service
• And much more

Your adoption professional will not only ensure that you are receiving all of the living expenses you are entitled to, but that your funding is being received and handled legally.

Speak with an adoption agency to learn more about your possible living expenses and needs, and to create a plan for covering your expenses during the adoption process.

“If I give my baby up for adoption, is it free to make an adoption plan?”

Yes. Putting a baby up for adoption free, and you are 100% in charge of how you want this process to go.

Some of the free adoption services you will receive include:

• Financial help for birth mothers giving baby for adoption
• 24/7 counseling and support, pre- and post-placement
• Assistance in finding legal representation
• Education of the adoption process throughout your pregnancy

You may be wondering, “If you want to ‘give your baby up for adoption’ do you have to pay for an attorney?” The answer is no, as their services are part of the assistance a prospective birth mother receives.

“Will I have to pay medical bills throughout the adoption process?”

Medical expenses can add up quickly during pregnancy, which can lead to you ask, “Who can help pay pregnancy and baby bills? If you are ’giving your baby up’ for adoption, do you have to pay for your own medical expenses?”

The answer is no, you do not pay for your medical bills.

Medical expenses are covered for you during an adoption. When you choose adoption for your baby and work with an adoption agency, your adoption professional will provide the assistance needed to pay your medical expenses.

In most cases, fees not covered by your insurance or Medicaid will be paid for by the adoptive family. Your adoption agency will ensure you have access to the proper medical care you and your baby need for a healthy pregnancy. They will do so in one of several ways, depending on your current situation:

• If you currently have your own medical insurance, your adoption professional will help you continue your medical insurance plan. There could be potential assistance with deductibles and copay fees from the adoptive family.
• If you do not have your own medical insurance, there may be options for Medicaid or a comparable state-level medical assistance program.
• If you are ineligible for Medicaid or unable to enroll, the adoptive family will help provide financial assistance to pay for your out-of-pocket medical fees. Some of these may be lowered after negotiations by your adoption specialist.

Working with an adoption agency that helps with bills will allow you to focus on having a happy and healthy pregnancy, without stressing about finances.

“Are there legal costs to give a baby up for adoption?”

You will need to use the services of an adoption attorney to complete an adoption.

But you do not have to pay for the attorney.

Legal services, like every service you receive throughout your adoption process, are completely free to you. During your adoption planning, your agency will help provide you with your own experienced adoption attorney.

Your attorney will play a large role throughout your adoption process. They will assist with the process of consenting to the adoption and making sure you receive the proper living expenses and financial assistance.

“Are there couples looking to adopt and pay expenses?”

Yes, there are families looking to adopt and pay for living expenses, and help out with other financial support as well.

Like most adoption assistance and funding, any contributions from the adoptive family will have to be approved by your adoption attorney and through the court system. This is to help ensure the assistance is completed legally and ethically.

To find couples looking to adopt and pay expenses during your pregnancy and adoption, browse through these adoptive family profiles.

Financial Support After Placement

We have discussed the financial support and how there is no cost to put a baby up for adoption, but what happens after placement occurs? Is there still support still available for birth mothers, post-placement?

Adoption financial assistance is limited to the costs and expenses associated with your pregnancy and adoption process. While you will not continue receiving financial assistance after placement has occurred, as a birth mother, you’ll have availability to several ongoing birth parent resources, free of charge.

These services include:

• Post-adoption counseling services
• Scholarship opportunities for eligible birth parents with some agencies
• Referrals to helpful post-adoption resources, such as support groups, local counselors, social services you may need and more
• Help navigating post-adoption communication between you, your child and the adoptive family if you choose an open adoption
• And more

For more information on the assistance available post-placement, speak with an adoption professional to learn more.

Speak with an Adoption Agency

Adoption is a life-changing decision, one of the hardest and bravest choice you will ever make.

You do not have to experience an unplanned pregnancy alone. An adoption agency can provide you with unbiased insight and explain the financial impact of pregnancy, as well as the adoption financial assistance available to prospective birth mothers.