Birthmother expenses

State you adopting in regulate expenses you can legally pay. Your attorney or agency can tell what they are and the limit set by state. Usual stuff would be, attorney, food, clothing, medical. Though you should really try to get your bmom covered either through state or buy her insurance. Med can go out the roof if any glitch during preg., or delivery. hope this helps, TB

Legally allowable expenses vary - from nothing to all legal, pregnancy related living and medical expenses. Each state has it's own laws on this. Understand as well that offering to pay expenses is considered by law an 'act of charity' - not recoverable should the pbparents choose to parent. My general rule of thumb - if you would have helped with these expenses for someone who wasn't pregnant and considering placing, then you should now. If not, then don't. IMHO Regina

Dont send cash, any bills you pay, pay directly to the lender/collector. Buy grocery cards if you choose to help her with this. Medical without insurance for a typical vaginal delivery is about 3000. I personally wouldnt pay any other expences than medical and less than 1000 for living. (figure she will be out of work for a bit, and unable to provide, so I see it as a baby related expence as if she wern't pregnant, she'd be working)

Florida Law regarding Birthparent Expense, from this page on Adoption.com: [url]http://laws.adoption.com/florida_state_regulation.php[/url] BIRTH PARENT EXPENSES ALLOWED: ǧ63.132; 63.212(1) Prenatal care and living expenses of the mother; medical and hospital care; services related to the adoption. EXPENSES NOT ALLOWED: None are specified. PAYMENTS FOR ARRANGING ADOPTION: 63.097(1) An intermediary may charge no fee over $1,000, plus a limit of $2,500 in expenses and actual medical costs; larger fees are subject to court approval. PAYMENTS FOR RELINQUISHING CHILD: ǧ63.212(1)(d) It is unlawful to sell or surrender a child to another person for money or anything of value. FEES CHARGED BY DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY: 63.097(2) The Department may charge an amount equal to the cost of services, including the preliminary home study, counseling and the final home investigation. ACCOUNTING OF EXPENSES REQUIRED BY COURT: ǧ63.132 Petitioner must file an affidavit of a full accounting of all disburse- ments for expenses, and any additional information the court requests. -- Since Florida does not list any "non-allowable" expenses, but does list the fact that payments for relinqiuishing a child are illegal, I would go with common sense. Pay for things that not only help the potential birthparent, but more so, your potential child. Examples: Electric bills because the potential birthmother needs electric to cook, stay warm, etc, which directly effects your child. Doctor bills not covered by other insurance (if she's on her parents, there is a cap to stuff, and so on) because that also directly effects your child. Maternity clothes are usually acceptable even in states with much harsher laws dictating what can be paid for because, again, keeping her clothed keeps your child warm. While I wouldn't specifically send money for groceries because you don't know how it will be spent, you can show up with some groceries (or send someone else with a bag of groceries). Referring all bills/payments through the agency will keep things from getting weird between the lot of you. That way, you are not the ones saying, "No." Frivolous expenses should not be paid for. Examples: cell phone bills (you can call her on a land line or give her phone cards), car payments (though you can arrange for cab rides or a friend/gas to take her to and from doctor appointments, or if you live close enough, take her yourself! hehe) or car insurance, school loan payments (not your responsibility). Basically, if you feel weird about it, don't do it, or ask your agency.

s. 63.097 (2) The following fees, costs, and expenses may be assessed by the adoption entity or paid by the adoption entity on behalf of the prospective adoptive parents: (a) Reasonable living expenses of the birth mother which the birth mother is unable to pay due to unemployment, underemployment, or disability.Reasonable living expenses are rent, utilities, basic telephone service, food, toiletries, necessary clothing, transportation, insurance, and expenses found by the court to be necessary for the health and well-being of the birth mother and the unborn child. Such expenses may be paid during the pregnancy and for a period of up to 6 weeks postpartum. Additionally, there is a $5,000 cap, in which court approval is required when the birth mom's living and medical expenses exceeds that amount. s. 63.097 (3) Approval of the court is not required until the total of amounts permitted under subsection (2) exceeds: (a) $5,000 in legal or other fees; (b) $800 in court costs; or (c) $5,000 in reasonable and necessary living and medical expenses. When you have an unemployed birthmom, you are going to see higher living expenses. Fortunately, when they are working or receiving assistance (i.e. food stamps), it is taken into consideration when working out Natural Mother Living Expenses (NMLE) with prospective birthmoms.