Adoption Information Page 3.
Home Study Packet - The law requires each couple have a home study process completed. The "home study" refers to the process of several interviews, both together and individually, with a licensed adoption agency worker. The social worker visits the home in order to formulate a written report to approve the couple being prospective adoptive parents. Couples residing in states other than Arkansas must have their home study conducted by a licensed agency in the state in which they live. The home study fee is an additional expense and is the responsibility of the adoptive couple.
Adoptive Couple Portfolio Packet - Once your home study has been completed and approved, each couple will complete an Adoptive Couple Portfolio Packet. The portfolio is viewed by an expectant mother who is choosing an adoption placement plan for her child. The portfolio serves as a tool to present your life story as a couple to the expectant mother selecting a family.
Highlands Adoption Fee And Expenses
In keeping with the purpose and spirit for AGFSA as a ministry, the Board of Directors has established an equitable adoption fee of $8,000.00.
This fee may increase if AGFSA/Highland has incurred extra expenses in the birth of the child or care of the birth mother.
In addition to the adoption fee, you are also responsible for the following fees at the time of temporary custody:
1. ATTORNEY FEE: The attorney fee is currently about $1,000.00 and is payable directly to the attorney at the time of placement.
2. COURT COST: Court cost is approximately $170.00 and is payable to the attorney.
3. PUBLICATION FEE: This is a publication made for any unknown birth fathers. The cost is $110.00 and is payable to the attorney.
4. WAIVER OF CONSENT FEE: This fee is for the birth mother's and/or birth father's court hearing to make the child legally available for adoption. Presently, the cost is approximately $500.00 to $600.00 and is payable to the attorney.
5. HOME STUDY FEE: This will depend on charges by the local agency completing your home study.
AGFSA encourages couples to plan on an average of $2,000.00 in legal fees.
AGFSA's fee helps to recover only a part of the housing, medical, travel, and foster care expenses for mother and baby along with the operational costs of the agency. You will be expected to pay your total adoption fee at the time of placement.
Highlands Adoption Fee Payment Options
The adoption fee must be paid in full before you come to Hot Springs, Arkansas for the Temporary Custody Placement. Because a normal waiting period for adoption is two to five years, each prospective adoptive couple has ample time to accumulate the adoption fee. In order to help you save this money, AGFSA has established a trust fund into which payments may be made. Several methods of acceptable payments are detailed below. You may choose any one of these methods or you may choose to save for the adoption fee on your own. If you choose to save or have the funds available to cover all the adoption fees, it is imperative that you contact AGFSA and let us know you are financially ready for the adoption.
If you choose to send payments into the trust fund, simply let us know which method of payment you have chosen. All payments should be sent directly to Highlands. If at anytime you drop out of the adoption process for any reason (adoption from another source, change of mind, divorce, etc.), any money you have deposited into the trust fund will be refunded minus a 5% handling fee.*
(Continued on Adoption Information Page 4.)
Home Study Packet - The law requires each couple have a home study process completed. The "home study" refers to the process of several interviews, both together and individually, with a licensed adoption agency worker. The social worker visits the home in order to formulate a written report to approve the couple being prospective adoptive parents. Couples residing in states other than Arkansas must have their home study conducted by a licensed agency in the state in which they live. The home study fee is an additional expense and is the responsibility of the adoptive couple.Adoptive Couple Portfolio Packet - Once your home study has been completed and approved, each couple will complete an Adoptive Couple Portfolio Packet. The portfolio is viewed by an expectant mother who is choosing an adoption placement plan for her child. The portfolio serves as a tool to present your life story as a couple to the expectant mother selecting a family.
Highlands Adoption Fee And Expenses
In keeping with the purpose and spirit for AGFSA as a ministry, the Board of Directors has established an equitable adoption fee of $8,000.00.
This fee may increase if AGFSA/Highland has incurred extra expenses in the birth of the child or care of the birth mother.
In addition to the adoption fee, you are also responsible for the following fees at the time of temporary custody:
1. ATTORNEY FEE: The attorney fee is currently about $1,000.00 and is payable directly to the attorney at the time of placement.
2. COURT COST: Court cost is approximately $170.00 and is payable to the attorney.
3. PUBLICATION FEE: This is a publication made for any unknown birth fathers. The cost is $110.00 and is payable to the attorney.
4. WAIVER OF CONSENT FEE: This fee is for the birth mother's and/or birth father's court hearing to make the child legally available for adoption. Presently, the cost is approximately $500.00 to $600.00 and is payable to the attorney.
5. HOME STUDY FEE: This will depend on charges by the local agency completing your home study.
AGFSA encourages couples to plan on an average of $2,000.00 in legal fees.
AGFSA's fee helps to recover only a part of the housing, medical, travel, and foster care expenses for mother and baby along with the operational costs of the agency. You will be expected to pay your total adoption fee at the time of placement.
Highlands Adoption Fee Payment Options
The adoption fee must be paid in full before you come to Hot Springs, Arkansas for the Temporary Custody Placement. Because a normal waiting period for adoption is two to five years, each prospective adoptive couple has ample time to accumulate the adoption fee. In order to help you save this money, AGFSA has established a trust fund into which payments may be made. Several methods of acceptable payments are detailed below. You may choose any one of these methods or you may choose to save for the adoption fee on your own. If you choose to save or have the funds available to cover all the adoption fees, it is imperative that you contact AGFSA and let us know you are financially ready for the adoption.
If you choose to send payments into the trust fund, simply let us know which method of payment you have chosen. All payments should be sent directly to Highlands. If at anytime you drop out of the adoption process for any reason (adoption from another source, change of mind, divorce, etc.), any money you have deposited into the trust fund will be refunded minus a 5% handling fee.*
(Continued on Adoption Information Page 4.)
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