Adoption Expenses

Qualified adoption expenses includes adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees, travelling expenses and other expenses directly related to and for which the principal purpose is the legal adoption of an eligible child. The adoption tax credit is per child, thus the credit doubles when adopting two children in the same year. It is also important to note that this is a “credit” and not a mere “deduction”.

 Adoption expenses related to the adoption of a child, who is under the age of 18, can be considered eligible for claiming any amount. The maximum claim for each child is finalized as $10,909. The claim for eligible expenses can be split between two adoptive parents as long as the combined total claim is not more than the amount before the split. The adoption credit is offered to adoptive parents encourages adoption.

 Eligible Adoption Expenses

Eligible adoption costs that could are worth of claim are: fees paid to an adoption agency licensed by a provincial or territorial government, court costs and legal and administrative expenses related to an adoption order in respect of the child, reasonable and necessary travel and living expenses of the child and the adoptive parents, document translation fees, mandatory fees paid to a foreign institution, mandatory expenses paid in respect of the immigration of the child and any other reasonable expenses related to the adoption that are required by a provincial or territorial government or an adoption agency.

Adoption in California

Adoption occurs in more numbers in Canada than any other state which includes domestic adoption (adopting a non- relative child from within the United States, international adoption), step parent adoption (adopting a child who is the legal child of one’s spouse) and adult adoption (the adoption of an adult from within the United States).

Domestic Adoption within California

There are two types of basic types of domestic adoption independent and agency. An independent adoption is usually arranged by attorney with full openness in identities between the birth and the adoptive parents. 85% of all new born adoptions in California are done through independent adoption. Adoption agency is of two types, private and public. Both are employers licensed to make child placements, but tend to serve different children. Public agencies help find homes for children who are usually under government control, typically living in foster homes due to inability to live in home of their biological parents. These are child with special needs like extraordinary parenting. Private agencies focus primarily on newborn placements, like independent adoption.

Questions:

• What are Adoption expenses?
• What are the Adoption types and procedures followed in Canada?