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If PA works like CO, then yes, agencies can charge anything they like for their services. The agencies in CO have to contract with the state, and most have their necessary expenses paid for by the state, but some supliment that with charges from the adoptive parents.
One agency even charges people who want to be foster parents! $4,500 just to sign up, even if you never get a foster child in your home! But thier services don't seem to be any better than anyone else's, and I know of *no* one who has chosen to work with them--why pay when so many agencies will allow you to do the same thing at no charge?
I'd definately ask them for contact information for some of their *happy clients*--people who have successfully adopted through the state using their services. Also, ask them what they offer that is so special that they charge for it when others don't. And for a state adoption, they *should* be able to tell you exactly how much their fees will run--after all, the state pays for just about everything, so what is left that you may or may not get charged for, that they can't tell you right up front?
Now, it is possible that they're being up-front about such things as the portability of your homestudy. You'll find most of the free agencies require you to adopt from the state of PA. While that's your intention now, how long are you willing to wait if it doesn't happen for a while? Would you ever want to expand your search into NY, NJ, or MD? If so, you'll probably have to pay your agency for your homestudy (PA homestudy used in PA will be paid for by state of PA. PA homestudy used in MD won't be paid for by state of PA.). That may be where some money comes in.
Also, agencies charge you for the mandatory traning classes. some lump it into a fee of some sort (ours was in our $200 application fee), others don't tell you about those charges until you register for a particular class (two registrations for "dealing with attachment"? That'll be $74, please).
Also find out how much searching work the agency will do for you. A worker who actually actively seeks out children waiting for families and puts your homestudy in to be considered on that child is worth her weight in gold. Too many just wait for a waiting child's profile to cross their desk instead of actively searching.
My advice would be to meet with someone from one of the free agencies, too, and compare their explanations of their prices. Shop around a little, going beyond a telephone call or brochure. So much depends on how you relate to the people you'll have to deal with for the next year. Don't forget to check the BBB to be sure other people haven't felt gypped by the prices of the agency you're looking at!
About the federal tax credit, if the child you adopt is considered "special needs" (PA has its own definition of that, remember to ask that question at your meeting), then you don't have to prove that you incurred any charges--you get the maximum credit automatically.
If the child you adopt is not considered special needs, just about anything you are required to pay for is allowed to be included in what you submit in your tax statement. I believe any agency fees certainly count. (Even meals and hotel rooms count if you have to travel to meet the child! So I doubt you'd have any trouble with anything the agency sent you a bill for.)
Good luck!
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