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Originally Posted by WizardofOz
devildogwife, look up California adoption laws. Birthmother expenses are legally defined as "charity". I did not come up with that term - whoever came up with adoption legislation did.
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CALIFORNIA CODES
FAMILY.CODE
SECTION 8800-8823
8812. Any request by a birth parent or birth parents for payment by
the prospective adoptive parents of attorney's fees, medical fees
and expenses, counseling fees, or living expenses of the birth mother
shall be in writing. The birth parent or parents shall, by
first-class mail or other agreed upon means to ensure receipt,
provide the prospective adoptive parents written receipts for any
money provided to the birth parent or birth parents. The prospective
adoptive parents shall provide the receipts to the court when the
accounting report required pursuant to Section 8610 is filed.
I did a statutory search and couldn’t find the definition you refer to Wizard. The above was all I could find. Perhaps you wouldn’t mind citing the specific CA code defining birthparent expenses as “charity”.
Nonetheless, as I stated before, if you’re opposed to paying expenses then don’t. There are plenty of expectant parents that don’t seek expenses and would in fact be offended by the offer. Whether or not expenses are defined as “charity” is a moot point (though I still would like to see the definition you mention) – paying expenses to birthparents is NOT a requirement for adoption. You stated earlier that you are opposed to paying expenses, that expenses are the same as baby buying, but what the heck, it’s the only way I can get a kid… Why not stand up for your convictions? Most of the first mom’s I know have not lived under a bridge; though I do know several that lived in maternity homes during the baby scoop era and one or two that were homeless during difficult times in their life. I wouldn’t wish a maternity home on anyone.
I have an idea, let’s take the dollars from the adoption tax credit “charity” so many adoptive parents enjoy and instead apply it towards mandatory counseling for parents considering placement of their children and other services needed for those women who may need some help. Perhaps then adoptive parents wouldn’t have such a difficult choice in deciding whether or not to pay expenses.