[Allieloopy]

When I found out that our adoption wouldn't be final until late December I specifically told my adopton worker that I didn't want to finalize until 2003. I also wrote a letter to the court asking the same thing. I received a letter right after Christmas saying my daughters adoption was finalized on Dec. 20th!

In October I had a loooong discussion with my adoption worker about this very subject. We do not have a high income, we adopted my special needs daughter through foster care. We were hoping to take advantage of the tax credit to help us out. While I am overjoyed to finally have my daughter, it makes me angry to think that they couldn't wait 11 days.

Is there anyway to change the date? Has anyone done anything like this? I wouldn't care so much except for the fact that I notified everyone about why I needed it final in 2003.

I have a call in to the adoption professional at the court but she hasn't returned it yet. I don't want to talk to my adoption worker until I have to, she and the entire agency have shown themselves to be very incompetent over the last 5 years.

Does anyone have any advice?

[organicmommy]

There is an adoptive tax credit for 2002 as well so I am not sure why you are not wanting to take advantage of it. As of January 2002 you were able to claim the 10,000 dollar tax credit for a special needs adoption from what I was told by the IRS. So I hope this helps, I guess I am not sure that this was the answer you were wanting, but I think it may help you. Give the IRS a call and let them know your situation and see what they say, but I am pretty sure you can claim that for 2002 as well.

[Allieloopy]

The 2002 Adoption Tax credit is good for people who have expenses that they can prove. Since this was a special needs adoption through the state, we had little out of pocket cost.
The 2003 Adoption Tax credit is a flat credit and you don't have to prove any expenses. It is a great resource that we missed out on by 11 days. I can still claim her as a dependant but that doesn't make up for missing $10,000 over the next five years.
The IRS makes it clear in their literature that any adoption AFTER 12-31-2002 will be eligible for the flat tax credit. I can't take any advantage of the other one because I don't have valid costs to reimburse.

To make it worse, NONE of the adoption "professionals" I have talked to are aware of this credit. They can't explain it to me and as of October of this year, very few are still aware of it. They think I am worried about claiming her as a dependant. Oh well, I guess since I have had zero control for the past 5 years I shouldn't expect that to change now.

[Peggy]

I finalized in August. I missed it by 4 months. THere was a bill to have it changed, but it did not get through the Senate unfortunately. 11 days, that does smart.

[jenna202]

Allieloopy, I don't know how your adoption could have been finalized with you going to court. Maybe your state does it differently, but in TX, consummation requires that you be present, and most people go with their kids and make a big deal of it (I know I plan to).

[maddog1219]

We just finalized on January 3 - I asked the judge to delay from October to January. My social workers and court people had not heard of the credit but I pressed anyway. It frustrates me that no one here in St. Louis knows about this tax credit! My attorney called me on Dec. 26 and told me we would finalize on Jan. 3, and he mentioned they finalized 12 adoptions that day, and it made me so sad for those folks because they missed out.

I can't believe they finalized without you there. My son, husband, social worker, guardian, son's social worker, our laywer, all had to be there (missouri), and it was a special and joyous ceremony.

I just can't believe they can finalize without even a signature from you! I would double check and make sure that it's really truly final.

And congratulations, even if it is a bit of a letdown to have it all go down without your knowledge.

[Allieloopy]

I guess in Michigan you don't have to be there. It was a bit of a let down, we had no closure. Not that this was something we were told. It seems that no one even knows what is going on until after it happens. At my daughters termination hearing the social worker even asked us what was going to happen, it was her first one.

The adoption worker called today to congratulate me on the adoption. She wanted to know why I didn't sound to happy. I explained and she was actually dissapointed that I wasn't happy with her work. She thought she did a great job. Sheeze. And we were counting on the money to help pay for a homestudy for a good agency too. Well, I guess I will just have to save up again. I doubt that the courts will change the date. Of course no one has returned my call in two days. I guess I will wait til Friday and call again.
It seems like everyone likes not giving you any control over any situation in adoption. Even a little thing like two weeks delay turns into a big power struggle. I guess I should be greatful that they managed to finish the adoption at all.

All in all it was a very hard and frustrating experience. I want more kids but it's going to be hard to go through another five years of crap to do it.

[Bcelli]

Allieloopy - I know it's of little consolation to you, but while I knew about the tax credit - I DIDN'T KNOW it was a flat credit in 2003. You've probably given many adoptive and potential adoptive parents great joy. Congrats on your adoption! Sorry about your taxes. It stinks.

[Stormy]

Allie,
PLEASE! report this worker to her supervisor. She just cost you $10,000! you have every reason in the world to rattle some cages. I have to admit, workers like that just make my blood boil. I talked with our worker a few months ago about making our home inactive until we finalized with our adopted son (adopted through a private agency or we would have never been parents again I believe). Well our foster care worker closed our home. I wondered what conversation she had because it seemed pretty clear to me we decided on being inactive. But to be honest I was fine with not working with them anymore. When we want to foster again we will go with a private agency. But until we start holding these workers accountable they are going to keep bulldozing through peoples lives never stoping to consider the ramifications of their actions. I am SO sorry that this mess has occured. Maybe you should call a lawyer and get their take on this.

Best of luck,
Stormy

[maddog1219]

Allieloopy - From what it sounds like, things are worse in MI than in MO, and I didn't think it could get any worse here. From what you just said, I think you know how to make noise when you need to, so I would do just that. Stormy is right about holding people accountable. You may not be able to get your money, but maybe you can at least get what happened on record. And at least you can get some sense of control.

I didn't realize how different each state was. We didn't have to pay for home study, court costs, fees, and we went through a private agency that contracts with the state. (My son came from a private agency too, Our Little Haven, and his social worker was pretty good). Of course, my adoption agency is closing its doors because the state will no longer pay for adoption expenses and didn't renew its contracts with the private agencies. They will pay to keep kids in foster care but not to get permanent homes....don't even get me started!

When I read the article about the tax credit, I copied and sent it to my social worker, my son's social worker, my DFS adoption worker and told them all about the credit. None of them knew about it and I am wondering if they even did anything with it.

It takes brave, tireless, determined people like us to face this crazy system.

[marinefamily]

Hey everyone.......Could someone please help us to understand the adoption tax credit.I've read the posts and it's all so confusing. I didn't realize there was a change in it. We were matched w/our son on June 16,2002 and the adoption isn't final yet.Were just now able to get the post-placement visits done. Is there a website I can print the new tax credit info out? All help is appreciated!

[Bidgester]

Marinefamily: Go to the IRS website and download Publication 968 Tax Benefits for Adoption for use in preparing your 2002 return. It has all the information you will need and is very easy to understand. We finalized our adoption in 2002 and will be doing a carryforward for 2002 returns. Good luck to you and your little one in the new year!

[maddog1219]

also go to www.adoptiontaxcredit.com. that's a pretty comprehensive description of the changes in 2202 and 2003. there are other threads on this forum that explain it well too. good luck and congratulations!

[Allieloopy]

I thought I would give you guys an update. I just talked to the court and they changed the finalization date for my daughters adoption to Jan 10 2003! I am so happy. Now I can take my tax return and get a homestudy from a GOOD agency. I just have to find someone who actually knows what they are doing when they file my taxes. No H&R Block this time around.

The court worker said my adoption worker was the worst one she ever worked with. At least it's nice to know that I'm not crazy and pushy, she is just unskilled.

Plus we had my daughters speech and hearing evaluated because her therapist said she had delays, and they said she has no problems and her speech is the same as other kids her age!

This is so much good news at one time that I don't know if I can stand it!

[maddog1219]

Way to go! Glad everything is looking up for you. Congratulations! I am thrilled with both your finalization date and your daughter's progress.