[mj77]

To add to what you've said Anna, every case does vary. My cousin was adopted at birth and never recieved a subsidy or foster rate (he wasn't foster but a straight adoption privately) and he was born drug effected and was showing some issues at a couple of years old that indicated there was a problem. His adoption had long since been finalized. My aunt was able to get subsidy for OR's base amount and she did this living in CA. If this is the way people end up getting subsidy though, they'd better be prepared to show some documentation of the issues. I know another parent who adopted in our state through the foster system who got a subsidy after her son had been adopted for a few years and hadn't ever recieved a special rate. So it really does depend on the circumstances. Not arguing your point Anna, just adding to what you already stated .

[skootinalong2]

Here in CA we have to pay a $20.00 filing fee for the court date and $500.00 for the state fee. We are supposed to get $400. back from the state. The AAP rate is about $420.00 per month until he reaches the age of 18. It is higher for special needs.

[yanknrebel]

Punckin,

You were right about everything. We finalized Kayla Grace's adoption on Dec. 28th. They rushed it through so that they could complete 25 adoptions this year in our county. The courts were closed for the Christmas break but the judge was a personl friend of our lawyer and she came in to do this for us.

As for the state paying the adoption fee, they did. They paid everything. Even the birth certificate cost. We paid NOTHING. Also since the Adoption initiative was started in Nov. 2004, we also got adoption assistance for Kayla until she reaches age 18 including keeping her TNcareSelect insurance. We had NO idea we would get this, but were pleasantly surprised. Kayla is a helathy caucasian baby girl we have had since 2 days old. However they (DCS and ATTY) said that since she was a foster child and "could not be returned to her birthparents" and we needed help in paying for the attorney fees to complete the adoption, then they ruled Kayla as "special needs". I am so thrilled. We of course were not doing it for the subsidy, but it is a nice surprise.