[carterj6]

I have heard a lot of people mention that they have to pay so much money a month to care for their baby if their case lasts longer than 6 months. Is there anyone on this forum who has to do that? If so, is your baby in foster care or a hogar and how much do you have to pay? Is this a common thing? Thanks! Jenny

[Opus36]

We had to pay after 4 months. $450 a month.

[shmouse]

We have to pay for foster care after 6 months... I don't remember hte amount -- 350 or 450 per month...

[pmgor]

We have to pay after 6 months and it's $200 per month, our son is in an Hogar.

[Banti'sMom2Be]

If Mom is underage you have to pay, for Fostering also!

$600.00 is the price that Guatemalans feel is adequate Foster Care!

[carterj6]

Wow! I am really surprised by the number of people who have already repsonded who have to pay. We did not have to do this for our 1st adoption. We are considering using a hogar that makes you pay $500 a month after 6 months. This seems a little unfair because everyone's case takes different amounts of time and we have no control over how long it takes. Don't get me wrong, I do not mind paying for my child's care. It is just that I had not heard about this the 1st time we adopted. Those of you who have to pay, when is your case considered "started"? For example, when does the 6 months start? When does it end? Thanks so much! Jenny

[buckeye1]

I have to wonder... if the client has to pay for *extra* foster care, what incentive does the attorney have to effeciently handle the case?

I would not be inclined to sign a contract like that.

[shmouse]

While certainly not having to pay for foster care if it goes over 6 months may be a reason that an attorney doesn't care about time frame, it doesn't always work that way. By paying for foster care after a certain point you are:

insured that your child's wellbeing and not the attorney's profit margin will govern their continuing care, since there will always be money to pay for your child's care.

I think the major incentive for your attorney to complete the case quickly (other then their own ethical obligation) is the ongoing relationship with a good agency. A good agency will stop working with attorneys that fail to timely complete cases... It's like why we used a wedding coordinator --we were only going to have one wedding, so there was no incentive for wedding vendors to provide good service to us (beyond their own ethics). However, they want to do a good job so that our wedding coordinator will continue to work with them. A similar incentive exists if you are working with a good agency and attorney.

I personally don't think this kind of clause is a reason to or not to sign with a particular attorney...

Best,

Shmouse

[carterj6]

You raise a good point. However, most attorneys have the incentive of their last big payment from the client. For example, on our 1st adoption the attorney got $8,250 once we got out of PGN so that is a pretty big incentive. Just a thought. Jenny

[pmgor]

Re: attorney incentive if we pay for foster care.

Our attorney does not receive and disburse the cost of the care of the child and the longer the case sits the longer he waits to get his final payment. I also want to make sure that the child is well cared for, it is my understanding that the agencies either set the country fees including a set amount of months of care or you start paying off the bat.

I don't know if others pay the attorney directly for the child's care in which case they I would think that there would need to be a safeguard.

[kitz]

We also will pay an additional $350.00 per month for foster care after 6 months. I don't have specifics, but I believe the payments will be wired to the attorney as was the initial payment for attorney/foster care. Our 6 months is up mid July. I agree with everyone that it is not about the money. We want the best care possible for our child. We would also like to have the assurance that our agency and our attorney are giving us the best care possible! Our agency coordinator is positive about our process and very hopeful that we will be traveling by that time. That gives us about 4 weeks to get back in PGN, out and travelling. Think it will happen???

[shmouse]

No problem Kitz -- you're back in now (probably), out in two weeks, 1 week for non GC Birth certificate, 3 days to pink and you're there before you know it...

Okay, that's optimistic, but if you don't get kicked out again, I bet you are close... I am crossing my fingers and toes for you!