If you’re considering placing your child for adoption in Wisconsin, you’re probably in a complicated situation. You may be considering adoption because you cannot provide the kind of life you want for your child — which, for many expectant mothers, means being unable to afford the costs of raising a child. You may also be worried about the increasing costs of pregnancy, prompting you to ask such questions as:
Does a birth mother get paid for adoption in Wisconsin?
How will an adoption agency provide a birth mother compensation for placing a baby for adoption?
Will a birth mother be obligated to pay anything, or is it free to put a child up for adoption in Wisconsin?
First off, know this: To “get paid” for adoption in Wisconsin (or anywhere else in the U.S.) is not legal or ethical. An adoptive family cannot pay an expectant mother in exchange for the placement of her baby.
However, if you choose adoption, the adoptive family and your adoption professional will provide for your needs during the time of your pregnancy and post-pregnancy. This financial assistance when giving a baby up for adoption in Wisconsin will help you afford the costs of pregnancy and childbirth, as well as take the financial burden out of placing a child for adoption. But, you will never be obligated to choose adoption because of payments made to you. The choice will always be up to you.
Want to learn more about adoption financial assistance in Wisconsin? Keep reading below to find answers to your other common questions.
Is It Free to Put a Child up for Adoption in Wisconsin?
The answer is yes! In the agreement you make with an adoption professional and adoptive family, you will never be required to choose adoption in Wisconsin. Putting your baby up for adoption is free to a prospective birth mother like you.
Adoption professionals and adoptive families understand the emotional difficulty involved in placing a child for adoption — and they know that finances often play a role in an expectant mother’s decision. Therefore, providing adoption “compensation” for “giving a baby up” for adoption (in the form of living assistance) allows that mother to make a decision about her unplanned pregnancy unhindered by financial pressure. Remember, even if you accept financial assistance for adoption in Wisconsin, you are never obligated to choose adoption.
But, if you are interested in adoption, know that every aspect — from initial counseling to legal expenses to medical services — will always be completely free to you.
Can You Get Paid for Adoption in Wisconsin?
A prospective birth mother cannot be “compensated” for giving her baby up for adoption in Wisconsin or any other state. Anyone that offers to provide wages to a prospective birth mother for her child will break Wisconsin adoption laws. “Payment” for a baby is considered human trafficking — a highly criminal act.
However, adoption assistance for a prospective birth mother is always free. In Wisconsin, a prospective birth mother is allowed to receive assistance for the following adoption services in what would be deemed a “reasonable amount”:
- Maternity and some post-maternity medical expenses
- Living expenses during pregnancy (food, maternity clothes, phone, transportation, etc.)
- Temporary housing during pregnancy (rent, utilities)
- Pre and post-placement counseling services
- Adoption legal fees
Every prospective birth mother’s financial situation is different, which means what kind of Wisconsin adoption financial assistance she can receive can only be determined by her adoption professional. Contact a professional today to learn what assistance may be available for your circumstances.
How Do Adoption Agencies Pay Birth Mothers in Wisconsin?
It is often legally and ethically complicated for an adoptive family to pay a prospective birth mother directly. Instead, you will work with an adoption professional to receive living assistance during your journey.
An adoption professional will serve as a liaison between the adoptive family and prospective birth mother when she is receiving financial assistance for an adoption in Wisconsin. The adoption professional or attorney will provide her with assistance for all her adoption services and expenses for the duration of her pregnancy, as well as some postpartum services.
So, how do you determine what financial assistance is available for you? You’ll want to speak with an adoption professional. Only once you have met with the adoption professional can a plan for your expenses be established within the parameters of what is reasonable in Wisconsin. For example, if you are a single mother raising two children already, you will likely receive more financial assistance than a teenager who is still living at home with her parents.
How much financial assistance you receive will always depend upon your personal circumstances.
Why Do Birth Mothers Get Paid for Adoption Expenses in Wisconsin?
A prospective birth mother who chooses adoption may make her decision for a number of reasons in her life, but worrying about the financial aspects of an adoption should not be a concern in this decision-making process. Because state laws allow for providing financial assistance for necessities to prospective birth mothers in Wisconsin, an expectant mother can focus on staying healthy during her pregnancy and being physically and mentally prepared to deliver a baby and place him or her for adoption when the time comes.
To obtain helpful free information about this topic and many others concerning adoption in Wisconsin, please complete this contact form to get connected to an adoption professional today.
