Question: Which Adoptions Qualify for Non-recurring Adoption Expenses?

Answer:

Special needs domestic adoptions are eligible in every state for a one time reimbursement of non-recurring adoption expenses. All waiting children, those in foster homes, in the United States are deemed special needs and therefore qualify. Some states will also reimburse non-recurring adoption expenses for international adoptions.

Each state can distribute these funds at their discretion; not every eligible child will receive the reimbursement.

The federal government allocates special funds to each state to reimburse adoptive parents of special needs children. The rules about when and how to apply for this reimbursement is different in each state. Some states ask that you apply before adopting the child. Check with your state for details.

Non-recurring adoption expenses include court fees, travel expenses, adoption home study and more. The reimbursement amount varies by state and ranges from $500 to $2,000.

The following information was updated as of April 2007. See the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) Web site for more information on adoption subsidy amounts per state as well as more up-to-date information on non-recurring adoption expenses.

Remember it never hurts to ask about your state's policy regarding the reimbursement of non-recurring adoption expenses, even in the case of international adoptions.

• Alabama - Domestic & International - Up to $1,000 per child
• Alaska - Domestic & possibly international - Up to $2,000 per child
• Arizona - Domestic & possibly International - Up to $2,000 per child
• Arkansas - Domestic & possibly International - Up to $1,500 per child
• California - Domestic adoption only - Up to $400 per child
• Colorado - Domestic adoption only - Up to $800 per child
• Connecticut - Domestic adoption only - Up to $750 per child
• Delaware - Domestic adoption & possibly International - Up to $2,000 per child
• District of Columbia - Domestic adoption only - Up to $2,000 per child
• Florida - Domestic & possibly international - Up to $1,000 per child
• Georgia - Domestic adoption only - Up to $2,000 per child
• Hawaii - Domestic & international - Up to $2,000 per child
• Idaho - Domestic & international - Up to $2,000 per child
• Illinois - Domestic & possibly international - Up to $1,500 per child
• Indiana - Domestic & international - Up to $1,500 per child
• Iowa - Domestic & international - Up to $500 per child
• Kansas - Domestic adoption only - Up to $2,000 per child
• Kentucky - Domestic & possibly international - Up to $1,000 per child
• Louisiana - Domestic adoption only - Up to $1,000 per child
• Maine - Domestic & possibly international - Up to $2,000 per child
• Maryland - Domestic & international - Up to $2,000 per child
• Massachusetts - Domestic & possibly international - Up to $400 per child
• Michigan - Domestic & international - Up to $2,000 per child
• Minnesota - Domestic & possibly international - Up to $2,000 per child
• Mississippi - Domestic & international - Up to $1,000 per child
• Missouri - Domestic adoption only - Up to $2,000 per child
• Montana - Domestic & possibly international - Up to $2,000 per child
• Nebraska - Domestic & international - Up to $1,500 per child
• Nevada - Domestic adoption only - Up to $250 per child
• New Hampshire - Domestic & international - Up to $2,000 per child
• New Jersey - Domestic adoption only - Up to $2,000 per child
• New Mexico - Domestic & possibly international - Up to $2,000 per child
• New York - Domestic & possibly international - Up to $2,000 per child
• North Carolina - Domestic & possibly international - Up to $2,000 per child
• North Dakota - Domestic adoption only - Up to $2,000 per child
• Ohio - Domestic & international - Up to $2,000 per child
• Oklahoma - Domestic & international - Up to $1,200 per child or $2,000 for a child with legal termination of parental rights
• Oregon - Domestic & possibly international - Up to $1,500 per child
• Pennsylvania - Domestic adoption only - Up to $2,000 per child
• Rhode Island - Domestic & possibly international - Up to $400 per child
• South Carolina - Domestic & international - Up to $250 per child
• South Dakota - Domestic adoption only - Up to $1,500 per child
• Tennessee - Domestic & possibly international - Up to $1,500 per child
• Texas - Domestic & international -Up to $1,500 per child
• Utah - Domestic adoption only - Up to $2,000 per child
• Vermont - Domestic & international - Up to $2,000 per child
• Virginia - Domestic adoption only - Up to $2,000 per child
• Washington - Domestic adoption only - Up to $1,500 per child
• West Virginia - Domestic & possibly international - Up to $1,000 per child
• Wisconsin - Domestic adoption only - Up to $2,000 per child
• Wyoming - Domestic & international - Up to $2,000 per child

Source: North American Council on Adoptable Children