Domestic Fee Schedule

A Word About Our Adoptive Fees

Thank you for your interest in Bethany Christian Services of North Carolina. We are glad you are
considering Bethany to help build your family!
Like any professional service, Bethany must charge fees to our adoptive families to help offset
operating costs and to ensure that our life affirming services to birthparents continue. Adoption
fees cover expenses such as: extensive birthparent counseling, help to birthparents for medical
care, housing, transportation, interim foster care, legal assistance in regard to adoption planning,
office support services and salaries.
Currently there is a federal tax credit of $12,970 that is available to help offset the cost of each
adoption. The tax credit will begin to phase out for families with modified adjusted gross
incomes above $194,580 and the credit will go away completely for those with incomes around
$234,580. In addition, there is a new NC tax credit that is approximately 50% of the federal tax
credit. Please refer to the irs.gov website for complete and updated details.
All families pay a fee of $25,000 for a domestic adoption placement. Your fee contract, and this
document, outline when certain fees are due. Fees that are paid to Bethany Christian Services
prior to placement are non-refundable and are subtracted from the total fee of $25,000. The
balance is due on the day you receive your child. Examples of pre-placement fees include the
preliminary and formal application fees, Family Assessment (home study), Administration, and
Educational Fees. If you withdraw from the assessment process after at least one meeting has
occurred, Bethany will issue a prorated fee for services rendered.
An example of Pre-placement fees are as follows:
John and Jane Doe
Preliminary Application Fee
Formal Application Fee
Family Assessment

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=
=
=

Administrative and Educational Fees =

Total Pre-Placement Fees

Adoptive Fee - $25,000

$ 100.00 (non-refundable, due with application)
$ 550.00 (non-refundable, due with application)
$2,000.00 (non-refundable, due at completion of
assessment)
$3,000.00 (non-refundable, due at completion of
assessment)
$5,650.00 (non-refundable)

$5,000 is due at the completion of the family assessment or home study. Families will receive a
letter stating their family assessment has been approved and their balance due is $5,000. After
submitting their payment of $5,000, John and Janes balance is now $19,350, and this is due at
placement.
Deposit for Birthparent, Child and Legal Expenses
Bethany caps birthparent expenses for adoptive families at $2,000. Expenses may actually be
higher than $2,000, but a familys cost will not exceed $2,000.* (For exception please see
following page) Bethany assists birthparents with living expenses during their pregnancy and for

up to six weeks after their childs birth. Bethany helps birth parents pay for things such as
housing, food, and clothing. Families are expected to reimburse Bethany for actual birthparent
expenses up to $2,000. Some birthparents do not require any assistance, others need quite a bit of
help. Each client has her own unique situation and resources.
Exception: *Bethany will pay a maximum of $3,000 for a birthmothers care after the adoptive
family pays $2,000. If expenses exceed $5,000, the adoptive family is responsible for the
remaining expense. One example of this exception would be a woman who does not have health
insurance or is ineligible for Medicaid.
Families pay a deposit of $3,000 IF there is a need for TPR (termination of birthfathers parental
rights). When TPR is needed, our cases are referred to a Bethany attorney. The most common
reasons for a referral include an unknown birthfather, an uncooperative birthfather, or a
birthfather that cannot be located. Bethany will ask for additional funds to cover legal
proceedings if the $3,000 deposit is not sufficient to cover these expenses. This, however, would
be an unusual situation as most deposits do cover legal expenses.
An example of added fees are as follows:
John and Janes placement fee is $19,350 after paying their pre placement fees. The following
example shows their final placement fee after adding birthparent and legal expenses.
$19,350.00 Placement Fee
$ 2,000.00 Birthparent Expenses
$ 3,000.00 Deposit for Legal Expenses
$24,350.00 - Total Fee Due at Placement
Other Fees
When there is a visit to your home, Bethany will charge .50 per mile for round trip travel that
exceeds 100 miles from the office nearest your home.
Family Assessment Update or Addendum: $350.00 (non-refundable)
A family assessment update is necessary if you have not received a child within 18 months of the
approval date on your home assessment. North Carolina law requires Bethany to complete an
update of your home assessment. An addendum will be completed if your residence changes
prior to placement.
The average cost to Bethany for each placement now exceeds $28,000.00. Because adoption is an
expensive process, Bethany depends on donations from individuals, churches, and businesses to
help subsidize many placements when adoption fees dont cover all expenses.
As you are considering Bethanys adoption program, please keep in mind that Bethany Christian
Services of North Carolina is a ministry, and not just an adoption agency. We serve women with
unplanned pregnancies regardless of whether they choose adoption for their unborn child. Our
work with birthparents who do not make adoption plans amounts to thousands of dollars per year.
Since 1944, Bethany has provided quality social services to young women and children regardless

of their race, socio-economic status or religious beliefs. We promote the sanctity of life and the
respect for all human life, including the life of the unborn.
Please contact Bethany with your questions regarding adoption fees and services. We gladly
welcome your call!
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS ADOPTION FEE
SCHEDULE:
____________________________________
Adoptive Father

________________________
Date

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Adoptive Mother

________________________
Date

Rev: DM/9/1/12