Financial Assistance for Birth Mother Expenses
If you are pregnant and considering adoption, one of your questions may be — if I choose adoption, is there financial assistance available to me?
When your pregnancy is unplanned, it is less likely you are financially prepared for potential costs related to your pregnancy. Also, you have your regular, day-to-day expenses to cover.
Not having short-term or long-term financial stability may be one of the reasons you are considering adoption. To help with short-term needs, there are services and financial assistance available to expectant mothers who choose to place their child for adoption.
Florida adoption laws allow prospective adoptive parents to help an expectant mother with living and medical expenses during her pregnancy and up to six weeks after giving birth. The expenses must be reasonable, and the court must approve them if they are over certain amounts.
Reasonable living expenses may include:
- Rent
- Utilities
- Basic telephone service
- Food
- Toiletries
- Necessary clothing
- Transportation
- Insurance
- Expenses found by the court to be necessary for the health and well-being of the birth mother and unborn child
Financial assistance is short-term; therefore, it is a way to subsidize and fund your expenses for extra costs related to your pregnancy and possible loss of work income. For example, if you work a full-time job, you may need to take time away from work for doctor appointments or even reduce your hours when you are further along in your pregnancy.
Florida law also allows counseling and legal fees to be provided for the expectant mother. Legal representation is vital for increasing the success of your placement and achieving your goals. Likewise, counseling is critical and beneficial to you during your pregnancy and after placement of your child.