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Frequently
Asked Questions - Adoptive Parents
Who
is Swartz Adoption Attorneys and Child Placing Agency, Inc.?
How
do I get chosen?
What
is a portfolio?
What
does it cost?
Are
there any tax benefits to adopting?
What
is a home study?
How
long will the process take?
What
is the legal process?
Can
the birth parent(s) come back at a later date and take their child back?
What
is the difference between attorney-assisted and agency-assisted adoptions?
What
is the difference between an open and a closed adoption?
Can
I choose a closed adoption only?
When
do I get to take the baby home?
Will
I know the medical history of the birth parent(s)?
Do
I qualify for adoption?
I do
not live in Michigan. Can I still use your agency?
Who is Swartz Adoption Attorneys and Child Placing Agency, Inc.?
Swartz Adoption Agency (for short) is a licensed, non-profit
agency located in Saginaw, Michigan that conducts domestic and international
adoptions. Swartz Adoption Agency was formed by Christopher Swartz,
a certified adoption attorney with the general practice law firm of
Swartz & Wilson. Mr. Swartz has successfully conducted hundreds of international
and domestic adoptions. Swartz Adoption Agency has social workers on
staff for counseling and conducting home studies.
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How do I get chosen?
Once you have submitted an application and application fee, we recommend
you begin to prepare a portfolio and begin the home
study process. When birth parent(s) come to our office, we show
them our inventory of portfolios and they choose a family. Depending
upon the situation, there may be a meeting between the birth parent(s)
and the prospective adoptive parents. This meeting helps both parties.
It allows the birth parent(s) a chance to get to know a little about
the adoptive parents so she can feel comfortable about the placement
decision. It also allows the adoptive parents a chance to get to know
the birth parent(s) to get a feel for their reasosns for the placement
and (sometimes) their commitment to placing the child. It may also be
an opportunity for both parties to discuss the degree, if any, of openness
desired. After the meeting, both the adoptive parents and the birth
parent(s) can decide if they want to accept each other.
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What is a portfolio?
A portfolio is a scrapbook of pictures and information about you, your
family, friends, pets and whatever else you would like to share about
yourself. We will present any information you want to provide about
yourself to birth parent(s). As such, you can be creative. A portfolio
should also contain a "Dear Birth Parent(s)" letter. This letter should
be written to potential birth parent(s) that would be viewing your portfolio
and should contain information about why you want to adopt, what kind
of adoption you want (open/closed) and how
you feel about birth parent(s).
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How much does it cost?
Domestic adoptions generally cost from $9,000 to $15,000. We provide
you with a complete and detailed list of the fees and costs associated
with the adoption process.
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Are there any tax benefits to adopting?
Yes. As of 2008 the IRS now allows a tax credit of $11,650 per adopted
child, for qualifying expenses paid to adopt a child. Also, the Michigan
Department of Treasury allows a tax credit of approximately $1,300.
Qualifying expenses are reasonable and necessary adoption fees, court
costs, attorney fees, traveling expenses (including meals and lodging),
and other expenses directly related to the legal adoption of an eligible
child.
Our adoption attorney
can explain in detail the tax laws concerning adoption and how it will
affect you. You can also visit the Department of Treasury and Internal
Revenue Service web site.
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What is a home study?
A home study is also known as a pre-adoptive placement assessment. The
purpose of the home study is to ensure that children are only placed
in homes appropriate for adoption.
Swartz Adoption Agency
conducts home studies in the state of Michigan. A home study through
our agency costs $2,000. If you live in another state, we can arrange
to have a home study completed through another agency. A step-parent
home study is $650.
Typically, a home study
takes about six to eight weeks to complete. It includes several interviews
with one of our social workers. One interview will be a pre-planned
visit in your home. You will be asked many questions about yourself,
your family and your beliefs. There are no right answers so there is
not need to worry. Information about your physical health, criminal
history and references from friends also need to be obtained. We will
assist you in this regard. The home study is an educational process
and you will find it very helpful.
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How long will the process take? The process for
domestic adoptions varies based on several factors such as the availability
of birth mothers and finding a match between birth parent(s) and a prospective
family. There is no waiting list. When birth parent(s) come to our agency
for adoption, sometimes they want to choose a family and sometimes they
want us to choose a family. If birth parent(s) choose, they do so from
our inventory of portfolios. If we choose,
we have a process that is based on approved families and the birth parent(s)'
wishes. Essentially, you could be chosen immediately after providing
us with a portfolio.
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What is the legal process?
Most of the time the baby will go home with you straight from the hospital
with temporary transfer documents that the birth parent(s) will sign
at the hospital. A court hearing will be scheduled about two to eight
weeks later for the birth parent(s) to give their consent to the adoption
and for their rights to be terminated. The only steps left are follow-up
reports to the court so they can see that the child is doing well in
your home. The social worker/agency that did your home study will complete
these reports.
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Can the birth parent(s) come back at a later date
and take their child back?
No - not once the birth parent(s)' rights are terminated in court. They
do have a 21-day appeal period after such termination, but in order
for a reversal, they would have to prove to the judge that their consent
was not voluntary. In the hundreds of adoptions performed by Christopher
Swartz, this has never happened.
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What is the difference between attorney-assisted
and agency-assisted adoptions?
The primary difference is the representation of the parties. In an attorney-assisted
adoption, the adoptive parents are represented by one attorney and the
birth parent(s) are represented by another attorney. In an agency-assisted
adoption, both parties are represented by the agency. With our agency,
however, since Christopher Swartz is an attorney, he can explain each
parties' rights and responsibilities the same as their respective attorneys
would.
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What is the difference
between an open and a closed adoption?
A closed adoption means that the birth parent(s) and adoptive parents
never know each other. Some non-identifying information may be given
to adoptive parents in order to assist them in medical situations, but
names are not exchanged. An open adoption means that the birth parent(s)
and adoptive parents know something about each other. The degree of
openness depends on what the birth parent(s) and adoptive parents agree
upon. It may be one meeting and first names only or it may be occassional
contact even after the birth of the baby.
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Can I choose a closed adoption only?
If you do not want any degree of openness in your adoption, that is
your choice. However, the birth parent(s) will have to agree to a closed
adoption. If you get chosen by birth parent(s) who would like some openness,
the birth parent(s) have the right to choose another family that will
allow a degree of openness.
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When do I get to take the baby home?
In nearly all domestic adoptions, the baby will go home with the adoptive
parents directly from the hospital.
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Will I know the medical history of the birth parent(s)?
In all cases, we make every attempt to obtain as much information about
the medical background of the birth parent(s) in order to provide such
information to adoptive parents. At a minimum, we will be able to obtain
the medical background of the birth mother. 
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Do I qualify for adoption?
The state of Michigan has no requirements for adoptive parents other
than being approved for adoption through a home
study. As such, age, marital status (single or married), race, religious
beliefs, etc. are not reasons for disqualifications in and of themselves.
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I do not live in Michigan. Can I still use your
agency?
Yes. We can handle adoptions for families throughout the United States
and even for U.S. citizens living abroad. There may be eligibility requirements
for adoption depending on the state in which you live.
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Be sure to visit our Happy Families
page to meet some of our happy families.
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