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Adoption FAQs
How long will we wait for a baby?
The source of our infertility is unknown; or We have chosen not to pursue infertility testing and treatments; do we qualify?
What ethnicity are the babies placed through CAS?
How many babies do you place a year?
Do you place older children?
What are the age requirements?
How long do we have to be married?
Do you place with single parents?
Do you have an income requirement?
Do we have to own our home?
Does the adoptive mother have to be a stay-at-home mom?
Do you do open adoptions?
What if the birth mother wants her baby back?
What about the birth father?
Do we pay for the birth mother’s expenses?
What do the service fees cover?
What about tax deductions?
Can we get more adoption information from you without an obligation to adopt through CAS?
Q. How long will we wait for a baby?A. Each set of birth parents chooses the family for their baby from a selection of profiles of families that may meet what they are looking for in a family. Though the waiting period is unpredictable, the average waiting time is about one year.
Q. The source of our infertility is unknown; or We have chosen not to pursue infertility testing and treatments; do we qualify?
A. Yes. Many of the couples who adopt through CAS have unexplained infertility. We respect a couple’s decision to avoid the anguish of infertility testing and treatments.
Q. What ethnicity are the babies placed through CAS?
A. We place babies of all races. Each family is asked what race(s) they are comfortable with, and are presented to birth parents accordingly. We believe that all children are priceless so there is no fee variation for any child.
Q. How many babies do you place a year?
A. CAS places approximately 10 children a year.
Q. Do you place older children?
A. Most of the children placed by CAS are newborn. On very rare occasions a birth mother may make an adoption plan for a child she has already parented for a period of time.
Q. What are the age requirements?
A. CAS does not have a set age limit for adopting parents. Each case is assessed individually to determine if the adoptive parents are likely to be able to parent the child to adulthood.
Q. How long do we have to be married?
A. A couple must be married at least two years.
Q. Do you place with single parents?
A. Not at the present time. We have found that a major factor in why birth parents choose to place is to provide their child with a home consisting of both a mother and a father.
Q. Do you have an income requirement?
A. We do not have a minimum income requirement. We do assess the family for financial stability and the ability to provide adequately for a child. We also require life and health insurance coverage.
Q. Do we have to own our home?
A. No.
Q. Does the adoptive mother have to be a stay-at-home mom?
A. No.
A. The amount of contact between adoptive parents and birth parents is negotiated in each adoption according to the desires of the two parties. We do require updates (picture & letter) each year until the 18th year. First names are always exchanged through the selection process. Adoptive parents receive adoption education about openness throughout the process, and caseworkers discuss openness issues extensively with birth parents. Please feel free to call us with your concerns about this issue, or attend our class #3 (see schedule) which addresses openness.
Q. What if the birth mother wants her baby back?
A. CAS State licensed social workers provide extensive counseling to birth parents, and make every effort to ensure they make an informed decision with which they are comfortable. A birth mother may sign relinquishment papers 24 hours after the child's birth. This relinquishment is final and irrevocable upon her signature. Utah law does not allow a period of time in which the birth mother may "change her mind."
Q. What about the birth father?
A. According to Utah law, the birth father has the sole responsibility for protecting his rights as a father. Unless married to the birth mother, the birth father does not have to sign relinquishment. CAS respects the rights of birth fathers, and tries to involve the birth father whenever possible as permitted by the birth mother. We go to great lengths to ensure that laws regarding birth fathers are followed, and consult with our legal counsel on issues that may be out of the ordinary.
Q. Do we pay for the birth mother’s expenses?
A. CAS will pay up to $2,000.00 of birth parent expenses. Adoptive families will be responsible for any expense over this amount. CAS will inform the adoptive applicant of the approximate expenses that may be incurred prior to their profile being shown to the birth parents.
Q. What do the service fees cover?
A. CAS is a non-profit agency. The service fees paid by adoptive applicants are for services rendered to the adoptive applicants, such as education and support, as well as ensuring that the child is legally free for adoption. Adoption service fees are a major source of the agency’s income, which covers the operational expenses of the agency as well as assistance to birth parents. Since adoptions through this agency can only occur as a result of our providing pregnancy options counseling, adoption service fees assist in underwriting the cost of providing this service to all clients.
A. Adoption-related expenses are deductible on Utah State taxes, and tax credits are available on Federal taxes (IRS form 8839). Consult your accountant for current, detailed information.
Q. Can we get more adoption information from you without an obligation to adopt through CAS?
A. Yes. We offer free adoption education courses or you may speak with a CAS caseworker or the Clinical Director at orientation.