Adoption Services and
Responsibility Agreement
This Agreement is between Bright Futures Adoption Center, Inc., a
________________________________________________________________________
Please Print Name(s) of Adoptive Parent(s)
________________________________________________________________________
Please Print Address of Adoptive Parent(s)
Adoption Services
The Adoptive Parent(s) wish to obtain from Bright Futures, and Bright Futures shall provide, the adoption services specified below and described in more detail on the Schedule of Fees and Services attached to this Agreement and included as a part of this Agreement (all services checked will be referred to collectively as the “Services”):
Home Study
Home Study Update
Post Placement Supervision
Post Placement Parenting Group
Legal Finalization
In exchange for the Services, the Adoptive Parents agree to pay to Bright Futures the amount for the Services indicated in the Schedule of Fees and Services. Payment for all Services shall be made by the Adoptive Parent(s) as indicated in the Schedule of Fees and Services. Payment for any direct costs incurred by Bright Futures in connection with work done for the Adoptive Parents, such as telephone and fax charges, overnight courier or other expedited mail service, notarization charges, mileage (at the federal rate) and parking shall be due upon invoice by Bright Futures. The Adoptive Parent(s) understand and agree that fees paid to Bright Futures are nonrefundable except as indicated in the Schedule of Fees and Services.
The Adoptive Parent(s) understand and agree that this is not an agreement for the assignment or placement of a child and that assignment or placement of a child will be covered by a direct agreement between the Adoptive Parent(s) and their child-placing agency. The Adoptive Parent(s) understand that fees related to the assignment or placement of a child, including placement fees, birth parent expenses and fees of other adoption professionals or out-of-state agencies, will be as indicated in the agreement with the child-placing agency.
Adoptive
Parent Responsibilities
The Adoptive Parent(s) will deliver to Bright Futures all documentation and information requested by Bright Futures and will cooperate with Bright Futures to make the provision of Services as expeditious as possible.
The Adoptive Parent(s) acknowledge that prior
to approval of their home study, they must participate in the then-current
adoption education program for pre-adoptive parents offered by Bright
Futures. All couples will be asked to
participate in at least 2 two-hour
trainings in addition to the home study visits.
If the Adoptive Parent(s) are considering a transracial placement,
additional training will be required.
The Adoptive Parent(s) will not pay money directly to any birth parent either during or after pregnancy for any reason. If a birth parent requires financial assistance of any sort, such financial assistance may be provided by the Adoptive Parent(s), as permitted by applicable law, through an escrow account maintained for that purpose by the child-placing agency.
The Adoptive Parent(s) agree to assume responsibility for the adoptive placement the Adoptive Parent(s) are pursuing and understand and agree that he/she/they are pursuing this adoption at their own risk. The Adoptive Parent(s) will not hold Bright Futures liable for any claims relating to the adoption that are not related to the Services actually provided by Bright Futures. In no event will Bright Futures be liable for any amount in excess of the amount paid by the Adoptive Parent(s) to Bright Futures.
Once a child is placed in the Adoptive Parent(s)’ home for the purpose of adoption, the Adoptive Parent(s) agree to assume all financial responsibility for the child, including, but not limited to, medical expenses of the child (even if the child’s condition was not present or diagnosed at the time of placement). In the unlikely event that the child must be removed from the Adoptive Parent(s)’ home prior to legal finalization of the adoption, the Adoptive Parent(s) agree to assume the costs of the child’s care until financial responsibility is assumed by other persons or another organization.
General
Terms
The Adoptive Parent(s) understand that adoption involves complex legal considerations and that, although Bright Futures’ attorney is happy to provide legal services initiated at the Adoptive Parent(s)’ request, such as legal finalization in Massachusetts, Bright Futures’ attorney represents the interests of Bright Futures. In certain situations, the Adoptive Parent(s)’ interest may differ from those of Bright Futures and the Adoptive Parent(s) may wish to retain separate legal counsel.
This
Agreement shall be governed by the substantive laws of the
I/We, the Adoptive Parent(s), have read, understand and agree to abide by the terms of this Agreement.
ADOPTIVE PARENT(S): BRIGHT FUTURES
ADOPTION CENTER, INC.
___________________________ ____________________________
Signature Signature
___________________________ ____________________________
Signature Title
___________________________ ____________________________
Date Date
Schedule of Fees and
Services
Set forth below is Bright
Futures’ Schedule of Fees and Services for services required to be performed in
Initial
Educational Consultation $250
The first step in becoming a client of Bright Futures is to
participate in a two-hour educational consultation. During the consultation, we will talk with
you about why you have decided to build your family through adoption, your
specific needs, desires and concerns about adoption, and what type of adoption
is right for you. We will also explain
the services offered by Bright Futures, our policies and procedures and how you
can begin networking to find a pregnant woman/couple. In order to make the consultation as
productive as possible, Bright Futures requests that all adopting parents
complete Bright Futures’ Adoptive Parent Application and Intake Form and submit
it to Bright Futures at least one week prior to the consultation, together with
payment of the consultation fee.
Home Study $1,320
– 2,200
In order to be eligible
to adopt a baby, an adoptive couple living in
Post-placement Services $750
– 1,250
For adoptive parents residing in
Legal Finalization $720
– 1,200+
For adoptive parents who reside in Massachusetts, Bright
Futures will provide those legal services necessary to finalize the adoption,
including filing the adoption petition in the Probate and Family Court and
attending the finalization hearing. The
fee for legal finalization ranges from $720 – 1,200 (See Sliding Scale below)
for an average finalization. In the
event that a legal finalization takes more than ten hours of legal time,
adoptive parents will be charged at the rate of $125 an hour.
Optional
Services
6
Month Post-Placement Parenting Group $100.00
The Post-Placement Parenting Group meets once a
month for six months and is designed specially for adoptive parents and their
babies. The Group focuses on topics of
interest to new adoptive parents and the exact agenda for each six-month
session varies depending on the specific interests of each group of
parents. The topics that might be
covered include infant care and other topics typically covered in a first-time
parenting group (feeding, sleeping, playing with your infant etc), your
adoption stories, talking to your child, family and friends about adoption,
creating a “life” book for your child, and managing your relationship with your
child’s birth family. The Group will
provide support as you adjust to parenting and, specifically to adoptive
parenting, and an opportunity to meet other adoptive families.
Payment of Agency Fee and Other Fees
Home Study Fee: The Home Study Fee is due in full on the date that you sign the Adoption Services and Responsibility Agreement and check the box indicating that you wish to have Bright Futures perform your home study assessment.
Post Placement & Legal Finalization Fees: Payment for Post Placement and Legal Finalization services
shall be due and payable prior to provision of such services by Bright
Futures.
Optional Services:
Payment
for the Post Placement Parenting Group will be due prior to participation in
the program.
Refund Policy
In the unlikely event that Bright Futures is unable to provide any Service for any reason, other than due to a breach of the Adoption Services and Responsibility Agreement by the Adoptive Parents, (for example, Bright Futures’ attorney can not provide legal finalization services because of a conflict of interest), that portion of fees paid by the Adoptive Parent(s) for the unperformed Service will be refunded to the Adoptive Parent(s). In the event that Bright Futures begins to perform any Service requested by the Adoptive Parent(s) and is unable to complete such Service, Bright Futures will have the option of either (i) making alternate arrangements for the completion of the Service, or (ii) refunding a portion of the fee paid by the Adoptive Parent(s) for the Service that is equal to the fee paid by the Adoptive Parent(s) for the Service less the number of hours worked by Bright Futures in performing the Service multiplied by Bright Futures’ hourly rate of $125.
Sliding
Fee Scale Based on Gross Income
|
Annual Gross Income |
Home Study Only |
Home Study Update |
Post Placement |
Legal Finalization |
|
Up to $39,000 |
$1,320 |
$500 |
$750 |
$720 |
|
$40,000 – 49,999 |
$1,540 |
$525 |
$875 |
$840 |
|
$50,000 – 59,999 |
$1,760 |
$550 |
$1,000 |
$960 |
|
$60,000 – 79,999 |
$1,980 |
$575 |
$1,125 |
$1,080 |
|
Over $80,000 |
$2,200 |
$600 |
$1,250 |
$1,200 |