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”):
Full Agency Services, including Networking, Counseling and Support,
Newsletter, Escrow Account Management, and, if applicable, Foster Care Services
Home Study
Home Study Update
Post-Placement Supervision
Legal Finalization
Post Placement Parenting Group
Facilitation of Post Placement Contact with Birth Family
In
exchange for the Services, the Adoptive Parent(s) 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. The Adoptive Parent(s) agree
to pay for all other expenses relating to the adoption, including birth parent
expenses as described on the Schedule of Fees and Services. The Adoptive Parent(s) understand and agree
that fees paid to Bright Futures are nonrefundable
except as set forth in the next sentence and in the Schedule of Fees and
Services. In the unlikely event that
Services can not be provided by Bright Futures for any reason (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 Services will be refunded to the Adoptive Parent(s). The Adoptive Parent(s) understand that the
Agency Fee is payment for the agency services described in the Schedule of Fees
and Services and that the Agency Fee is not refundable even if an adoption is
disrupted, the birth parent(s) choose not to carry out the adoption plan made for
their child, the Adoptive Parent(s) decide to accept a placement from another
agency, or the Adoptive Parents decide not to pursue adoption for any reason,
including pregnancy.
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 or an
equivalent adoption education program approved 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 the escrow account
maintained for that purpose by Bright Futures.
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 and agree that (a)
Bright Futures will not make any placement that it believes is not in the best
interests of the child; and (b) Bright
Futures will use its discretion about whether to continue to send out the
adoptive parent(s)’ family profile once a match with a pregnant women/couple
has been made.
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 your request, such as legal
finalization in
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
___________________________ ____________________________