1. Domestic Adoption (intrastate—within the Commonwealth of Virginia)
It is expected that adoptive parents will pay the costs associated with this service, scaled to their income. The fee is determined by salaries of both husband and wife as well as other sources of income, i.e., interest, bonuses, etc. It is determined by the gross annual income figure on their most current federal tax return. In determining the fee, an income of $25,000 is a fee of $3,000. If their yearly income is more than half way to the next bracket, they pay the higher fee. For example, if a client earns $27,500 or above, they move to the next level of the scale. Fees for the rest of the scale are determined in a like manner to a maximum of $20,000. There is a $200 non-refundable application fee. For convenience of adoptive parents, the fee is paid in four installments:
(1) At the initial interview
(2) At placement of a child
(3) At conclusion of the supervisory period
If the home study is discontinued or not approved, the initial fee will be refunded, minus the time expended (this time will be charged at $80.00 per hour).
| Joint Salary | Fee |
| $25,000 | $3,000 |
| 30,000 | 4,000 |
| 35,000 | 5,000 |
| 40,000 | 6,000 |
| 45,000 | 7,000 |
| 50,000 | 8,000 |
| 55,000 | 9,000 |
| 60,000 | 10,000 |
| 65,000 | 11,000 |
| 70,000 | 12,000 |
| 75,000 | 13,000 |
| 80,000 | 14,000 |
| 85,000 | 15,000 |
| 90,000 | 16,000 |
| 95,000 | 17,000 |
| 100,000 | 18,000 |
| 105,000 | 19,000 |
| 100,000+ | 20,000 |
2. Minority and Special-Needs Adoption
Catholic Charities places some children each year who are classified as "special needs" children because they have medical problems, or their birth parents abused drugs or alcohol or were mentally ill. We also have African-American and bi‑racial children who are available for adoptive placement. We are always interested to speak to families who may be a resource to these children.
FEES: The services provided in these adoptions are the same as listed above for our regular domestic program. However, as of July 1, 1989, an adoption subsidy is available through the state of Virginia to special-needs children in the care of licensed child-placing agencies. While our costs for special needs and minority adoptions are the same as our domestic program, we are willing to be very flexible in assessing fees for this program. Our primary goal is to find a loving and stable home for each child entrusted to us.
3. International and Interstate Adoptions
For over twenty years now, Catholic Charities has provided home studies for families wishing to adopt abroad or from another state. It has been our policy to complete a home study that is then forwarded to the agency who has agreed to place the child. Over the years, we have completed home studies for adoptions from Latin America, Asia, and Europe, as well as agencies in many other states. We do not, ourselves, have a direct source of children in these countries or from other states. However, we are familiar with the various agencies and can assist you with information on how to make contact with an agency. In addition to completing the home study, Catholic Charities offers post-placement supervision, assistance with reporting to the placing agency and the Virginia Intercountry/Interstate Placement Unit, and some assistance with reports needed to finalize the adoption. However, most families do retain their own attorney to assist with filing the legal documents around finalization.
Couples who apply under this program need to familiarize themselves with the eligibility requirements of the agency with whom they hope to work as these are crucial in determining a placement. Be sure that the agency you plan to use will accept a home study from the Virginia agency that you choose. The age of the applicants will be considered in relation to the age of the child requested. A couple must be in reasonably good health and must have been married for at least two years (waivers may be considered in special circumstances). The requirements of our domestic program regarding age, religion, etc., do not apply.
FEES: There is a non-refundable application fee of $100. Catholic Charities charges $1,300 for an international and $1,300 for an interstate adoption home study to be paid at the time of the first interview. In addition, there is a $80.00 an hour charge for post-placement supervision, reporting to the placing agency and Virginia Intercountry/Interstate Adoption unit, and reporting to the Court for purposes of legalization. Rush Home Study fee: $300.
For families applying for a second home study when Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington completed the first study, the cost is $825 for international and $775 for interstate home studies, payable at the first interview. This cost is lower because the process is abbreviated.
Many of the calls we have had for Parental Placements, have involved Birth parents in another state. This complicates an already complex situation. One word of caution: In an interstate placement, you must comply with the laws of Virginia, as well as the laws of the other state. It is essential that you understand the Virginia law, as well as the laws of the state where the birth mother is residing. You may get information on these issues from the Interstate Compact Administrator in a given state. In Virginia, you may call Ms. Rosemarie Keith at 1‑804‑692-1270. Please also take the time to call the Interstate Compact Administrator, Department of Social Services, in the state of the birth mother's residence. We have seen situations where families have jeopardized a placement by not fully understanding the laws of both states. Please take the time to do your homework early in the process as it can save some anxious times later on and keep you within the law.
4. Parental Placement Adoptions
Catholic Charities offers service under the parental placement law in Virginia. The law contains the following requirements:
Birth parents (1) must be advised of alternatives to adoption and consider plans for their child, (2) may choose a family with whom they wish to place their child, (3)must attend a simultaneous meeting with the prospective adoptive couple and agency worker where background information is exchanged, and (4) must appear at a custody hearing in Juvenile Court. Parental placements are essentially open adoptions as the law calls for the exchange of identifying information. Some of these requirements may be waived if birth parents are closely related to the prospective adoptive family as defined in the Virginia Code.
Adoptive Parents (1) must be advised of alternatives to this adoptive placement, and (2) must complete an adoption home study before approaching the Juvenile Court for guardianship of a child. In parental placements, (3) children do not come into the custody of the agency but remain in the legal custody of birth parents until such time as they are legally adopted. This entails some legal risk to the family for many months.
In a parental placement, the agency completes a home study where we make a recommendation to the judge about a prospective placement; we do not approve or deny a home study as in our Domestic, Minority, Special Needs, International, and Interstate Programs. The agency has less responsibility in a parental placement as we never have legal custody of the child. Our agency might consider a request for foster care in a parental placement, but custody would rest with the birth parents with our agency providing temporary boarding care.
FEES: There is a non-refundable application fee of $100. Catholic Charities is charging $1,300 for a parental placement home study, to be paid at time of initial interview. In addition, we charge $80.00 an hour for additional service to birth parents, for the simultaneous interview, post placement supervisory visits (portal to portal), writing Court reports, facilitating interstate placements, and consulting with your attorney on other requirements of this law. We are requesting that a $1,400 retainer be paid at the time the birth mother is located; we will deduct the above charges from the retainer. Additional costs, if any, will be billed monthly. Rush Home Study fee: $300 additional.
For families applying for a second home study when Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington completed the first study, the cost is $775 payable at the first interview. This cost is lower because the process is abbreviated. There would still be a retainer of $1,400.
5. Note: It is the policy of Catholic Charities that the agency neither solicits nor accepts contributions from adoptive applicants during the period of application or before finalization of the adoption. We attempt to monitor our Fundraising lists with this in mind. If you inadvertently receive a Fundraising request from us while your record is open, please disregard our appeal.
