Bill Aims To Block Excessive Adoption Fees

Bill Aims To Block Excessive Adoption Fees
Families Have Had To Buy Cars, TVs To Get Children
POSTED: 8:34 pm CST January 14, 2009
UPDATED: 8:39 pm CST January 14, 2009

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma lawmakers are considering a proposal to protect couples trying to adopt children from being hit with excessive charges and fees.
A grand jury report two years ago found that some adoptive parents were being forced to pay for cars, traffic tickets and televisions, all disguised as "adoption costs."
Oklahoma Rep. Jason Nelson said he wants to stop the "silent auctions" where attorneys have multiple families "bidding" for one child.
Nelson's bill would also outlaw "district shopping," and require adoptions to happen either where the birth mother or adoptive parents live.
He also said he wants all adoption fees to be made public.
"One of the things I want to do with my legislation is to make all the fees related to adoption, whether it's a social service fee, attorney fee, a birth mother expense, all public record," Nelson said. He said the practice would hold lawyers who overcharge accountable.
Nelson said most of his legislation aims at things that attorneys do. Adoption agencies are already regulated by the Department of Human Services.
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