Is it legal to pay a birth mother or family for adoption?

In Hawaii, it is not legal to pay a birth mother or family in exchange for a child’s adoption. According to Hawaii adoption law, any payments made for the adoption process must be made to a licensed adoption agency, and are only accepted for “reasonable and customary fees for the provision of medical or legal services” related to the adoption. These fees are generally set out in a pre-adoption agreement and must be approved by the court before the adoption is finalized. In addition to this, as per Hawaii law, any payments accepted in an adoption must be “for the betterment or welfare of the adoptee”, and must not be considered as payments or compensation for the child. Furthermore, any payments made directly to the birth family must be approved by the court and are only permitted to be given to cover costs associated with the adoption, such as medical expenses, counseling services, and travel costs. It is important to note that Hawaii laws prohibiting the buying and selling of children are in place to protect the rights of both the child and the birth family, and it is always best to consult a licensed adoption agency or lawyer when considering adoption in the state of Hawaii.

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Is it legal to pay a birth mother or family for adoption?

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