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

In Oklahoma, it is illegal to pay a birth mother or family for adoption. This is known as buying or selling of a child, which is a felony in Oklahoma and is punishable by up to a 10-year prison sentence in addition to a fine of up to $10,000. The Constitution of Oklahoma also guarantees the right of the natural parents to keep their children unless a court has determined that it is in the child’s best interest to be adopted. Therefore, the court must find that adoption is in the best interest of the child and not a result of a “payment” to the birth mother or family. However, birth parents can receive reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses related to the adoption. These expenses can include pregnancy-related medical costs and expenses related to the adoption process such as legal fees, counseling, or home visits. The adoptive parents are in charge of paying these expenses. In conclusion, it is not legal to pay a birth mother or family for adoption in Oklahoma, but the adoptive parents can pay for the reasonable and necessary expenses related to the adoption.

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

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