The beginning of a new year is a great time to take a few moments to plan to make the most of the opportunities that will come. Below are some suggested resolutions to get you started:
Get Informed
Learn about all the many avenues available for growing your family. These include adoption from private agencies and through foster care, within the United States and internationally. If you struggle with infertility, you may consider options that include surrogacy, egg and sperm donation, and adoption. Some of these assisted reproductive technologies (ART) may utilize foreign fertility clinics or surrogates, and immigration issues may arise. There are many public and private entities that can assist in gathering this information, including an attorney, and public and private adoption agencies.
Get Prepared
Many prospective parents are not prepared for the costs associated with growing a family. Whether it is the costs of adoption or the cost of an ART procedure such as IVF, the costs of having and raising a child are important things to contemplate. Adoption from foster care carries few costs. Some public and private funding may be available to assist with private adoption costs. In addition, some employers provide adoption-related benefits. It is also important to protect your growing family if something happens to you and your partner: now is the time to make sure you and your partner have wills and powers-of-attorney.
Get Involved
For many potential parents, the internet is a great resource to connect with other families going through the same struggles. There are blogs, message boards, and chat rooms on all aspects of adoption and reproductive technology. Sharing your story and learning from others who have been through similar situations can be a powerful and inspirational tool. Before sharing your story, however, make sure you have decided whether you and your partner want to share private health and family-related information online. Additionally, be sensitive and smart about any reviews and/or comments you post online.
Take Action
While it is still early in the new year, and you have that extra motivation, do something proactive. Consider meeting with an attorney, agency or physician to discuss the options described above. A financial advisor can provide guidance to address the costs of growing your family, discuss possible tax benefits, or to set up a 529 college savings accounts for your children.
Regardless of the manner in which you seek to expand your family in 2015, it is helpful to have an attorney guide you in the process. The knowledgeable and experienced adoption and ART attorneys at KingSpry can advise you regarding your rights, responsibilities and opportunities in this ever-changing field.
heARTbeat is a publication of the KingSpry Adoption/ART Law Practice Group. It is meant to be informational and does not constitute legal advice.
