Thinking of adopting? Or have you adopted and just found out that you may be entitled to a reimbursement for some of your costs? Well, the Defense Authorization Adoption reimbursement program may be for you. It allows and provides for reimbursement of the costs and fees that you may encounter when you adopt a child. If the child is not yet eighteen years old, and you meet certain rules, you may be eligible for a dedicated reimbursement of up to two thousand dollars per child adopted, not to exceed a five thousand per family total per year.
Federal law allows for such a reimbursement, up to the limits provided for in the law. In general to qualify for such a reimbursement the adoption in question must meet certain requirements. Preparation and the adoption itself must have occurred by an approved agency of adoption, or a source that is approved to place children by local and state laws. For a reimbursement for adoption to be considered, the Servicemember must have:
-Been on active duty for at least one hundred eighty days.
-Must have the adoption finalized.
-Must submit within a calendar year for the final adoption date, and before the final discharge of the Servicemember from active duty.
Obtain a DD form 2675 (Reimbursement for Adoption Expense Request form). This form is available online via the Internet or can be obtained at your service’s personnel office. For children that are adopted in the United States the final court order should be attached, a photocopy will do just fine. For adoptions that take place outside the United States, a photocopy of the translated adoption decree along with citizenship proof of status for each child. Any of the following can be used to establish citizenship:
-Front and back photocopy of a Resident Permanent Alien Green Card.
-A letter from Immigration and Naturalization that affirms the status of the adoption of the child.
-A certificate of Citizenship.
-A copy of the information page from a U.S. Passport.
Proof of expenditures is required, such as canceled checks or receipts, which substantiate the expenses that are authorized.  If receipts are from a foreign country, then they must list the U.S. Currency equivalent. Qualifying Expenses for Adoption include: Private and public agency fees, placement fees, court costs and legal fees, medical and dental expenses, and other miscellaneous fees as approved. Other fees are eligible to be reimbursed possibly on a case-by-case basis.
