b'FAMILYTHE COST OF Adoption disclosureBUILDING A FAMILYrecords have been Financially, the decision to become a opened by the parent is no small matter. Apart from the diapers, cribs, car seats and teddy provinces, so openbears required by any child, there are additional costs for couples who dont adoptions are whathave the option to conceive naturally.adoption looks like inIn Canada, if you want to pursue egg donation and surrogacy, usually Canada now you could expect to pay in the range - CATHY MURPHYof $70,000 to $110,000, says Ellen ADOPTION COUNCIL OF CANADA Embury, partner with Carbert Waite LLP. (In terms of surrogacy, couples cannot pay someone to have their baby, have been opened by the provinces, so openneed to work with a reputable internationalbut they can cover their pregnancy adoptions are what adoption looks like inadoption agency to work through the detailsexpenses.) Sperm donation costs are Canada now, states Murphy. and understand all their options. astronomically lower, because thereThe second significant social shift is ais no involvement of social- stronger focus on the interests of the child.OTHER OPTIONS service agencies.We really have to look at the best interestsOutside of adoption, female same-sex of children and youth, Murphy says. Werecouples have the relatively easy choice ofIf youre adopting through the child looking for people for children and youth,sperm donationeither from a friend or anwelfare system, there is no cost, but and not youth and children for people. agency. Easy from a physical perspective,most families make a donation to the While the system has shifted to normalizebut less so from a legal one. The legalChildrens Aid Foundation. There may same-sex adoption in Canada, the sameramifications can be complex, especiallyalso be costs associated with therapy, cannot be said on the international front.when it comes to parental rights. Manyso looking at your benefits is really International adoption is the option leastprovinces have a regulation that if theimportant, says Cathy Murphy of the open to queer couplesespecially if they aremethod of sperm donation is other thanAdoption Council of Canada.intent on adopting jointly. The general rule ofsexual intercourse, there is no assumption ofWith a private domestic adoption, thumb is that countries that dont recognizeparental rights, explains Embury.using a licensed agency or a lawyer, the same-sex marriage will not permit same- cost is $25,000 to $30,000, says Murphy. sex parents to adopt. An example wouldFor that reason, Embury recommends be China, Murphy says. Single parentsseeking out sound legal advice and discussingTheres a cost of $35,000 to $70,000 for have always been able to adopt from China,all future expectations clearly. Talks shouldinternational adoptions, depending on but not same-sex couples. This is the casetake into consideration whether the spermhow long you have to live in the childs with most Asian countries, including Southdonor or their family members will havecountry; sometimes you have to stay for Korea, Thailand and India. any relationship with the child and whetherquite a while. For in-vitro fertilization, Countries that currently allow gaythe child will be told the truth about theirit costs $5,000 to $7,000 per treatment. adoption from foreigners include Colombiaparentage. It is wise to enshrine theseOften multiple attempts are needed.and Brazil, however regulations changediscussions in a comprehensiveregularly. Couples interested in this optiondonor agreement.12| QBiz CANADA | Issue 2 2021'