1(1) 2When the adoption entity is an agency, fees may be assessed if they are approved by the department within the process of licensing the agency and if they are for:32(a) 33Foster care expenses;
36(b) 37Preplacement and postplacement social services; and
43(c) 44Agency facility and administrative costs.
49(2) 50The following fees, costs, and expenses may be assessed by the adoption entity or paid by the adoption entity on behalf of the prospective adoptive parents:76(a) 77Reasonable living expenses of the birth mother which the birth mother is unable to pay due to unemployment, underemployment, or disability. Reasonable living expenses are rent, utilities, basic telephone service, food, toiletries, necessary clothing, transportation, insurance, and expenses found by the court to be necessary for the health and well-being of the birth mother and the unborn child. Such expenses may be paid during the pregnancy and for a period of up to 6 weeks postpartum.
153(b) 154Reasonable and necessary medical expenses. Such expenses may be paid during the pregnancy and for a period of up to 6 weeks postpartum.
177(c) 178Expenses necessary to comply with the requirements of this chapter, including, but not limited to, service of process under s. 19863.088, 199investigator fees, a diligent search under s. 20663.088, 207a preliminary home study under s. 21363.092, 214and a final home investigation under s. 22163.125222. 223(d) 224Court filing expenses, court costs, and other litigation expenses and birth certificate and medical record expenses.
249(f) 250The following professional fees:2541. 255A reasonable hourly fee or flat fee necessary to provide legal representation to the adoptive parents or adoption entity in a proceeding filed under this chapter.
2812. 282A reasonable hourly fee or flat fee for contact with the parent related to the adoption. In determining a reasonable hourly fee under this subparagraph, the court must consider if the tasks done were clerical or of such a nature that the matter could have been handled by support staff at a lesser rate than the rate for legal representation charged under subparagraph 1. Such tasks include, but need not be limited to, transportation, transmitting funds, arranging appointments, and securing accommodations.
3633. 364A reasonable hourly fee for counseling services provided to a parent or a prospective adoptive parent by a psychologist licensed under chapter 490 or a clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or mental health counselor licensed under chapter 491, or a counselor who is employed by an adoption entity accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services for Children and Families to provide pregnancy counseling and supportive services.
433(3) 434Approval of the court is not required until the total of amounts permitted under subsection (2) exceeds:451(a) 452$5,000 in legal or other fees;
459(b) 460$800 in court costs; or
465(c) 466$5,000 in reasonable and necessary living and medical expenses.
508(5) 509The following fees, costs, and expenses are prohibited:517(a) 518Any fee or expense that constitutes payment for locating a minor for adoption.
531(b) 532Any payment which is not itemized and documented on the affidavit filed under s. 54663.132547. 548(c) 549Any fee on the affidavit which does not specify the service that was provided and for which the fee is being charged, such as a fee for facilitation, acquisition, or other similar service, or which does not identify the date the service was provided, the time required to provide the service, the person or entity providing the service, and the hourly fee charged.
