2nd-Parent Adoption - Page 2

[megincl]

Jwebbal,

Thanks for the super-helpful advice.

Our adoption cost $1900...don't know if it's worth going back to amend, but with the next one I'll remember to claim it!

thanks,
megin

[Jwebbal]

One other thing, tax people aren't all that educated on issues for gays and lesbians when it comes to our situations. We don't fit so neatly into IRS stuff.

[Jwebbal]

For $1900 I would amend my return!

[mumm]

So the birth certificate is not the end all-be all in terms of who the parents are? What is? I've always brought their birth certificate along when we travel out of the US, along with their passports. I thought that was covering all the bases in case something should happen to one of us or we have trouble at the check points. Should I also be carrying their adoption paperwork (which is tucked away who knows where!)


Sorry to get off topic from the SPA. :

[Jwebbal]

yep, order of adoption is the non-bio moms legal proof of parentage. Make a copy, and have her keep it with her at all times. Especially when traveling out of state or out of the country, also, whenever something happens never say you are the child's other mother, just say I am the child's mother, don't give them an inch to question you being a parent to the child.

[Diane B]

Originally Posted by megincl

I realize this thread has veered off in the tax direction...but I hope it's okay to post another tax-related question (as I scramble for deductions here). We did a 2nd parent adoption for DS about two years ago. I didn't claim it because DW claims him as a dependent because she earns more than me (I'm in grad school). Since I don't claim DS, how could I use the adoption credit? And if I could, somehow, can I take it now since I haven't taken it in the past?megin

You absolutely can claim the adoption credit. There is a tax form that you sign that basically says you are a legal parent, but not claiming the child as a dependent. My partner does her taxes with Turbo Tax, and it came up in the list of questions. I think it's designed for straight, non-custodial parent situations. I think you can still take the credit even if you didn't in the past, but you should check with a tax person on this. I know you can go back and ammend your previous returns for at least 2 years, so maybe you could take it that way.

[theMword]

Oh, wow, ok thanks everyone. Nice to have a little discussion of the tax info, too. Our SPA is going to be a bit spendier than the MA ones, but we will get it back with the taxes, so all's well that ends well (I just wish a little less $$ upfront--we wrote a big check today!). We're funding it with this year's tax refunds, so it's all just a little circular.
The social worker was really nice on the phone, and I'm not actually too worried. We live in a very tiny apartment and dd does not have her own room. She doesn't need one by NYS law, so that's not an issue. We have a pack-n-play for her, but it's in our closet--we didn't use it and don't have the floor space uselessness! The SW will basically see the entire apartment just by sitting in our living room. I think the SW should be used to families in small spaces though, since this is common in NYC.
Megin--I'd definitely file an amended return.
Thanks again, everyone.

[knittinanny]

Has anyone done a SPA in the UK? I'm concerned about things that are legal in the UK not holding legal weight once we move back home to the US. For instance, I'm not sure if here we'll even need a SPA since my partner and I are legally partnered, but I know that won't hold up in the USA.

[Henry's Mom]

I have a tax question too, should we start a tax thread?!
I have always had the income and have claimed the kids- even before our spa, this year dp has some income, can we each claim one child?