Governed by federal law, the DoD Adoption Reimbursement Program authorizes reimbursement to service members for certain expenses associated with the adoption of infants or children.

Governed by federal law, the DoD Adoption Reimbursement Program authorizes reimbursement to service members for certain expenses associated with the adoption of infants or children.

Generally, service members must meet the following criteria to be eligible to receive adoption reimbursement:

• be on active duty for at least 180 days
• adopt a child who is under the age of eighteen
• adopt a child through a qualified adoption agency or other source authorized to place children for adoption under state and local laws
• have the adoption finalized
• be on active duty when the adoption is finalized
• submit a claim within one year of the final adoption and before the service member is discharged from the military

Generally, service members must meet the following criteria to be eligible to receive adoption reimbursement:

• be on active duty for at least 180 days
• adopt a child who is under the age of eighteen
• adopt a child through a qualified adoption agency or other source authorized to place children for adoption under state and local laws
• have the adoption finalized
• be on active duty when the adoption is finalized
• submit a claim within one year of the final adoption and before the service member is discharged from the military

Yes, but only if the National Guard or Reserve service member served on active duty continuously for at least 180 days.

Yes, but only if the National Guard or Reserve service member served on active duty continuously for at least 180 days.

The DoD defines a "qualified adoption agency" as either:

• a state or local government agency with responsibility under state or local law for child placement through adoption;
• a nonprofit, voluntary adoption agency that is authorized by state or local law to place children for adoption;
• any other source authorized by a state to provide adoption placement if the adoption is supervised by a court under state or local law; or
• a foreign government or an agency authorized by a foreign government to place children for adoption in any case in which the adopted child is entitled to automatic citizenship or a certificate of citizenship has been issued for such child.

The DoD defines a "qualified adoption agency" as either:

• a state or local government agency with responsibility under state or local law for child placement through adoption;
• a nonprofit, voluntary adoption agency that is authorized by state or local law to place children for adoption;
• any other source authorized by a state to provide adoption placement if the adoption is supervised by a court under state or local law; or
• a foreign government or an agency authorized by a foreign government to place children for adoption in any case in which the adopted child is entitled to automatic citizenship or a certificate of citizenship has been issued for such child.

Not all expenses are reimbursable. Generally, reimbursement is available for "reasonable and necessary" expenses:

• public and private adoption agency fees, including fees charged by an agency in a foreign country
• placement fees, including fees charged adoptive parents for counseling
• legal fees, including court fees, for services that are unavailable to a member of the military
• medical expenses, including hospital expenses of the biological mother of the child to be adopted and of a newborn infant to be adopted, medical care given to the adoptive child before the adoption, and physical examinations for the biological mother of the child to be adopted
• temporary foster care charges when payment of such charges is required to be made before the adoptive child's placement

"Reasonable and necessary" fees do not include items such as travel costs incurred for the adoption or any costs associated with an adoption arranged in violation of federal, state, or local laws.

Not all expenses are reimbursable. Generally, reimbursement is available for "reasonable and necessary" expenses:

• public and private adoption agency fees, including fees charged by an agency in a foreign country
• placement fees, including fees charged adoptive parents for counseling
• legal fees, including court fees, for services that are unavailable to a member of the military
• medical expenses, including hospital expenses of the biological mother of the child to be adopted and of a newborn infant to be adopted, medical care given to the adoptive child before the adoption, and physical examinations for the biological mother of the child to be adopted
• temporary foster care charges when payment of such charges is required to be made before the adoptive child's placement

"Reasonable and necessary" fees do not include items such as travel costs incurred for the adoption or any costs associated with an adoption arranged in violation of federal, state, or local laws.

Yes. There is a limit per child and within a given year. Paragraph 4.1 of DoD Instruction 1341.09 provides the limits for adoption reimbursement.

Yes. There is a limit per child and within a given year. Paragraph 4.1 of DoD Instruction 1341.09 provides the limits for adoption reimbursement.

To submit a claim, service members must complete  DoD Form (DD Form) 2675, "Reimbursement Request for Adoption Expenses," September 2006 along with supporting documentation.

For children adopted in the United States, supporting documentation includes a copy of the court order showing that the adoption is final, receipts or canceled checks that substantiate authorized expenses, and proof that the adoption agency that arranged the adoption is a qualified agency. Proof that the agency is qualified entails either the placement agreement from the adoption agency or a letter from the adoption agency stating what services it provided for the adoption.

For foreign adoptions, service members must complete DD Form 2675 and submit copies of receipts or canceled checks, as well as proof of the qualifications of the adoption agency. If receipts are from a foreign country, service members will be required to convert the currency into United States dollars. Additionally, service members must provide a translated adoption decree and proof of United States citizenship status for the child. To prove citizenship status of the child, service members can provide any of the following:

• a copy of the front and back of the Permanent Resident Alien Card (green card) showing the IR-3 code
• a letter from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services which states the status of the child's adoption
• a copy of the child's United States passport (page with personal information only)
• a copy of the child's Certificate of Citizenship

To submit a claim, service members must complete  DoD Form (DD Form) 2675, "Reimbursement Request for Adoption Expenses," September 2006 along with supporting documentation.

For children adopted in the United States, supporting documentation includes a copy of the court order showing that the adoption is final, receipts or canceled checks that substantiate authorized expenses, and proof that the adoption agency that arranged the adoption is a qualified agency. Proof that the agency is qualified entails either the placement agreement from the adoption agency or a letter from the adoption agency stating what services it provided for the adoption.

For foreign adoptions, service members must complete DD Form 2675 and submit copies of receipts or canceled checks, as well as proof of the qualifications of the adoption agency. If receipts are from a foreign country, service members will be required to convert the currency into United States dollars. Additionally, service members must provide a translated adoption decree and proof of United States citizenship status for the child. To prove citizenship status of the child, service members can provide any of the following:

• a copy of the front and back of the Permanent Resident Alien Card (green card) showing the IR-3 code
• a letter from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services which states the status of the child's adoption
• a copy of the child's United States passport (page with personal information only)
• a copy of the child's Certificate of Citizenship

Completed DD Form 2675 and supporting documentation should be submitted through the service member's servicing personnel activity. The personnel activity will review the reimbursement package for completeness and, if the request and documentation appear to be complete, the commanding officer will complete block thirty of the Form and return it to the servicing personnel activity. The servicing personnel activity will then forward the claim to the Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) for reimbursement.

Completed DD Form 2675 and supporting documentation should be submitted through the service member's servicing personnel activity. The personnel activity will review the reimbursement package for completeness and, if the request and documentation appear to be complete, the commanding officer will complete block thirty of the Form and return it to the servicing personnel activity. The servicing personnel activity will then forward the claim to the Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) for reimbursement.

Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) will issue reimbursement by electronic funds transfer (EFT) to the service member’s account within thirty days of receipt of a properly prepared and supported claim package. Service members without an EFT account must submit a request for EFT waiver to receive a check.

Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) will issue reimbursement by electronic funds transfer (EFT) to the service member’s account within thirty days of receipt of a properly prepared and supported claim package. Service members without an EFT account must submit a request for EFT waiver to receive a check.

Section 701 of Title 10, United States Code (10 USC §701) allows military leaders to authorize up to twenty-one days of non-chargeable leave for service members in a calendar year to be used in conjunction with an adoption on or after January 6, 2006.  As with any type of leave, this leave will be authorized if mission requirements and circumstances permit. This limit does not apply to each individual adoption; this is a calendar year annual limit. Service members adopting more than one child in a calendar year may be authorized up to a total of twenty-one days non-chargeable leave, not twenty-one days per adoption.

Section 701 of Title 10, United States Code (10 USC §701) allows military leaders to authorize up to twenty-one days of non-chargeable leave for service members in a calendar year to be used in conjunction with an adoption on or after January 6, 2006.  As with any type of leave, this leave will be authorized if mission requirements and circumstances permit. This limit does not apply to each individual adoption; this is a calendar year annual limit. Service members adopting more than one child in a calendar year may be authorized up to a total of twenty-one days non-chargeable leave, not twenty-one days per adoption.

To be eligible to be authorized leave, the service member must be eligible to receive reimbursement through the DoD Adoption Reimbursement Program. If the service member is eligible for reimbursement, he or she is eligible to be authorized leave under 10 USC §701. Additionally, to be eligible for this leave, the adoption must have been completed on or after January 6, 2006.

To be eligible to be authorized leave, the service member must be eligible to receive reimbursement through the DoD Adoption Reimbursement Program. If the service member is eligible for reimbursement, he or she is eligible to be authorized leave under 10 USC §701. Additionally, to be eligible for this leave, the adoption must have been completed on or after January 6, 2006.

No. Similar to the DoD Adoption Reimbursement Program with dual-military couples, only one service member in the couple is authorized this type of leave in conjunction with an adoption.

No. Similar to the DoD Adoption Reimbursement Program with dual-military couples, only one service member in the couple is authorized this type of leave in conjunction with an adoption.

No. Service members are not eligible for leave under the FMLA. Because service members are not eligible under FMLA, 10 USC §701 provides for this type of leave.

No. Service members are not eligible for leave under the FMLA. Because service members are not eligible under FMLA, 10 USC §701 provides for this type of leave.