text: Adoption and the Military | Stateside Legal
  No. Laws about adoption are different from state to state.
  There are some laws that are common among most states and some federal regulations that may benefit service members during the adoption process. This fact sheet only covers what is most common.
  It is necessary to understand the adoption process and laws in your state. You will likely need to speak to an attorney about your particular circumstances. The Child Welfare Information Gateway is a good place to begin learning about the adoption process and the various state laws about adoption.
  Yes. It may be helpful to review the Factsheet for Families to learn more about the adoption process and help available to get through it.
  Generally, the DoD provides two main benefits to service members adopting an infant or child:
  To receive any money you must qualify for reimbursement and complete an adoption through a qualified adoption agency.* Installation service providers can help identify local qualified adoption agencies.
  * a qualified adoption agency is either a state or local government agency that has the responsibility by law for child placement or a nonprofit, voluntary agency authorized by state or local law to facilitate adoption and placement of children.
  For adoption of children in the United States:
  Provide documents that support the claim to the installation personnel office. Supporting documents may include:
  Receipts or cancelled checks that show authorized expenses, or
  For adoption of children outside the United States:
  The adoption decree (translated if not in English), or
  A copy of the front and back of the Permanent Resident Alien Card (green card) showing the IR-3 code,
  A letter from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services which states the status of the child's adoption,