(a) We must receive your signed adoption assistance agreement before you finalize the adoption. After you finalize the adoption, you can get reimbursement from us for your nonrecurring expenses. These expenses are defined as reasonable and necessary adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees, and "other expenses" that are directly related to the legal adoption of your child.
(b) Other expenses include the costs of adoption incurred by you or by someone else who you must reimburse. Examples of these expenses, when necessary to complete the adoption process, include the adoption home study, health and psychological examinations, supervision of the adoptive placement, transportation and reasonable costs of lodging and food for you or your child.
(c) We must receive your claim for reimbursement no later than 18 months after the adoption is finalized. A claim for reimbursement received later than 18 months after the adoption is finalized may be referred to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts for processing as a miscellaneous claim. If your right to reimbursement is authorized by a DFPS hearing order after the adoption is final, we must receive your claim as soon as possible.
(d) You must submit your receipts or other proof of payment, such as cancelled checks, and a certified copy of the Decree of Adoption. You are reimbursed only for expenses actually incurred that are not reimbursable by a third party. For adoption assistance agreements signed prior to August 1, 2012, the maximum amount that you can receive as reimbursement for nonrecurring expenses is $1500 per child. For adoption assistance agreements signed on or after August 1, 2012, the maximum amount that you can receive as reimbursement for nonrecurring expenses is $1200 per child.

Source Note: The provisions of this §700.850 adopted to be effective July 12, 2001, 26 TexReg 5061; amended to be effective September 1, 2007, 32 TexReg 5388; amended to be effective March 1, 2010, 35 TexReg 875; amended to be effective June 1, 2012, 37 TexReg 3738; amended to be effective January 19, 2017, 42 TexReg 84