14-15.1-06. Fees and charges

14-15.1-06. Fees and charges Reasonable fees may be charged for professional services and living expenses if reflected in a report of agreements and disbursements filed under this chapter and approved by the court. The fees may not be contingent upon placement of the child for adoption, consent to adoption, or cooperation in the completion of adoption. "Reasonable fees" may include: 1. Preplacement counseling, adoption assessment, placement of the child, foster care, or other preadoption services, which must be paid directly to the provider of the services; 2. Legal fees relating to the petition for relinquishment or adoption, which must be paid directly to the provider of the services; 3. Medical expenses relating to prenatal care and the birth of the child, which are not already covered by health insurance; 4. Expenses for transportation, meals, and lodging incurred for placement of the child or in order to receive counseling, legal, or medical services related to the pregnancy, birth, or placement; and 5. Living expenses of the birth mother which are needed to maintain an adequate standard of living, which the birth mother is unable to otherwise maintain because of loss of income or other support resulting from pregnancy. Payments may cover expenses incurred during the pregnancy-related incapacity but not for a period longer than six weeks following the delivery unless the court determines within the six-week period that the birth mother is unable to be employed due to physical limitations relating to the birth of the child. Living expenses do not include expenses for lost wages, gifts, educational expenses, vacations, or other similar expenses of a birth mother.