From far away...into our heart...

A Licensed Child Placing Agency & Home Study Provider

The Adoption & Family Support Center, LLC, 709 Hills Blvd., Port Orange, Florida  32127

Toll Free: 866-221-6562 Main Number: 386-760-5804

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INTERSTATE ADOPTIONS

When you are a resident of one state and adopt a child from another U.S. State - that is called an Interstate adoption.  In most cases, home study requirements are the same as for an in-state adoption.  There may be one important exception:

You must have current FBI clearances to receive placement of a child through Interstate Compact.

With interstate placements, your home study is conducted in your state of residence.  This document is then provided to the adoption entity (attorney or agency) in the state where the child or birth mother resides.

 

You will be working with an adoption entity in both states and costs tend to be a bit higher for this type of adoption because of this.  Interstate adoptions also require coordination through an agency known as Interstate Compact (ICPC).  Each state has their own ICPC office that oversees the transfer of children from one state to another.  ICPC procedures and documents take time to complete.  Several of these documents cannot be completed until the child is born.  This does not include your home study.  Do not delay; complete your home study early.

In an interstate adoption, the adoption entities in both states are required to file transfer paperwork with ICPC in their respective states.  The state where the baby was born is the "sending" state.  The state where the adoptive parents live is the "receiving state."  You will travel to the "sending state" to get your child, but cannot bring the child home until the transfer of paperwork is completed, which may take from one week to several weeks.  In addition to the ICPC paperwork, you may be delayed while the state where the baby was born completes other legal requirements of their state, such as a termination of parental rights or other court actions.

If you are choosing to do an interstate adoption, include in your preparation plans the possibility of being in the state where the child is born for several weeks.  You will need funds for hotels, rental car, meals, baby supplies, open-ended flight arrangements, and possibly fees for attorneys.

Information contained on this site is not intended to be legal advise.  We suggest calling an attorney to obtain legal counsel.

INTERSTATE ADOPTIONS