When choosing an agency in the United States, you need to decide whether you want to work with a local adoption agency or with an agency in another state. There are several reasons why you might choose to work with an agency in another state. The agency might have a wonderful reputation or more reasonable fees. You might be in the process of moving from one state to another and want to affiliate with an agency in the location where you will be moving.

The agency might be located in a state with more “favorable” adoption laws. In some states, the birthparents’ parental rights terminate as soon as they sign the relinquishment papers. In other states, the placing parents may legally choose to parent for several months after signing the relinquishment papers. Some states have laws that are more “adoption friendly,” such as a shorter period of time needed to terminate the birthfather’s parental rights if the birthfather does not respond to requests to either parent or relinquish his parental rights.

Whatever your reason for working with an agency in another state, there are a few things you need to know.

ICPC

If you choose to work with an agency in another state, you will need to comply with The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) requirements before you will be allowed to bring your child home. Some states have streamlined their procedures, so the agency can comply with all ICPC requirements in a matter of days. Other states move along very slowly in their compliance. Until all ICPC requirements are met in both states, you may not legally take your child out of his state of birth, which means that you cannot go home until all of the paperwork is completed.

We adopted our son in the state of Georgia when we lived in North Carolina. Back in 2001, the Georgia side of ICPC went very quickly, but the North Carolina end was slow as molasses. I hear that North Carolina has since improved its process, and I hope that this is true. Nicholas was 18 days old before we could take him home. Eighteen days is a LONG TIME to live away from home with your newborn baby.

Travel Issues

If you choose an agency in another state, you will (obviously) need to travel to meet your child. This involves the added expense and inconvenience of parenting a new baby away from home. You will need to work out finding a place to live, transporting everything you need to care for a baby, and getting by with limited or no assistance from local family and friends.

Local Agency

If you sign with an adoption agency in another state, you will also need to affiliate with a local agency to take care of the home study and post-placement visits. This involves additional expenses because you need to pay the local agency for its services in addition to the fees paid to the primary agency.

Related Links:

• ICPC and Going Home


• An Article on Adoption Travel to Share


• Guardianship and Open Adoption