Interstate Compact Act

The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) is statutory law in all 50 states and U.S. territories.  Before a child born in one state can be taken to another state for the purpose of adoption, both the state where the child was born and the state where the child is going, must give approval.  Every state has a special office to deal with the ICPC.  The ICPC applies in all domestic US adoptions, both private and agency.

Accordingly, if an adopting family takes custody of a child in state "A", and they live in state "B", they must get approval from both state A and state B before they return to their home in state B with the child.

Your adoption agency or adoption attorney will complete the necessary forms and submit them to both states ICPC offices.  It generally takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to get approval during which time the baby must remain in the state of his/her birth.  Typically, the adopting family will stay with the baby in a motel or with friends or family.

This is an important law that every adopting family needs to be aware of and to follow to the letter.