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Adopting Outside Your Home State

What is ICPC?

How Do I Legally Cross State Lines With My Adopted Baby?

Nothing compares to the joy of holding a child you’re about to adopt. It’s a moment of pure magic. 

But then comes the wait. 

If you’ve adopted a child across state lines, you’ll face the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) process. It’s a legal requirement designed to protect the child and ensure everything is done by the book. Crossing state lines without completing this paperwork? That’s illegal.

So, why do I have to wait to take my baby home?

Let’s break it down.

What Does ICPC Do?

The ICPC exists to safeguard the child and the adoption process. It ensures:

  • The child is placed in a safe, suitable home.
  • All state laws and policies are followed before placement.
  • Both the sending and receiving states agree the placement is in the child’s best interest.
  • The adoptive parents have a solid plan for the child’s financial and medical needs.
  • The child has legal and financial protection throughout the process.

In short, ICPC is all about making sure the child’s well-being is the top priority.

ICPC
What is ICPC
What is ICPC

Why Does It Take Time?

Each state has its own checklist for ICPC approval. That means paperwork must be reviewed and signed off in both the child’s state and your home state. While the process can sometimes wrap up in a few days, it’s not uncommon for it to stretch to a few weeks—or even longer. Some states are just slower. They may have more steps, fewer resources, or additional reviews that drag things out.

At Heart to Heart, we do everything we can to move the process along. But sometimes, the wait is simply unavoidable.

What Do You Do While You Wait?

It’s easy to feel frustrated when you’re stuck in another state waiting for that all-important phone call. The delay can add unexpected expenses and put your patience to the test. But here’s the thing: this is also a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Use this time to bond with your child. Hold them, talk to them, study their little expressions. This is your chance to slow down and soak up the beauty of those first days together.

While you’re loving your child, we’re working tirelessly behind the scenes to get you home as quickly as possible.

Understanding ICPC
Understanding ICPC

The Bigger Picture--Understanding ICPC

It’s easy to feel frustrated when you’re stuck in another state waiting for that all-important phone call. The delay can add unexpected expenses and put your patience to the test. But here’s the thing: this is also a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Use this time to bond with your child. Hold them, talk to them, study their little expressions. This is your chance to slow down and soak up the beauty of those first days together.

While you’re loving your child, we’re working tirelessly behind the scenes to get you home as quickly as possible.

When you finally get that call saying “ICPC is cleared,” the road home will feel sweeter than ever.

Until then, savor the journey.

You’ve got this.

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