Interstate Adoptions
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Providing Adoption Legal Services Throughout Northern and Central Virginia, including Prince William, Fauquier, Loudoun, Stafford, Warren, Frederick, Arlington and Fairfax Counties, and the Cities of Alexandria and Winchester.
Virginia Interstate Adoption Lawyer
The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) is a law passed by all fifty states, which regulates many situations in which children come from one state to another, including adoption. It is intended to protect the welfare of children and each state has an ICPC office. The officials in the ICPC office of each state have developed different requirements. For this reason, it is important to have qualified adoption counsel in both states who know how to get the ICPC offices what they require promptly. The adoptive parents will usually have to remain in the sending state until approval is received from both states. This can take a week if everything is done correctly, and much longer if it is not. The Interstate Compact does not apply to close family placements.
Serving the Adoption Needs of Families Throughout Virginia
Attorney Robert H. Klima is one of the leading adoption attorneys handling interstate adoptions for residents of Virginia. As a fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Mr. Klima has helped to draft many of Virginia’s adoption laws. Since beginning practice in 1978, Mr. Klima has successfully handled over 700 adoptions.
Call 800.747.8783 to schedule a consultation to discuss your interstate adoption needs, or contact Mr. Klima by e-mail.
Interstate Adoption Allows Families to Adopt Children From Anywhere in the United States
When Virginia is the Sending State
When the birth parents live in Virginia and the adoptive parents live in another state, there is a great deal of work to be done in Virginia before the child will be allowed to leave the state. Consents acceptable to the receiving state must be signed by the birth parents, and social and medical histories must be obtained from them. Complete copies of hospital records for both the birth mother and the baby must be obtained. These and other documents must be sent to the ICPC Office in Richmond for approval. That office will then send the package to the ICPC Office in the receiving state for approval. Both states must give approval before the adoptive parents may take the child home.
When Virginia is the Receiving State
When the birth parents live in another state, the Virginia adoption attorney must coordinate with the adoption attorney in that state to ensure that the ICPC package complies with Virginia requirements. The adoption itself will usually take place in Virginia, the home state of the adoptive parents. The birth mother, in most cases, will have to come to Virginia to give her consent in court.
If you are involved in an adoption across state lines, you don’t have to try to figure things out for yourself. The laws can be difficult and confusing.
For more information about how Mr. Klima can help, call 800.747.8783 to schedule a consultation to discuss your adoption needs, or contact Mr. Klima by e-mail.
