Deciding to place a child for adoption may be the most difficult decision a parent ever has to make. Not only must the birth parent make the decision to let their child be raised by someone else, but the birth parent also must decide who they want to raise their child.
Rules and Procedures for Adoption
Florida law requires that every adoption follow certain rules and procedures. When a child from Florida is placed with a family outside of the state, federal and state law impose additional procedures before the adoption can be completed.
The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children
The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (“ICPC”) regulates how and when a state may place a child across state lines, and is statutory law in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These laws ensure that all children are placed in suitable homes and are given the proper care that they need.
One of the requirements of the ICPC is that the state where the child lives (the sending state) must submit specific documentation to the state where the child will be placed (the receiving state). This documentation must be submitted prior to the child being placed in the receiving state, and the receiving state must approve the placement of the child.
Adoption of Florida Children
If you are a biological parent in Florida and have decided to place your child for adoption with someone living out of the state, or if you are a prospective adoptive parent living outside of the State of Florida, the attorneys at Fletcher & Phillips can advise you regarding your options and procedures that must be taken to complete an out of state adoption. Our firm can also assist you in the finalization of such adoption.
The complete ICPC regulations are available for your review at:
http://www.aphsa.org/content/AAICPC/en/ICPCRegulations.html