Adoption Laws

To learn about the adoption laws for any situation simply go down the list below and click the laws that apply to your situation.

This site provides adoption law information for each of the 50 states as well as U.S. federal adoption related laws and international adoption laws.

This  site provides information on the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) which is statutory law in every state in the U.S.

ICWA applies to the custody and adoption of children of Native American ancestry. Since the adoption of children with Native American Indian heritage is treated uniquely in the legal system, and because there is a significant number of children born who have at least some degree of Native American Indian heritage, it is critical for adopting persons and their agency and/or attorney to be aware of this Act and meet its requirements.

Nearly all States, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories have enacted statutes that provide some regulation of adoption fees and expenses that adoptive parents are expected to pay when arranging an adoptive placement. This link provides general information on birth parent expenses, agency fees and costs, use of an intermediary, and issues involving reporting adoption-related expenses to the court.

Family Medical Leave Act requires that an employer must grant an eligible employee up to a total of 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for several reasons, one being the placement with the employee of a son or daughter for adoption or foster care.

The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption sets internationally minimum requirements and procedures to govern international adoption.  It applies to the U.S., all U.S. citizen, and most other foreign countries.

This Child Citizenship Act of 2000 confer automatic United States citizenship to certain foreign-born children adopted by U.S. citizens.  Persons involved in international adoption should be aware of this Act.

The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 impacts mainly on children in foster care and special needs adoption. 

The Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994  goals were to decrease the time children in foster care were waiting to be adopted, to prevent any discrimination when making foster care and adoptive placements, and to facilitate the recruitment of foster and adoptive families.