[buddy8203]

Hello,

We are in the process of adopting a baby from another state. I would like to hear personal experiences about this process. I know there is alot more paperwork. I would love to hear your thoughts.

We are adopting a baby from Maryland and we live in PA.

Thanks
buddy

[Fran27]

I don't know how the process works in MD... but you will have to wait until interstate compact (ICPC) is done before you can go back to PA, and the extra paperwork is around $1000 I think... It can take up to 10 days too, but it depends how fast the offices are (PA was fast for us).

Do you work with an agency? If not I think you will need one for the paperwork.

[tweetybirdus]

We adopted from MD to VA and ICPC only took 5 days. Our agency took care of everything for us. We just waited for the call that we could go home. You can stay anywhere in the state during that time though. We stayed at a family member's home who happened to live really close to the MD/VA line on the MD side, of course.

HTH

Kat

[JeannineW]

When we lived in MD, we fostered a newborn. He was 2 weeks old when I handed him to his mother and I believe they were headed back to Utah promptly. The adoption agency was a little concerned in his case to send him home before the 30 day period was over but did so anyways.

I would have felt awful if it hadn't worked out. The agency wanted us to keep him for the full 30 days but I was just barely pregnant and too exhausted to do the nights with him. DH really bailed me out on that one. He slept with the baby in my dd's room since she preferrred sleeping on the floor in our room.

It did work and he now has an adopted little sister. We exchange Christmas cards every year.

[Celesyee]

We adopted from Oklahoma to Hawai'i. I'm not sure how much ICPC costed because it was inclusive in the agency fees. I believe for the ICPC paperwork what was required was the home study and FBI and child abuse clearances. OK approved our ICPC in 2 days, but Hawai'i took almost 1.5 weeks because there were 2 state holidays.

The most valuable suggestion I got from this board when adopting out of state, is to stay at an extended stay hotel with a kitchenette and on-site laundry facility. I don't know what we would have done without the two.

The time away was a great bonding experience for us, especially since we live with MIL. Plus, most airlines have a age criteria of 6 days and up before a newborn can fly on board.

Good luck!!!