Don't Forget the Letter of Compliance

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Russell W. Hall III

One of the Court's requirements to finalize an interstate adoption is a letter of compliance from the ICPC office. The last document you should send to the ICPC office prior to your final hearing is the post-placement home study; request your letter of compliance upon submitting the post-placement home study and file the letter with the court prior to the final hearing if time permits. Thereafter, you will not have to worry with obtaining this letter at the last minute. This letter is easy to overlook; don't forget it.

The contact information for the ICPC offices in all fifty states can be found at the AAICPC website which is linked to the blog post below: http://www.southcarolinaadoptionlaw.com/2011/05/articles/adoption/interstate-adoption-1/aaicpc-website/

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Exception to the South Carolina Rule

Posted on July 16, 2011 by Russell W. Hall III

South Carolina law was amended last year to require all private adoptions of children being placed in South Carolina to be initiated and finalized in South Carolina. I affectionately call it the "South Carolina Rule." The law is explained in this blog post.

Section 63-9-1110(5)  of the South Carolina Code of Laws outlines the the family exception to the rule:

Any person may adopt his spouse's child, and any person may adopt a child to whom he is related by blood or marriage. In the adoption of these children:...upon good cause shown, the court may waive the requirement, pursuant to Section 63-9-60 (A)(2), that the adoption proceeding must be finalized in this State.

 

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AAICPC Website

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Russell W. Hall III

This link will take you the AAICPC Website. A map of the United States will appear; select the state to find contact information for the ICPC office and special requirements for that state.

South Carolina has nine requirements listed on its page; I have copied them below for your convenience.

Special Adoption Information Required in South Carolina. Social, medical, and legal documents must be forwarded to Deputy Compact Administrator: (1) Set of 100 A’s for each child; (2) Birth Family’s Social/Medical Information: (3) At least one Birth Parent’s consents. If both birth parents have not surrendered or have rights terminated, documentation of the attempts to locate and protect the rights to the birth parent.; (4) Documentation of Compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act; (5) Court Findings of Unusual or Exceptional Circumstances for SC Birth Child being adopted by out of state residents; (6) Adoptive Family’s Pre-Placement Investigation; (7) Copies of adoptive Family’s Background Checks (Child Abuse/Neglect Clearances, State Criminal History Checks, Sexual Offenders Checks); (8) Official hospital birth report (labor and delivery/discharge summary); (9) Fee disclosure statement.  

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