Pennsylvania Adoption Guide

Everything you need to know about how to adopt in Pennsylvania

Welcome, Pennsylvanians! This guide was written to provide you with a single place to find information about adoption within your own state. It will walk you through everything from laws that will impact your adoption to reviews of adoption service providers in Pennsylvania.

We’ve divided this guide into five parts: general information about adopting in Pennsylvania, then sections dedicated to domestic infant adoption (starting in slide 6), foster adoption (slide 20), international adoption (slide 29), and stepparent adoption (slide 33). And don’t miss our slide filled with links to helpful adoption resources (slide 36).

Are you interested growing your family through domestic infant adoption? Click here to connect with an adoption professional who can answer your questions.

2. Foster Adoption: A Word About the ICPC

In adopting a child from foster care, there are opportunities to adopt a child from a different state. If this is the case, you will need to comply with the requirements of The Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children.

It is not generally recommended that adoptive families contact the ICPC office directly, as it tends to delay or disrupt the process. Your attorney or agency will manage the ICPC process for you.

Read more about the ICPC here.