ICPC State Pages

About the ICPC

The Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (AAICPC) was established in 1974 and consists of members from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The AAICPC has authority under ICPC to "promulgate rules and regulations to carry out more effectively the terms and provisions of this compact." The AAICPC obtains its Secretariat Services, as an affiliate of the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA).

For more information, please visit the AAICPC website.

Contact the AAICPC

American Public Human Services Association
1133 Nineteenth Street, NW
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 682-0100
fax: (202) 289-6555

Web Manager: Carla Fults [cfults@aphsa.org]

Click on a state to see it's page:

ICPC STATE Pages

Montana

Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mountain Time Zone. · Phone: (406) 841-2400 · Fax: (406) 841-2463

Montana Adoption

Montana permits the following types of adoptions in addition to public adoptions:

Adoption Type	Yes/No
Private Agency	Yes
Private Attorney	No
Independent	Yes

Adoption Statute-Non-Agency; Independent; Private Adoptions:

42-4-202, MCA
42-4-101, MCA

Public

Public Adoptive Placement-Requirements:

Adoptive parents must be at least 18 years of age; be physically, mentally,and emotionally competent to care for children; like and understand children; be in good general health; be of good moral character; be able to demonstrate the adoptive home has sufficient resources to meet the needs of their existing family; comply with state laws including those that relate to the possession or use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and firearms; and have lived together for at least 24 months unless an exception is granted. No person residing in or visiting the adoptive home may pose a risk or threat to the safety and well being of children in the home. Adoptive parents must complete an application, a home study, training, and criminal and child protection checks.

Adoption Assistance

Adoption assistance payments begin:

Other : can be at placement or finalization depending on the circumstances of the case

Sending State Adoption Subsidy Payments (Guidelines):

no information provided

Special Needs

Montana definition of "Special Needs":

A child who is a dependent of a public or voluntary licensed child placement agency and meets at least one of the following criteria: (1) diagnosed as having a physical, mental, or emotional disability, (2) recognized to be at high risk of developing a physical, mental, or emotional disability, (3) a member of a minority group, (4) six years of age or older, or (5) a member of a sibling group to be placed together for adoption

Finalization

Adoption may be finalized in another state:

Before finalization can occur in Montana, child must be in adoptive placement:

6 months

the six-month waiting period may be waived by the court in Department or licensed child-placing agency adoptions only, 42-4-205, MCA.

Statutory code/cite for Adoption Petition:

42-5-101, MCA

Court Jurisdiction for Adoption Cases:

Petitioners must reside in the state at the time that the petition is filed. Proceedings for adoption must be brought in the district court of the county where the petitioners reside, 42-1-104, MCA.

Home Study (Adoptions)

Statutory code/cite for the Adoptive Home Studies:

Home study requirements are outlined under 42-3-203 through 42-3-205. Adoption petition requirements are outlined in 42-5-101, MCA.