Yes, the prospective adoptive parent(s) may have the baby with them prior to the birth parents signing consent to adoption. The mother may request they may be allowed to visit at the hospital and the baby may be discharged (depending on hospital policy) directly to an adoption agency, an attorney or sometimes, the prospective adoptive parents. They are not, however, adoptive parents at that time, and they acknowledge this is a temporary placement PENDING consent of the parents. Should the parents decide not to consent to the adoption, the baby is returned to them. Once the birth parents consent to the adoption, the child resides with the adopting family while the court procedures are initiated.

Even in a closed adoption, it is Arizona law that the prospective adoptive parents receive detailed, written non-identifying information about the baby and both sides of the birth family, including their medical and social history.

The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) guides the interstate adoption process. The ‘sending’ state and the ‘receiving’ state need to give approval before the child crosses state lines. The receiving state, where the adopting family lives, will assure there is prior approval of the adoptive family’s home study and will supervise the placement until the adoption is finalized.