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42 USC § 14921 - Accreditation or approval required in order to provide adoption services in cases subject to the Convention 

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s14921"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 14921 - Accreditation or approval required in order to provide adoption services in cases subject to the Convention"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "14921"
section_name: "Accreditation or approval required in order to provide adoption services in cases subject to the Convention"
chapter_number: 143
chapter_name: "INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTIONS"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "PROVISIONS RELATING TO ACCREDITATION AND APPROVAL"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 106–279, title II, § 201, Oct. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 830.)"
---

# § 14921. Accreditation or approval required in order to provide adoption services in cases subject to the Convention

**(a)** **In general** Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, no person may offer or provide adoption services in connection with a Convention adoption in the United States unless that person—

**(1)** is accredited or approved in accordance with this subchapter; or

**(2)** is providing such services through or under the supervision and responsibility of an accredited agency or approved person.

**(b)** **Exceptions** Subsection (a) shall not apply to the following:

**(1)** **Background studies and home studies** The performance of a background study on a child or a home study on a prospective adoptive parent, or any report on any such study by a social work professional or organization who is not providing any other adoption service in the case, if the background or home study is approved by an accredited agency.

**(2)** **Child welfare services** The provision of a child welfare service by a person who is not providing any other adoption service in the case.

**(3)** **Legal services** The provision of legal services by a person who is not providing any adoption service in the case.

**(4)** **Prospective adoptive parents acting on own behalf** The conduct of a prospective adoptive parent on his or her own behalf in the case, to the extent not prohibited by the law of the State in which the prospective adoptive parent resides.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 106–279, title II, § 201, Oct. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 830.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This subchapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this title”, meaning title II of , , , which is classified principally to this subchapter. For complete classification of title II to the Code, see Tables.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective upon entry into force for the United States of the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, pursuant to Article 46(2)(a) of the Convention, with transition rule, see section 505(a)(2), (b) of , set out as an Effective Dates; Transition Rule note under .