This section provides an overview of the intercountry adoption process. The process varies greatly because it is governed by the laws of the countries where the adoptive parents and the child reside (which in the United States means both federal and state law), and also in which location the legal adoption is finalized. Additionally, if the child's home country is a partner in the Hague Adoption Convention, the Hague processes of both countries must be followed. Prospective adoptive parents should consider all of these factors to know what to expect.