• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Phone
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The Adoption Law Firm

  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Resources
  • Domestic
    • Overview
    • Foster-Care Adoption
    • Birth-Mother Adoption
    • Private Adoption
    • Stepparent/Grandparent Adoption
    • Embryo Adoption
  • International
    • Overview
    • Hague Country Adoption
    • Non-Hague Country Adoption
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Contact
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Resources
  • Domestic
    • Overview
    • Foster-Care Adoption
    • Birth-Mother Adoption
    • Private Adoption
    • Stepparent/Grandparent Adoption
    • Embryo Adoption
  • International
    • Overview
    • Hague Country Adoption
    • Non-Hague Country Adoption
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Contact

What is an Adoption Home Study?

May 23, 2012 //  by Sam McLure

The thought of someone coming into your home and “snooping” around may sound a little intimidating; like someone’s going to go around with a white glove looking for dust on the tops of picture frames.  However, a skilled social worker should be able to conduct the home study in such a manner as to reflect the atmosphere of a friendly visit, rather than a bright-light torture session.

An adoption home study is sometimes referred to as a pre-placement investigation.[1] The completion of a home study is a necessary piece of every adoption puzzle (when the parents and child are unrelated).  The purpose of the home study is to determine if the prospective adoptive parents and their home are suitable places to raise the child. The home study is written by a licensed social worker (either with DHR, a licensed agency, or private social worker) and includes a criminal background investigation and any other circumstances which may be relevant to the placement of the child in the adoptive parents’ home.  Home studies have a shelf-life of 24 months and remain “valid” during that time.

The bare-bones factors that must be addressed in the home study may be similar to the requirements of the post-placement report:

 1)         the suitability of each prospective adoptive parent and their home for the particular adoptee;

2)         why the natural parents no longer wanted to be parents;

3)         whether the natural parents abandoned the adoptee (or other reasons that make the natural parents unfit to have custody of the adoptee);

4)         any court related orders, judgments, or decrees affecting the adoptee or any other children of the prospective adoptive parents; and

5)         the medical histories of the adoptee and biological parents (which must be provided to the adoptive parents before the final decree will be issued).

In order to appropriately prepare the post-placement report, the social worker must conduct a home visit where he or she observes the adoptee and interviews the adoptive parents.  This home visit should generally take place within 45 days of the child being placed in the adoptive parents’ home.

At the end of the day, the social worker is vouching for you to the court that you will be a good parent for this child.  This requires the social worker to delve into areas of your life that you might not discuss with anyone else.  In essence, the social worker’s job is to know you intimately and give the court his or her candid opinion.

For advice on connecting with a trustworthy social worker, contact The Adoption Law Firm.

For advice on researching adoption agencies, visit our blog, How to Choose an Adoption Agency.

For recommendations on how to write a letter of reference for a home study, see the blog, How to Write a Letter of Reference for an Adoption Home Study.

Photo by Tetra Pak.


[1] Ala. Civ. Code 26-10A-19

Previous Post: « Book Review: The Grace Effect by Larry Taunton
Next Post: Together for Adoption Conference 2012 »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Robersmith

    March 14, 2017 at 5:05 am

    Yes,Home study is very important part in the process of adoption.
    The fee for the home study depends upon the type of home study , location of the adopting parents and urgency of completion. Home studies usually take approximately 60 days to complete.

Primary Sidebar

Quick Adoption Links

  • How to Write a Letter of Reference for an Adoption Home Study
  • Paying for Adoption
  • What is an Adoption Home Study?
  • What is the Monetary Cost of Adoption?
  • When Does an Internationally Adopted Child Become a US Citizen?

Recent Posts

  • Weak and Working: Reflections from a Foster Mother
  • Equipping Foster Parents for Gracious Advocacy Series, Part I
  • Introducing Surrogacy: The Legal Ins and Outs
  • Introducing Associate Attorney Morgan Broyles
  • Passion for Adoption Featured in The Alabama Lawyer

Receive Our Free
Email Newsletter

Signup Now!

“Sam McLure fights for adoptions with all his heart.  It’s not just his profession, but his passion.”
– Travis & Cheri Norwood

Footer

The Adoption Law Firm

The Adoption Law Firm is specifically focused on domestic and international adoptions.  We are located in Alabama and proudly serve the surrounding region.   Learn More . . .

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Phone

Testimonial

“We found The Adoption Law Firm to be knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful.  Sam helped us finalize our third adoption.  It was handled professionally and efficiently.  I love that there is a law firm that is committed not only professionally, but personally to adoption.” – Michael & Bonnie Eaves

Contact Us

P.O. Box 640667
Pike Road, AL 36064
334.546.2009

www.TheAdoptionFirm.com ·
No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed
is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.