“Hi, my husband and I recently married. He has two children from a previous marriage. I would like to adopt them. What’s the deal with the adoption homestudy?”
For stepparents, an adoption homestudy gives the court a little more information on who you are. The homestudy will look into your federal criminal history, if there is one. It will also look into your state criminal history, if there is one. You will also need state criminal background searches going back to any state you’ve lived in for the last five years.
The following list provides more detail:
The Home Study for Step-parent and Related Adoptions
- An investigation shall be conducted to determine the suitability of each petitioner and the home in which the adoptee will reside, and the report of the investigation shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
- Letters of suitability for each adult living in the home of the petitioner or petitioners based on the information available in this state (excluding legal parent of adoptee in stepparent adoption).
- Child abuse and neglect clearances pursuant to the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act for all household members 14 years of age and older from any state in which any petitioners have resided in the preceding five years (excluding legal parent of adoptee in stepparent adoption).
- A printed copy of the search on the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website for all household members 14 years of age and older (excluding legal parent of adoptee in step-parent adoption).
- A home safety inspection indicating that the home of the petitioner or petitioners is safe for the adoptee’s residency.
- The limited investigation may also include other information required by Section 26-10E-19 as directed by the court and shall be filed with the court. The limited investigation shall be filed with the court within 30 days of the date of the filing of the petition.
- The court, in its discretion, may:
- Require additional information; and
- Allow a deviation in the investigation requirements, for good cause shown, only as it relates to any household members 14 years of age and older. Good cause must be demonstrated on the record with, at minimum, an affidavit from the investigator as to why the deviation is warranted.
- The investigative report shall be submitted in a form developed by the Alabama Probate Judges Association and the Alabama Law Institute. The investigative report shall contain information obtained within 12 months preceding the hearing on the final judgment of adoption.
That list may see overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be. Give us a call and let us guide you through all the steps of adoption a 334-546-2009. Or, email us at lisa.bannister@theadoptionfirm.com.
Still confused? Check out this video:
This is What Makes a Child Dependent, Says the Court.