What is an Adoption Home Study?

If you have thought about or talked to anyone about adoption you have probably heard the term “Home Study”. And, you are probably confused.

The Home Study is not a report on your home but a series of papers and reports about you and your spouse (and other children if you have them already).

The laws in every state require all prospective adoptive parents to have a home study. Agencies are required to both educate and prepare parents for their adoption as well as gather information about the family; do they meet the needs of the state and the prospective country?

• Family background.
• Education/employment.
• Relationships.
• Daily life.
• Parenting.
• Neighborhood.
• Religion.
• Feelings about/readiness for adoption.
• Approval/recommendation.

Needed Documents: birth certificates, marriage licenses or certificates, and divorce decrees, if applicable. Fingerprints from state and national agencies.

ONE word of advice: If you are not yet married and want to get married out of the country make sure to apply for a US marriage license and have a Civil ceremony in the US. Or, if you already had a wedding outside the US please start tracking down your marriage license NOW. It is VERY difficult to get.