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A Raleigh Adoption Lawyer Explains How to Complete a Home Study for Adoption in North Carolina

Experience Matters. Mills Adoption Law has helped our community for over 35 years with adoptions and family law. Put our experience to work for you.

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The Role of a Home Study in the North Carolina Adoption Process

A home study is a necessary process for adoptive parents in North Carolina. It’s designed to evaluate the parties involved and determine their readiness and suitability to provide a loving, safe, and stable home for an adopted child. The goal of the home study is to place each child in an environment that meets their individual needs and supports their well-being.

This crucial step in the adoption process includes the following:

Thorough Background Checks

Criminal history checks at the state and federal levels, and abuse and neglect registry clearances.

In-Person Interviews

Families should expect in-person interviews with all members of the household — including children over the age of 18 — to gather information about the family’s lifestyle, values, and parenting style.

Home Visits

A licensed social worker will visit the prospective adoptive home to gather information on living conditions, safety measures, and overall suitability for a child.

Reference Checks

Married couples and unmarried people seeking to adopt must provide references from individuals who can attest to their character and ability to care for an adopted child.

Education and Training

In North Carolina, prospective parents undergoing the adoption process may be required to complete pre-adoption education prior to the completion of the home study. The education and training seeks to assist families with reaching a thorough understanding of adoption and its implications.

The time required to complete the home study varies. It is a team effort. The time required for the entire process varies from a couple of weeks to several months to complete and must be conducted by a licensed social worker or adoption agency. In North Carolina, a home study remains valid for 18 months. If this is an interstate placement, your home study must be completed or updated within the past 12 months. When a home study has or is about to expire, it can be updated and is good for another 12 to 18 months.

Independent Adoptions, Agency Adoptions, Closed Adoptions and the Home Study

Once completed, your home study is filed with your petition for adoption and reviewed by the court. In independent adoptions, the birth parents must receive a copy of the adopting parents home study. The adoption agency may redact detailed information about the prospective adoptive parents’ income, financial account balances, and social security numbers, and detailed information about each extended family member, including surnames, names of employers, names of schools attended, social security numbers, telephone numbers and addresses and other sensitive information.

In an agency placement, the biological parent does not receive a copy of an adoptive parent’s home study. If the placement is open or semi-open, the biological parent will know the name of each adopting parent. However, in closed adoptions no identifying information is disclosed to the biological parent.

Preparing for a Home Study in North Carolina

As experienced Raleigh adoption attorneys know, it’s never too soon for the individuals seeking to adopt a child to prepare for the home study. Any prospective parent should take the time to:

Research the requirements: Familiarize yourself with the specific requirements and guidelines for a home study in North Carolina.
Organize documents: Gather all necessary paperwork, such as financial records, background check forms, and references.
Prepare your home: Make sure your home is clean, safe, and suitable for children. This effort should include childproofing, if necessary.
Be honest and open: The home study is not meant to be a test or judgment of your parenting abilities. Be honest and open in your interviews and provide any necessary information, even if it may seem difficult.
Attend required training: Complete the 30 hours of pre-adoption education required by North Carolina law.

Working with an experienced Raleigh adoption lawyer can also help alleviate any concerns or questions you may have about the home study process. An adoption attorney can guide you through each step and prepare you well for this important aspect of adoption in North Carolina.

Legal Requirements for Home Studies

In North Carolina, a licensed social worker or adoption agency must conduct the home study and adhere to the strict guidelines and regulations established by North Carolina. Individuals who wish to adopt a child should work with a reputable professional or agency to facilitate a thorough and accurate evaluation.

Furthermore, adoptions in North Carolina come with core requirements:

Minimum age: A parent seeking to adopt must be at least 18 years old.
Marital status: Married couples and unmarried people can adopt. However, if a person is married, his or her spouse must also be part of the adoption.
Residency: You must reside in North Carolina for at least six consecutive months before initiating an adoption petition. If you reside in another state, you may file an adoption petition in NC to adopt a child that resides in North Carolina.
Financial stability: Adoptive parents must prove that they can financially provide for a child through stable employment and assets.
Criminal background check: A thorough criminal history review is required, and certain convictions may disqualify you from adopting.

Choose Mills Adoption Law: Experience for What Matters Most – Family

For would-be parents adopting a child in North Carolina, completing a home study is mandatory. Consulting an attorney for adoption with profound knowledge of the law and experience with adoptions offers many benefits. A Raleigh adoption lawyer can offer informed guidance and anticipate and address potential issues as you prepare for your home study. Have you been searching online for “adoption lawyers near me” to find a Raleigh adoption lawyer?

Bobby Mills, founding attorney of Mills Adoption Law, has over 35 years of hands-on experience. Having represented all members of the adoption triad—adoptive parents, birth parents, and adoptees—he has seen things and can anticipate problems other attorneys will not anticipate. Through his work on thousands of cases, he truly understands how to navigate the legal system and stand up for families. If you are seeking to adopt a child in North Carolina, contact him at (919) 306-2899, or complete the online form to schedule your free, 15-minute consultation.

The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.

Mills Adoption Law
4600 Marriott Dr, Ste 350
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 306-2899
https://www.millsadoptionlaw.com/