728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
Get Pregnancy Information
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Articles › Home Study › The Adoption Homestudy

The Adoption Homestudy

Necessary Evil or
Helpful Experience?

By Michele St. Martin

Pages:  1  2  3  4  

  • Health Statements You will be required to have a physical exam, sometimes including required tests, and your doctor will be required to write a statement that will be notarized. The extent of the physical will depend on if your adoption is domestic or international. If you're adopting internationally, each country has its own requirements, Morish says.
  • Criminal Record Check You will be required to have a state and possibly a local police criminal record check. If you're adopting internationally, the FBI will check your fingerprints and criminal records.
  • Statement of Finances Generally, you are required to provide a financial statement and at least one year's tax returns. Lahti suggests that you get extra copies in case you decide to adopt again.
  • Other Documents You'll need originals of birth certificates and if you're married, your marriage certificate. If you've been divorced or widowed, you'll need originals of the appropriate certificates.

    • Nine months after their homestudy was completed, Tiffany and Nathan Steinberg became the proud parents of Aaron, whom they adopted domestically as a newborn. "My perspective on the homestudy is totally different now," Tiffany says. "The experience turned out to be pretty informative, and it helped us think about what kind of parents we wanted to be. Our social worker has become a good friend. I'm glad now that things turned out the way they did and the homestudy was part of that."

    Tips from Those Who've Been in Your Shoes