Home study

[jff.law]

Does everyone who wants to adopt a child have to go through a home study?

[randalljd]

In most jurisdictions it is required. You can check with your local agencies as well.

The laws of every US State and the District of Columbia require all prospective adoptive parents (no matter how they intend to adopt) to participate in a home study. This process has three purposes: to educate and prepare the adoptive family for adoption, to gather information about the prospective parents that will help a social worker match the family with a child whose needs they can meet, and to evaluate the fitness of the adoptive family.


Specific home study requirements and processes vary greatly from agency to agency, State to State, and (in the case of intercountry adoption) by the child's country of origin.