Adoption Home Studies: What You Need to Know

For most, the process of adoption is uncharted territory. Adoptions involve complex legal matters for the protection of the child or children and to ensure a quality fit and placement for the new family. Of the many moving parts associated with Texas adoptions, the home study is one of the most crucial steps. 

What is a Home Study?

A home study involves inspecting the potential future home of the child or children involved in the adoption. All parents must be willing to subject their home to inspection in order for the adoption to be finalized; and, the inspection typically involves all persons currently living in the home. A home study can be conducted by a variety of trained individuals, such as state-appointed social workers, private adoption agency workers, domestic agency employees, or court-appointed representatives. These individuals will grade the home based on a variety of factors to evaluate its stability and readiness for welcoming an adopted child into the family. 

Causes of Failure

Since home studies exist to ensure the safety of a child or children, prospective adoptive families can fail for a variety of reasons. In addition to issues with a home study, adoption can also be denied if a parent or parents have any of the following in their criminal history: 

• Domestic abuse 
• Stalking
• Public indecency 
• Robbery 
• Failure to report or stop aggravated sexual abuse of a child 
• Any offenses within 10 years that include: 
  • Alcohol-related offenses like DWI 
  • Firearms available to a child 
  • Persons under the Texas Controlled Substances Act 

Families can help ensure a positive home study check by preparing for it using the checklist a home study representative uses to conduct the exam of the residence and its occupants. 

Home Study Checklist 

The representative who conducts the home study will be inspecting the home based on a variety of factors. The analysis includes individual interviews with each prospective parent as well as interviews with children above the age of four. Factors a home study representative looks to include: 

• Observation of any children in the home environment
• Evaluation of the home to ensure: 
  • Safety and cleanliness for the child or children
  • Adequate and functioning smoke detectors throughout the home 
  • Free of obvious hazards (guns or weapons within reaching distance, etc.) 
  • Pets are vaccinated and free of abuse 
  • Any bodies of water such as a pool or jacuzzi are properly enclosed to ensure the safety of the child 
• Name-based criminal background checks for: 
  • Each prospective parent in the home 
  • Anyone over the age of 14 in the home 
• Fingerprint-based criminal background checks for: 
  • Each prospective parent in the home 
  • Anyone over the age of 18 in the home 

While this process may sound strenuous, home studies are necessary and crucial for the wellbeing of the children involved including previously adopted children who may already be residing in a home.  

Texas Adoption Lawyers 

Adoptions mark an exciting new chapter for families; however, if all steps in the adoption process are not handled according to the law, your adoption could not go forward. Our goal is to help families avoid this painful scenario. Contact Terry & Roberts today to schedule a confidential consultation with a seasoned, knowledgeable Texas adoption lawyer. We will help you every step of the way toward building the family of your dreams.