Getting Ready for Your Adoption Home Study?

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You Need This Checklist

One of Lifetime’s goals is to share practical, easy-to-follow adoption tips for you on our website. Many hopeful adoptive parents feel overwhelmed by the home study process. So, we’re giving you an adoption home study checklist to help you get ready!

Please note that the home study regulations will differ depending on your state. This home study checklist is general and covers the documents and clearances most states require. If there are any safety concerns with your house, your home study professional will typically let you know about the issue. That way, you’ll have enough time to fix the issue before he or she completes your home study.

Home & Safety Preparations

Depending on your state, you may need to adhere to or receive training on these items. This list may also differ based on the age of the child you’re hoping to adopt:

  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher in your kitchen
  • Medications, cleaning products, and other toxic substances moved out of a child’s reach
  • Carbon monoxide detector
  • Evacuation floor plans
  • Smoke detectors on each floor of your home, and near or in your future child’s room
  • Locks and secure screens on all windows
  • Screen covering your fireplace or wood stove
  • Covers on electrical outlets
  • Gates to place at stairways
  • Fence around pool
  • Locked top on hot tub
  • Phone numbers in case of emergency
  • Firearms in a locked container, ammunition in a separate locked container

Documents to Collect

  • Both of your driver’s licenses
  • Birth certificates (of everyone living in your home)
  • Marriage certificate
  • Divorce decree(s) if applicable
  • Your autobiographical statement
  • Statement of your parenting plan
  • Military discharge paperwork, if relevant
  • Death certificates, if applicable
  • Vet vaccination records for all pets
  • School records on all children in the home
  • Your financial information
  • Statement from your doctor about your health status
  • Most recent tax return
  • Proof of home, life, health, and car insurance
  • Proof of employment (such as a letter from your employer or your most recent pay stub)
  • Reference statements from relatives and non-relatives

Clearances

  • Criminal background check
  • FBI clearance
  • Child abuse clearances (from every place you’ve lived in for the past 5 years)
  • Sex offender clearance

As you prepare for your adoption home study, this practical checklist should prove to be useful! Lifetime encourages you to seek guidance from your home study professional as well since requirements vary state by state.

Helpful Home Study Resources

 

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If you live outside of the United States, please click here.

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Accreditation

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Lifetime Adoption, Inc. is a Licensed Child Placing Agency in both Florida and Arkansas. (License FL#100084254 AR#00050809)

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Small Women Owned Business

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