What is an Adoption Home Study For?
In adoptions that are not "in family" adoptions such as step-parent or grandparent adoptions, South Carolina law requires that an adoption home study be completed. Two, in fact: a pre-placement home study and a post-placement study. But why?The pre-placement study is a a report that documents your home life. It is pretty intensive and digs into all areas of your family life: criminal background checks, child abuse registry searches, family finances, health, references, birth certificates. For example, this is not just looking to make sure you are married. It wants to know how your marriage is. Are there issues in your family that need dealing with? Does your extended family support your choice to adopt? What is your motivation to adopt?The ultimate goal is to make sure your family is ready for an adoptive placement and that it will be a healthy place for this child joining your family.The post placement study is a visit in your home with your family and the child to check on how things are going. There may be one post placement visit or multiples depending on the agency requirements.
How long will my adoption take?
The length of time that’s your adoption case will take will depend on many factors including the type of adoption (DSS adoption, grandparent adoption, stepparent adoption, private adoption agency adoption).Another factor that impacts the time of an adoption is where we are starting. For example, are you matched with a birth mother yet through a private search or through the use of an agency? If you are adopting through DSS, has the child been placed with you for adoption purposes and have the parents rights been terminated? Have the birth parents filed an appeal?An uncontested step-parent adoption or grandparent adoption could be completed in as little as 90 days or so, while the process from start to finish through an independent or agency search could take upwards of two years.If you would like to discuss your options for adoption in South Carolina, please call Tripp at 864-558-0512 or use the form below to schedule a consultation to discuss your case. The consultation is complimentary and confidential.[contact-form-7 id="357" title="Contact form 1"]