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How to Prepare for an Adoption Home Study in Florida

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Adoption can change the lives of children, parents, and families for the better. According to the most recent data from the National Council for Adoption (NCFA), approximately 135,000 are adopted in the United States each year. One study found that 97 percent of adoptive parents were happy that they made the decision.

If you are preparing to adopt a child in Florida, you will likely be required to complete a home study.

Many prospective adoptive parents are worried  about this part of the process. This is entirely understandable: the thought of a professional coming in to examine your home and your life can be stressful and intimidating. You may be wondering: How can I best prepare for an adoption home study? Here, our Tampa, FL adoption lawyers offer four helpful tips to get you and your family ready.

Four Tips for Preparing for an Adoption Home Study

  1. Get All of the Paperwork in Order

First and foremost, it is imperative that you get yourself organized. A key part of the home study process is providing all relevant background information about yourself and your family. Among other things, you should be ready to submit to a background check, complete a home study questionnaire, provide employment references, and produce financial documents and records. Getting your paperwork organized ahead of time will save you a lot of headaches down the road. 

  1. Remember that Safety Comes First

As far as your home is concerned, the single most important thing that counselors are looking for is safety. Is your home a reasonably safe environment for a child? The is the key question that needs to be answered. If it is not safe right now, you need to take immediate action to get it in the proper order. Make sure you consider everything—from backyard pools to your pets.

  1. Be Ready for an Interview

You and your family members should be ready for the adoption interview. To be clear, an adoption interview is not an interrogation. It is a mistake to view it as an adversarial process. Still, it is also important to take the interview seriously. Be ready for questions about why you want to adopt a child, your parenting style, your financial circumstances, and your day-to-day life.

  1. Do Not Panic—No One Expects Perfection

Finally, it is important to stay calm and relaxed throughout the process. Many people stress themselves out worrying about every speck of dust inside their home. Do not panic about truly minor issues. The purpose of the home study is to confirm that you can provide a happy, healthy home for a child. If you are honest, open, well-prepared, and ready to care for a child, the home study should not present any major problems.

Speak to a Tampa, FL Adoption Attorney Today

At Bubley & Bubley, P.A., our Tampa adoption lawyers have the skills, training, and experience to represent adoptive parents in the full range of legal cases. To get help with an adoption home study or any other related issue, please contact us now. With an office location in Tampa, our law firm handles adoption matters throughout Hillsborough County.

 

Resource:

adoptioncouncil.org/publications/2017/02/adoption-by-the-numbers

https://www.bubleylaw.com/completing-a-stepparent-adoption-in-florida/

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