Steps Involved in the Home Study Process
There are several steps involved in the adoption home study process.
Choosing a home study provider
The home study process begins with choosing a home study provider to work with. This is the organization that completes the home study.
Make sure that the home study agency can meet your needs. For example, if you’re adopting internationally from a Hague Convention country, you’ll need an accredited provider.
If you’re adopting from out of state, follow the requirements of Florida Statutes § 63.207. You can do the home study with an organization in your state, and the organization must be authorized or licensed in their state of residence. Just make sure they follow the Florida statutory requirements. If you have questions about the process, please contact our Florida adoption attorneys today.
Documentation Preparation
A significant part of the home study is paperwork. These records evaluate your fitness to adopt. Documents don’t have to be gathered in order, but you must have them all. Records, such as pay statements and tax records, are needed, along with criminal background checks and a check of the central abuse registry.
Your provider will give you a list of things to compile. Be sure to read the instructions for requirements. Reference letters, for example, must be notarized.
Scheduling and Conducting Home Visits
The home study provider will schedule a time to visit your home or apartment. They want to see your physical residence and your family dynamics.
The home visit should last a couple of hours. As part of the initial study, multiple home visits or interviews might be conducted, and additional visits will be conducted after a child is placed in the home. The person conducting the visit will speak to each adult and children old enough to understand (about age 4-5). They will speak to you together and individually.
Be prepared for personal topics. They may ask about your marriage relationship, discipline techniques, sexual experiences, religious beliefs, physical health, relationships with parents and other family members, and reasons for wanting to adopt. These topics aren’t meant to embarrass you.
To prepare for the home visit, do a safety assessment. Make sure you have working smoke detectors in every bedroom and floor of the home. Your heating system and plumbing should be functional. Firearms should be locked away, and windows should have screens. If you have a pool, it should be fenced off. Address any other hazards.
Post-Visit Procedures
After the home visit, you will continue gathering paperwork if it is not complete. The provider may ask for additional interviews and visits.
Unified studies for foster care placements
A unified study is usually performed for prospective parents wanting approval for foster care placements. The study includes approval for adopting and foster parenting. Foster parents must complete significant training.
Common Concerns and Misconceptions
Let’s take a moment to discuss some common misconceptions about the Florida home study process.
Financial Status and Eligibility
You must meet certain income requirements to pass an adoption home study.
FALSE!
There is no minimum income level required to adopt. Your home study evaluator must know that you can provide for a child. That means having the resources to meet basic needs. It also means showing that your income is stable and unlikely to be interrupted.
For State of Florida adoptions, there is no minimum threshold. Instead, it’s a holistic review of your ability to provide for a child.
For international adoptions, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requires a household income of at least 125% of the federal poverty level. For a family of three, that’s $33,312.50 per year in 2025. Many families of modest means adopt, providing wonderful homes for their children. Even though there is a financial inquiry, the question is the ability to meet a child’s basic needs.
Impact of Medical Conditions
You must be in perfect health to pass an adoption home study.
FALSE!
The CDC reports that 53.8% of people ages 18-34 have at least one chronic health condition. A home study isn’t looking for adults in perfect health. Rather, they just want to ensure you can care for a child. Medical conditions are not disqualifying unless they make you unable to care for a child.
Age
There is an age limit for getting approved for a home study in Florida.
FALSE!
Florida doesn’t have a maximum age limit. Instead, as with your health, the home study process looks to see that you’re fit to care for a child. Some agencies use a maximum age of 50 for their adoption requirements, but that’s not an official state rule.
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