Do You Need a Home Study to Adopt?
If you are adopting a child that is not related to you by blood or marriage, you need a home study.
"Before the placement of any child by any agency or by any person with a prospective adoptive parent, a preplacement investigation (home study)... and [a report of this investigation] must be completed," pursuant to Section 63-9-520 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, as amended.
This home study needs to be updated every year to comply with the code.
If you are thinking about adopting and even if you do not have a prospective child, my advice is to have a home study prepared. This does two things:
1) By having the home study already completed, you are in the position to accept a child into your home immediately; and
2) By have the home study already completed, you have established a relationship with the person performing the home study. The folks performing these home studies are in the adoption community and are one more source to help find a child to bring into your family.
You have eliminated some of the stress associated with adoption and you have established a valuable relationship with someone who is in the adoption community.
The South Carolina Department of Social Services provides a list of individuals who are certified to perform home studies. Please visit this link for contact information and pricing. You can also contact my office at 843-267-0906 or lawyerhall@russellslawoffice.com for information concerning home studies.
