Services
We offer a range of specialized services tailored to meet your individual needs. Our approach is focused on understanding and responding to what you require, providing effective and practical solutions.
Domestic and International Homestudies
A home study is comprehensive report written by an adoption social worker of a licensed adoption agency regarding the suitability of single people or married couples to become adoptive parents.
This evaluation process includes interviews with the prospective adoptive parent(s), obtaining documentation, verifying birth, marriage and divorce of the adoptive parent(s), criminal clearances, child abuse registry clearances, verification of employment, reference letters, physician/medical report, and any other background information; needed by the state or country the prospective adoptive parent(s) is adopting from.
Home studies are a time for your social worker to help you prepare for adoptive parenthood, address issues unique to adoptive families and provide education about adoption.
In North Carolina, a home study must be completed within 90 days.
International vs Domestic Adoption Home studies.
All home studies typically require the same basic information, However, they differ in some respects.
Domestic Home Studies;
Domestic Home Studies are typically written to satisfy state governments, your adoption agency and adoption court requirements. Most of these requirements are basically the same but there can be some differences as it pertains to the number of home visits, ages, marital status, and training requirements.
International Home studies:
International home studies must meet the requirements of the country where the prospective adoptive parent(s) are adopting from. In addition, since all international adoptions follow the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, under this convention, home studies must meet federal requirements. This typically pertains to the person’s background, previous adoptions and specific training requirements.
NC Homestudies, LLC has many years of experience and knowledge completing both domestic and international home studies.
Relative, Step-parent and Second-parent Services
Welcoming a child into your life is an incredible milestone, and ensuring they are legally protected is a top priority for every family. In North Carolina, the path to establishing these legal bonds requires specific steps, including same-sex couples.
While some states offer "second-parent adoption"—which allows a partner to adopt without being married—North Carolina does not currently permit this option for unmarried couples. Practically speaking, this means the couple must be legally married for one partner to adopt their spouse’s biological child.
Marriage alone does not automatically grant you legal parental rights to your spouse's child. Choosing stepparent adoption is the most secure way to ensure both of you have equal, lifelong rights to love and care for your child.
This legal connection provides vital peace of mind. It safeguards your child’s right to a stable relationship with both parents, ensuring your bond is protected no matter what the future holds.
Relative Adoption
A relative adoption in North Carolina allows specific family members to legally adopt a relative child. Qualifying relatives include grandparents, full or half siblings, first cousins, aunts, uncles, great-aunts, great-uncles, or great-grandparents. The process and requirements for relative adoptions are the same as for
step-parent and second parent adoptions.
Post Placement and Post Adoption Reporting.
Post-placement and Post-adoption supervision typically involves a series of home visits. These visits allow the agency to assess the child’s integration into the family, and to monitor the child’s development. While it is completely normal to feel anxious about these home visits, but there is no need to worry. Just like during your home study, your social worker is on your team and wants your adoption to succeed.
What Happens During a Home Visit?
You will likely find that visits feel a lot like your original home study. Your social worker will focus on how your family is bonding and adjusting.
- Discuss daily routines
and family adjustment. - Observe interactions between you and your child.
- Review medical care, including pediatrician visits.
- Track development, such as your child's milestones.
- Discuss and resource needs, and offer referrals to those resources
Once visits are complete, your social worker will submit a report to your adoption agency, attorney, or the court.
Post-Placement and Post Adoption Visit Requirements
North Carolina typically requires two post-placement visits (and accompanying reports) prior to the finalization of a domestic adoption. However, if the placement is from out of state, that sending state and/or court, may require additional visits and reports. The number and timeline will vary from state to state.
North Carolina does not require post adoption reports, for international adoption, however, the sending country may require post adoption visits and reports. The number and timeline will vary from country to country.
