Your Adoption Home Study Checklist

If you want to adopt a child in Georgia, there are important legal and emotional steps you must take — and one of the most crucial is completing an adoption home study.

Having a clear and detailed home study checklist can ensure you’re fully prepared for every part of this important process. With the right preparation, you can confidently approach your home study and get one step closer to growing your family through adoption.

Fill out our online contact form to learn how we can walk with you through every part of your adoption journey in Georgia.

Your Adoption Home Study Checklist

The home study adoption checklist includes everything you’ll need to prepare your home, your family, and your paperwork for the evaluation. Your social worker will assess these areas during the adoption home visit, so it’s important to be as thorough as possible.

Here’s what to include on your adoption home study checklist:

Documents

These items help verify your legal and financial readiness to adopt in Georgia:

Required for all adults in the household. In Georgia, this includes a fingerprint-based criminal records check.

Recent tax returns, pay stubs, and other proof of income to show financial stability.

Physical and mental health evaluations from a licensed medical professional.

Letters from non-family members who can attest to your character and parenting potential.

A narrative about your life, values, and reasons for adoption.

Home Environment

The adoption home inspection checklist ensures your home is safe and suitable for a child:

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors – Must be working and located in proper areas, in accordance with Georgia code.
Fire extinguishers – Should be easily accessible.
Childproofing – Outlets covered, medications and cleaning supplies secured, sharp objects stored.
Sleeping arrangements – Adequate space and safe sleeping setups for the adopted child.
Sanitation and cleanliness – The home must be clean and free of hazards.

Family Interviews

During the social worker home visit checklist, a licensed professional will speak with everyone in your home:

Education & Training

Georgia requires adoptive parents to complete training hours:

Adoptive parent education – Topics often include trauma-informed care, transracial adoption, and post-placement support.
CPR/First aid certification – May be required depending on your adoption type or agency.

How to Prepare for the Social Worker Home Visit: Checklist [4 Steps]

Completing your home study adoption checklist can feel overwhelming — but breaking it down into manageable steps can make the process smoother and less stressful. Preparing for your social worker home visit starts well before they arrive.

Here's how to get ready for this important milestone in the Georgia adoption process:

Begin by collecting the documents your home study provider will need. These typically include background checks, financial statements, medical records, reference letters, and autobiographical statements. Having these ready ahead of time can speed up your home study and show your commitment to the process. In Georgia, fingerprint-based background checks are a state requirement for all adults living in the home.

Use an adoption home inspection checklist to walk through your home and identify areas that may need attention. Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working, hazardous materials are stored safely, and there’s a clean, comfortable space for your future child. Your social worker isn’t looking for perfection — they’re looking for a safe, stable, and loving environment.

Your social worker will ask about your upbringing, your values, your parenting approach, and your reasons for choosing adoption. These conversations are personal, but they're meant to ensure you're emotionally prepared. It helps to reflect on these topics ahead of time so you can speak openly and confidently. If you have children, they may be interviewed as well.

You don’t have to figure everything out on your own. Working with an experienced and licensed professional ensures that nothing is missed from your adoption home study checklist. When you work with our team, we’ll guide you through every step — from documents to interviews — and help you avoid common mistakes that can cause delays or denials in Georgia

Adoption Home Study Checklist [Get the Support You Deserve]

Starting the adoption process is exciting — but it’s normal to feel overwhelmed by the many moving parts of a home study. That’s where we come in.

As a licensed home study provider in Georgia, we streamline the entire process to help you avoid delays, errors, or legal roadblocks. Unlike professionals who are only familiar with one county’s laws, our team is licensed across the entire state. That means you won’t run into unexpected hurdles due to regional differences.

Here’s how we make it easier for you:

You deserve a family. You also deserve a licensed, trusted agency that knows how to make it happen without wasting your time or putting your investment at risk.

Contact Us

The home study may feel like one of the biggest steps in your adoption journey — but you don’t have to do it alone.

Our experienced, Georgia-licensed staff will walk with you every step of the way.

Your Adoption Home Study Checklist [FAQ]

How to write an adoption home study?

An adoption home study is written by a licensed social worker after visiting your home and conducting interviews. It includes your family background, motivation to adopt, living environment, financial information, and references. It’s a comprehensive profile used to assess your readiness to adopt.

How do I prepare for adoption process?

To prepare for adoption, start by researching agencies, completing your home study checklist, gathering documents, childproofing your home, and attending required education. Working with a full-service agency can make this process smoother and more manageable.

What do they look for in adoptive parents?

Social workers look for emotionally stable, financially secure individuals or couples who can provide a safe, loving, and permanent home. They assess lifestyle, home safety, family dynamics, and motivation to adopt.

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