Adoption can be an exciting and healing event in the lives of those who have longed to complete their family by adding a child to it. 

I offer my services as a Social Study Investigator for families about to begin the adoption process.  My services are either requested of by individuals, couples, attorneys or can be court ordered.  I meet the current legal requirements for completing Social Studies in the state of Texas.  My years of experience allow me to provide thorough, efficient and expeditious services. 

An Adoption Social Study is required for every adoption in Texas.  The purpose of a Social Study is to help the Court determine if a stable home environment exists for an child to be added into your home.  It is my role as a Social Study Investigator to gather all of the information necessary to present a thorough report to the court. 

Information is gathered by conducting a home visit, completing interviews with you, your spouse/significant other and anyone else living in your home, gathering financial data, completing reference questionnaires and completing criminal, child abuse and sexual offender background checks.  

An Adoptive Parent History will ask questions about how you interact with others, what your childhood was like, how you were raised, what your immediate family is like and what significant adult relationships you have been involved in. Your financial ability to care for a child or children is verified through an Estimated Income worksheet.  Collecting all the documents for the home study can be time consuming however, it is essential in providing a thorough report.  Items such as marriage license(s), divorce decree(s), birth certificates, military records, tax returns, insurance policies, bank statements, stocks and bonds reports, and physician statements of health are many of the items required. 

FAQ's

How long does the home visit last?
You can expect the home visit to last approximately three hours.  Everyone that resides in the home 25% of the time or more should be present for the home visit.  The average amount of time it takes to gather all of the necessary paperwork for the visit is usually about 8 hours.   

When should you have the social study completed?
It is extremely important that the social study be started as soon as you decide you want to adopt! 

How long will it take for the investigator to complete the Social Study?
Typically, the social study can take up to six weeks to complete, however, on occasions, a home study can take longer.