One of the biggest hurdles to adoption is a home study. The federal government requires this step for international adoptions and it is part of the investigation the court requires for domestic adoptions.
This is a thorough review of the prospective parents, their family, and their home environment — a quest to determine whether or not a person and their lifestyle can offer a suitable home for a child. Requirements vary by state, but all home studies must be performed or reviewed by an accredited agency.

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