Florida generally requires a home study before a court will finalize an adoption, including stepparent adoptions. The home study is conducted by a licensed child-placing agency or a licensed professional, and it evaluates the home environment, the background of the adoptive parent, and the suitability of the proposed placement. In stepparent adoption cases, the child is already living in the home, which tends to make the home study process less intensive than it would be in a stranger adoption. The evaluator typically reviews the condition of the home, interviews the adults in the household, and reviews background check results.
Florida courts have discretion to waive the home study requirement in stepparent adoption cases when the circumstances support it. A waiver is most likely to be granted when the child has lived with the stepparent for an extended period and the relationship is well-established, with no indication of any concern that would warrant a formal investigation. A Fort Lauderdale step parent adoption attorney assesses whether a waiver request is appropriate in the client's specific case and prepares the motion and supporting materials needed to present it to the court.
