FAQS About Adoption

Below are some frequently asked questions about Adoption:

What types of adoption exist in North Carolina?

NC has different types of adoption to meet different family needs. The types of adoption procedures in North Carolina include:

• Private agency adoptions (closed adoptions)
• Open adoptions (the adoptive parents know the biological parents’ identities)
• Relative adoptions (when parents are unable to care for a child)
• Stepparent adoption (for mixed families after remarriage)
• Grandparent adoption (when parents are unable to care for a child)

What is a home study?

When you file an application to become an adoptive parent, you will need to perform a home study with a social worker. A home study is usually necessary (except in stepparent adoptions) so the court can determine if you can provide a safe and loving environment for a child.

It will include fingerprinting and background checks of all adults living in the home. The social worker will also interview each adult and get documentation about important lifestyle factors, including household income, education levels, demographic information, and more. Additionally, if there are already children in the home, the social worker will observe their well-being.

How do I adopt a child from the foster care system?

Not all children in foster care are available for adoption. Most will return to their families when conditions are better for them to return home. However, approximately one-third of NC’s foster care children will need the love and support of an adoptive family.

Most children in foster care available for adoption are school-aged children or siblings who need to be adopted together into the same home. Many face years of moving between foster homes. The foster care adoption lawyers with our firm at Speaks Law Firm, PC Family Law Division can help you file your petition to adopt.

How do I find a reputable step-parent adoption attorney near me?

If you married the love of your life and now want to adopt your spouse’s child or children, you need to find more than just “adoption attorneys near me” online. We can help you find the other biological parent to revoke their parental rights and allow you to adopt.

Adoption in NC is a complex legal process that requires applications, fees, a pre-placement assessment (home study), and proof that you and the child are a good fit. Contact our team at Speaks Law Firm, PC Family Law Division at (910) 769-7339 in Wilmington, NC, to schedule a case review with a NC adoption lawyer.