What is an adoption home study?
A home study is a document prepared by a licensed social worker in your state that examines every aspect of your family’s life. It includes finances, health, marital history, background checks, your feelings about adoption, why you are pursuing adoption, relationships with extended family, the anticipation of parenting styles, and a description of your home and neighborhood. This document will end in a recommendation that you will or will not be allowed to adopt.
Every person or couple hoping to adopt must complete a home study.
If you are adopting internationally, the country you are adopting from may request the apostille of this home study or other documents, like FBI Background Check, marriage, health or financial documents, USCIS approval notice, Power of Attorneys (if only one spouse will travel to the destination country), etc.
Apostille or Authentication of an Adoption Home Study
▶️ Step 1: Get your original notarized home study.
In most cases, the home study will be signed by your home study agency, and it is notarized by them. Please make sure the home study is properly notarized. Proper notarization should contain these 7 items.
▶️ Step 2: Order the service that suits your situation.
After obtaining the notarized home study, depending on whether the destination country is a member of the Hague Convention of 1961, complete the following steps:
If the destination country is a member country/region (such as Germany, Spain, France, etc.):
Get an Apostille from the Secretary of State in your state. No further certification is needed.
If the destination country is NOT a member country/region :
Get an Authentication from the Secretary of State in your state.
Get an Authentication from the U.S. Department of State. (if required)
Get a Legalization from the Embassy.
▶️ Step 3: Mail the following documents to our office.
The checklist below may vary by destination country. Be sure to contact us for confirmation.
Document | Notes |
|---|---|
|
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2. Embassy's request or application form | We'll fill out this form based on the information you provided to us. |
3. Photocopy of Applicant's ID | Acceptable IDs usually refer to Passport, Driver's License, Travel Documents, Green Card, etc. |
4. Other documents (if applicable) | |
Mailing Address:
American Notary Service Center
7512 Diplomat Drive, Suite 101,
Manassas, VA 20109Once we receive your order and document, it'll be processed as soon as possible.
Besides home studies, we also provide apostille, authentication, and embassy legalization services for other personal documents and corporate documents issued in 50 states and DC.
⬇️ Other personal and business documents we provide apostille and authentication services for are:
Personal Documents:
Business Documents:
Articles of Incorporation/Articles of Organization
Amendment
Company's Annual report (Statement of information)
Bylaws (Operating Agreements)
Good Standing Certificate
Business License
Meeting Minutes
Board Resolutions
Shareholders' Resolutions
Corporate Stock Ledger
Financial documents
Bank documents
Tax documents
Contracts
American Notary Service Center Inc. provides fair, fast, confidential, and professional document notarization and certification services for our clients. We also provide various assistance services to small businesses led by socially and economically disadvantaged groups. Our service helps small businesses obtain federal government contracts, gain a foothold in the market, and boost their sales. For more information, please visit our website at www.usnotarycenter.com, and contact us by calling 202-599-0777 or by email at info@usnotarycenter.com.