[watermelon0719]

I was wondering if we have to get fingerprinted for a domestic adoption, or if they just do a criminal background check. If we do have to get fingerprinted, can we go ahead and do that before we even start the homestudy or will that not work? I am just looking for ways to speed up the process and already have some things ready. Anything else I can get a head start on? Thanks!

[Fran27]

Some states require them, others don't, so better safe than sorry!

About starting ahead, they usually want to know who you want them for though, so it might be tricky. Your best bet is to ask for the papers as soon as you turn in your application for the homestudy, and they should be back by the time the homestudy is done.

[Hopp]

If you are going to adopted from another state, they will be required. Go to your local police station and they'll do them. Call ahead for an appointment. We did it during a lunch hour.

Your agency will need to give you the forms and then send them off to the FBI for the check. I can't remember the cost, but it was around $30. It took about 6 wks to get the report back to have it included in our homestudy.

Yes, it is better to do it and be safe than have that holdup later.

[beth9927]

Just a note, we adopted out of state and did not have to have fingerprinting done. Others I know have, reason being they had lived outside of their residing state within the last # of years, and we have never lived outside of our state.

Beth

[Hopp]

Yep, I forgot about that. Thanks Beth. We've lived outside the state a few years ago, so that may be why.

[ourdreamcametru]

Yes, you will be fingerprinted. Our attorney required us to use our local police department so I would not get them done ahead of time. It doesn't take long once you get there to have them done, maybe 15-30 minutes.

[nycfsa]

You should probably wait until you start your homestudy. We had our fingerprints done at the police station (with ink) for our first adoption, then the rules changed in NJ and we had to get them redone at the last minute before the paperwork could go thru on our second adoption (I'm not talking about the homestudy paperwork...this was the paperwork for getting a court date after we had our second son for six months). NJ now uses "livescan" prints which are electronic. You need agency codes, etc to get them done so we wouldn't have been able to do them on our own. You might be wasting your time if you just go to the police station and get them done.

[watermelon0719]

Thanks for all the replies! We will definitely get our fingerprints done - I called the HS agency and we do need them. One more quick question - do we just tell the fingerprint people that we need them for adoption? Will they keep the fingerprints on file until the HS agency asks for them, or will we have to bring the agency's mailing info to the appt?
Thanks again!
Edited to add - Oops, just saw the last two messages! That's what I was wondering about... guess I'll have to ask the fingerprint lady. We live in a rural town where the fingerprinting lady only comes to visit at the Dept of Health and Welfare every Friday. The DHW people didn't know anything about it.

[Hopp]

Our prints were done on cards provided by the homestudy agency. They also provided me with the letter and envelope to mail them off to the FBI. The police didn't keep them because they don't need them for anything. Yes, you'll end up telling them what they are for. We had a fun time doing this becuase the man that did ours was a hoot. He was a new daddy and was cutting up with us and very excited for us to be parents too.