Adoption Home Social Study?

I live in Texas and my wife and I are adopting her biological son (My stepson). We have a home social study coming up and to be quite honest I smoke pot on occasion and am concerned if I will be required to do a drug screen as part of this process. I do not smoke daily and never have had or will have pot in my house or around the child so don't get the wrong idea about me please. I really want this adoption and have recently stoped smoking but I am not sure when the home study will take place but fear sometime very soon and if they take hair samples it wouldn't matter anyhow. Please let me know what to expect. by the way in case it matters the Biological father is not contesting this adoption> Thanks.

I live in FL and I can't say anything about what you are going through, but I have been in a nasty custody battle for several years now. My ex has said everything from a to z including that I and my new husband use and even deal drugs. Because of this I have been through 2 court and a few police and DCF investigations. Including a home study. None have ever asked me to do a drug test, on the advice of a lawyer I did voluntarily. In you case I would think the most they might do is ask you about your drug use. Especially if this is uncontested. The state wants this child to have a stable loving home bottom line. I have always had a great respect for a man willing to take on anothers child as his own, I have seen how much this can mean in a childs life. Best Wishes and Good Luck with your new family

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by elec:
[b]I live in Texas and my wife and I are adopting her biological son (My stepson). We have a home social study coming up and to be quite honest I smoke pot on occasion and am concerned if I will be required to do a drug screen as part of this process. I do not smoke daily and never have had or will have pot in my house or around the child so don't get the wrong idea about me please. I really want this adoption and have recently stoped smoking but I am not sure when the home study will take place but fear sometime very soon and if they take hair samples it wouldn't matter anyhow. Please let me know what to expect. by the way in case it matters the Biological father is not contesting this adoption&gt; Thanks.[/b]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


My response:

I'm sorry, but my law practice does not include adoptions. Plus, and since adoption is an extremely specific area of law, I don't know Texas law in this regard, and to attempt to locate Texas law, and to give you my opinion, could do you more harm than good. You see, when it comes to adoption, this much I do know . . . an attorney really must be familiar with that State's "nuances" of the law in regard to adoption; e.g., what might work in California, may not work in Texas.

So, I will defer any further comment, with the exception that you should obtain a consultation with an Attorney in Texas who deals with adoption matters.

IAAL


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[LegalBeagle]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by elec:
[b]I live in Texas and my wife and I are adopting her biological son (My stepson). We have a home social study coming up and to be quite honest I smoke pot on occasion and am concerned if I will be required to do a drug screen as part of this process. I do not smoke daily and never have had or will have pot in my house or around the child so don't get the wrong idea about me please. I really want this adoption and have recently stoped smoking but I am not sure when the home study will take place but fear sometime very soon and if they take hair samples it wouldn't matter anyhow. Please let me know what to expect. by the way in case it matters the Biological father is not contesting this adoption&gt; Thanks.[/b]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


You have done all you can do.. ie, you have stopped doing drugs and do not have them in your house.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by cat2young:
[b]I live in FL and I can't say anything about what you are going through, but I have been in a nasty custody battle for several years now. My ex has said everything from a to z including that I and my new husband use and even deal drugs. Because of this I have been through 2 court and a few police and DCF investigations. Including a home study. None have ever asked me to do a drug test, on the advice of a lawyer I did voluntarily. In you case I would think the most they might do is ask you about your drug use. Especially if this is uncontested. The state wants this child to have a stable loving home bottom line. I have always had a great respect for a man willing to take on anothers child as his own, I have seen how much this can mean in a childs life. Best Wishes and Good Luck with your new family[/b]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Thank You so much for your support and the information you gave. I appreciate it your time as well as your objectiveness. thank you