Adoption Home Studies and Custody Evaluations
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Domestic Adoption
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A Domestic Home Study is for adoptive parents wanting to complete an adoption of a child or children through a private or public agency, attorney or a privately matched birth mother.
A home visit and interviews are always part of the adoption home study process to ensure that your home is safe and appropriate. The home visit allows Cindy to get to know you and your family. After the process has been completed, Cindy will create a report that will include an assessment of your ability to parent and nurture a child brought into your family and home through adoption.
Cindy provides an independent practitioner or agency licensed study for families wanting to complete a domestic adoption. Occasionally, agency licensed studies require an additional fee.
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Stepparent Adoption
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The home study process for a stepparent, relative or second parent adoption is similar to a domestic adoption but in this type of home study, the child is usually identified and likely already in the home. The adopting parent could be a stepparent, grandparent, or other relative to the adoptive child or the partner of the natural parent. Cindy Chilcote, LCSW prepares your home study report so the Judge in your case can get a feel for your family. The home study report is intended to help the Judge in your case make a decision that is in the best interest of the child/children. Cindy Chilcote works with several attorneys that specialize in stepparent adoptions. Cindy is happy to give you referrals to attorneys that are considered to be experts in this arena.
Feel free to visit www.HomeStudyHouston.com to learn more about the home study process.
Child Custody Evaluations
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Cindy Chilcote, LCSW conducts child custody evaluations in Fort Bend, Harris, Brazos, and surrounding counties. These evaluations are only done with a signed court-order appointing her to conduct an evaluation, and Cindy Chilcote, LCSW follows the guidelines outlined in the Texas Family Code, related to Child Custody Evaluations. Child custody evaluations are conducted to assist the court in determining the best parenting plan for children in the midst of contested litigation within family law cases, and these evaluations are forensic in nature. Because, these evaluations are not therapeutic, and any and all information received by the evaluator is not confidential. Upon completion of an evaluation, one, if not both parties, can be disappointed in the assessment and/or the final recommendation since it can often be hard to examine one’s own behavior and areas in need of improvement. Cindy Chilcote attempts to ensure that each of her child custody evaluations is thorough and that she has reviewed any and all information that either party has requested for her to review within the parameters of her policies and procedures. Cindy Chilcote’s ultimate goal is to work in making a decision that appears to be in the best interest of the children involved in the case. Cindy attempts to assist parents in negotiating their lives and their home environments after a difficult divorce; while also assisting the court in making a final parenting plan for the children in question when parents are unable to resolve their own disputes.