Background checks are the part of the home study that makes a lot of families nervous. They don't need to. Once you know exactly which clearances Florida requires and how to get each one, this is one of the most straightforward pieces of the whole process.
Here is everything you need to know about fingerprinting and background checks for a Florida adoption home study: what's required, who needs to do it, what it costs, and how to keep it from slowing you down.
The Short Answer
A Florida adoption home study requires four background clearances. Three of them apply to everyone in your home age 12 and older, and one is for the adults only:
- FBI and FDLE fingerprinting through Fieldprint (typically $45 to $49 per person, everyone 12 and older)
- DCF child abuse history check (form CF 1651, everyone 12 and older)
- Local background clearance from your county sheriff's office or police department (everyone 12 and older)
- Attestation of Good Moral Character (DCF form CF 1649, adults only)
When you begin your home study with us, you get all of the forms and step-by-step instructions in your client packet, so you never have to figure out which form goes where.
Who Needs a Background Check?
Every person living in your home who is 12 years or older at the time the home study is written needs to complete the fingerprinting, the DCF check, and the local clearance. That isn't just the adoptive parents. It includes teenage children, adult children living at home, grandparents, other relatives, and anyone else who lives with you.
One detail families sometimes miss: the age is counted when the home study is written, not when you start. If a child in your home is about to turn 12, plan on including them.
The one exception is the Attestation of Good Moral Character, which is signed by the adults in your home only.
1. FBI and FDLE Fingerprinting Through Fieldprint
This is the clearance most people mean when they say "background check." One fingerprinting appointment produces two results: a state check through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and a national check through the FBI.
How Much Does Fieldprint Cost?
Fingerprinting has typically cost between $45 and $49 per person. That single fee covers both the FDLE and FBI results, so for a two-parent household with no other members 12 or older, plan on a little under $100 total. Fieldprint sets this price, not us, so it can change. You'll see the current amount when you schedule your appointment.
How Fast Are the Results?
Adoption Support Services of Florida is an approved LiveScan eligible agency. LiveScan is electronic fingerprinting, so there are no ink cards to mail. Your results are sent directly to us, typically within 24 to 72 hours of your appointment.
How to Schedule Your Appointment
Fieldprint has fingerprinting locations throughout Florida. You can schedule online at fieldprintflorida.com by clicking "Schedule an Appointment," or call Fieldprint at (877) 614-4364.
When you schedule, you'll enter a Fieldprint code that identifies you as one of our clients. That code is what routes your results to us instead of leaving them sitting somewhere else. You'll find it, along with the agency information to enter, in the instructions in your client packet. You'll also sign a short VECHS waiver form that authorizes us to submit your fingerprints to FDLE for review.
Tip: schedule fingerprinting first. It takes one short appointment and the results come back within a few days. Send your DCF form back to us right away, too, since that check takes the longest. Getting both done in your first week keeps background checks from becoming the thing that holds up your home study.
2. DCF Child Abuse History Check
Florida also requires a check of the Department of Children and Families abuse registry. Each person in your home age 12 and older completes the DCF Child Abuse History Record Request (form CF 1651).
One important note: return this form to us. Please do not send it directly to DCF. We submit it on your behalf as part of your home study.
How long it takes: the DCF check is usually the slowest of the four clearances, typically one to two weeks. The good news is that DCF has been getting faster lately. Returning your form to us early is the best way to keep it from holding anything up.
3. Local Background Clearance
In addition to the state, federal, and DCF checks, Florida requires a local background clearance from the law enforcement agency where you live. There's no special form for this one. You request it from your county sheriff's office or local police department.
Every county handles these requests a little differently. Some have online portals and others handle requests in person or by mail. To make it easy, our client packet includes a guide with the records request link for every county sheriff's office in Florida, all 67 of them.
4. Attestation of Good Moral Character
The last piece is a short signed statement, the Attestation of Good Moral Character (DCF form CF 1649). Each adult in your home completes and signs it to confirm that they meet Florida's good moral character standards. Children and teens in the home don't need one. It's a simple form, and it's included in your client packet with the others.
What If Something Shows Up on My Record?
This is the question many families are afraid to ask, so let's answer it directly. Having something on your record does not automatically end your adoption journey. Every situation is different.
If anything is reported, you'll need to:
- Obtain all related reports (court documents, police reports, case dispositions)
- Provide a written explanation of the circumstances involving law enforcement
The best thing you can do is be upfront. If you know something will come up, tell Christen before you get fingerprinted. That conversation is confidential, and it lets us talk honestly about what to expect and gather the right documents from the start instead of scrambling later.
Do I Need New Background Checks for a Home Study Update?
Yes. Background clearances are part of a home study update, too, so plan on repeating fingerprinting and the other checks when your home study is updated. We'll send you an update packet with everything you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fieldprint fingerprinting has typically cost between $45 and $49 per person. Fieldprint sets the price, so it can change, and you'll see the current amount when you schedule. That one appointment produces both your FDLE (Florida) and FBI (national) results.
Everyone living in your home who is 12 years or older at the time the home study is written needs fingerprinting, the DCF check, and the local clearance. That includes teenagers, adult children, relatives, and anyone else who lives with you. Only the adults sign the Attestation of Good Moral Character.
Because we're an approved LiveScan eligible agency, your FBI and FDLE results are sent to us electronically and typically arrive within 24 to 72 hours of your appointment. The DCF child abuse check usually takes one to two weeks, though it has been getting faster.
A record doesn't automatically end the process. You'll need to provide all related reports and a written explanation of the circumstances. Call Christen before you're fingerprinted so she can talk through your specific situation confidentially.
No. Return your completed CF 1651 Child Abuse History Record Request to us, and we'll submit it as part of your home study.
The Bottom Line
Background checks are required for every Florida adoption home study, but they don't have to be stressful or slow. Get fingerprinted early, send your forms back to us, and let us handle the rest. If you have questions about your situation, or something on your record you're worried about, reach out. Christen will give you a straight, confidential answer.