Criminal Background Checks - Adoption

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Three forms are required for fingerprint-based criminal background checks for adoptive parents and all adults living in an adoptive home.

Please Note: Not all forms are compatible with Mac programs.   
 

Instructions:   
How to Complete Forms and Submit a Fingerprint-based Criminal Background Check

Form 1    
Personal Authorization for Criminal History Record Information Inquiry (SFN 829)   
(This form must be typed)

Additional Address History   
(Use as needed and attach along with SFN 829)

Form 2   
Criminal History Record Check Request Form (SFN 60688)   
(This form must be typed; Signature must be handwritten)   
- OR -   
Adoption Home Assessment Update (BCI only - SFN 60688)   
(This form must be typed; Signature must be handwritten)

Form 3   
Fingerprint Identity Verification (SFN 836)   
(Print a blank copy of this form; not required for home assessment updates)

All fees for private adoption background checks must be paid by the applicant. This includes fees assessed by other states or tribal court/child welfare agencies.

All fees must be paid with a check or money order payable to ND Department of Health and Human Services. Current background check fee is $41.25.  Effective 12/27/2024, background check fee will be $40.00.

Tribal record fees are Spirit Lake Nation - $30, Standing Rock Sioux - $30, Three Affiliated Tribes $10, Turtle Mountain Band Chippewa - $10, Sisseton-Wahpeton - $20.  Additional fees for other states may be required.  

If you have lived outside of North Dakota during the past five years, click on each state you have lived in (below) to see if you need to:

  • Complete additional out-of-state authorization forms for each state you have lived in,
  • Provide a copy of a valid photo ID or a copy of your social security card, and/or
  • Provide an extra set of fingerprint cards (must obtained from a law enforcement agency or an authorized third-party fingerprinting agency)
  • Submit payment for additional fees.

(If any of the above additional items are required, they must be mailed to the Bismarck office.  Please DO NOT send anything directly to other states.)

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Individual State Background Check Forms

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Individual State Background Check Forms

Select from the list below. PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY!

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Alabama

The signature on the form below must be witnessed.

Child Protective Services form 

Alaska

Child Protective Services form 

Arizona

Child Protective Services form

Arkansas

  • Complete the form below - notary not necessary.
  • Due to their requirements, a second form will be generated by the CBCU and it will be emailed directly to you.
  • The online-generated form DOES require a notary.
  • Mail the completed form to the CBCU.
  • Please Do NOT mail it to Arkansas.

Child Protective Services form 

California

  • No form required.
  • $15 processing fee (make payable to ND DHHS)

Colorado

  • You will receive email instructions after the department receives your background check request.
  • $30 processing fee (make payable to ND DHHS)

Connecticut

Child Protective Services form

Delaware

Idaho

  • Signature must be notarized.
  • $20 processing fee (make payable to ND DHHS) - PRIVATE ADOPTION ONLY

Child Protective Services form (2.61mb pdf)

Illinois

Child Protective Services form

Indiana

  • Online form required.
  • You will receive email instructions upon the department initiating a registry search.

Iowa

No forms are required.

Kansas

Child Protective Services form

Kentucky

A witness signature is required.

Child Protective Services form

Louisiana

The form below requires a photo ID.

Child Protective Services form

Maine

  • Complete only if you are 18 yrs old or older
  • This form CANNOT BE TYPED
  • $15 processing fee (make checks payable to ND DHHS)

Child Protective Services form

Maryland

The form below must be typed. The signature must be notarized.

Child Protective Services form

Massachusetts

Child Protective Services form

Michigan

  • A copy of a valid photo ID is required.
  • Signature and signature date must be handwritten.

Child Protective Services form 

Minnesota

  • You will receive email instructions after the department receives your background check request.
  • $20 processing fee. (make payable to ND DHHS)

Mississippi

  • Online form required.
  • You will receive email instructions upon the department initiating a registry search.

Missouri

No additional form is required.

Montana

The signature on the form below must be notarized.

Child Protective Services form (74kb pdf)

Nebraska

  • The signature on the form below must be notarized.
  • If the applicant is not 19 years old or older, the applicant's parent or guardian must sign the form.
  • $2.50 processing fee (make payable to ND DHHS)

Child Protective Services form 

Nevada

The form below requires a photo ID, DO NOT NOTARIZE.

Child Protective Services form 

New Hampshire

The signature on the form below must be notarized.

Child Protective Services form 

New Jersey

Child Protective Services form 

New Mexico

The form below must be typed.

Child Protective Services form 

New York

The signature on the form below must be notarized.

Child Protective Services form 

North Carolina

The form below must be typed and requires a copy of a valid photo ID.

Child Protective Services form 

Ohio

  • Form below must be typed.
  • Requires a copy of a valid photo ID and a copy of the applicant's social security card.
  • Results will be mailed to the applicant.
  • Applicant must forward them to the Criminal Background Check Unit in Bismarck.

Child Protective Services form (138kb pdf)

Oklahoma

Does not maintain a public registry.

Oregon

The form below must be typed.

Child Protective Services form (837kb Word doc)

Pennsylvania

$13 processing fee (make payable to ND DHHS)

Child Protective Services form

Rhode Island

No forms are required.

South Carolina

  • You will receive email instructions after the department receives your background check request.

South Dakota

The signature on the form below must be notarized.

Child Protective Services form (81kb pdf)

Tennessee

No forms are required.

Texas

You will receive email instructions after the department receives your background check request.

Utah

The form below requires a photo ID.

Child Protective Services form (1.17mb pdf)

Vermont

No forms are required.

Virginia

  • You will receive email instructions after the department receives your background check request.
  • $10 processing fee (make payable to ND DHHS)

Washington

$20 processing fee (make payable to ND DHHS).

Child Protective Services form (166kb pdf)

Washington, D.C.

Full 18 years of address history and photo ID are required.

Child Protective Services form (494kb pdf)

West Virginia

Child Protective Services form

Wisconsin

No forms are required.

Wyoming

Instructions will be emailed to the applicant.

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Contact Information

Criminal Background Check Unit
600 E. Boulevard Avenue, Department 325
Bismarck, ND 58505-0250
Phone: (701) 328-7575
Toll-Free: (800) 472-2622, 711 (TTY)
Fax: (701) 328-0358
Email: dhscfscbc@nd.gov