CHILD MALTREATMENT, STATE, & FEDERAL BACKGROUND CHECK PROCESS FOR DOMESTIC ADOPTION

THESE BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE REQUIRED BEFORE A DECREE OF ADOPTION CAN BE ENTERED AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO COMPLETE THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

STEP 1 - CHILD MALTREATMENT CHECK: 

  1. Go to https://ardhs.formstack.com/forms/dcfs_central_registry_request_v2.

  2. Choose the option that says, “None of the above applies, but you would like a registry check.”

  3. Under “General Requester Information,” input my information:

    • Organization Requesting the Report: Bell Law Co.

    • Representative Name: Evan Bell

    • Mailing Address: PO Box 11153, Conway, Arkansas 72034

    • Phone number: (501) 442-6300

    • Email: evan@belllaw.co

  4. Under “Applicant Information,” input your personal information. A form will need to be completed by each person.

  5. Click the button to have the completed form sent to your email.

  6. You should receive an email from the DCFS Central Registry with the completed form.

  7. Once you have downloaded the request form, access the Central Registry Form Uploader to send your file to the Central Registry Team using the links below:

    • You can upload a single request here.

    • You can upload multiple requests here.

  8. Complete the blanks on the website, including the following:

    1. Select “None of the above applies, but you would like a registry check.”

    2. Select “self” for applicant type.

    3. Select “no” to the question about resubmission.

  9. Click ‘Browse’ under ‘Signed Request File’ to search your computer and upload the signed copy of the form. (For multi-submissions, you must upload a signed form for each request). The signed form should consist of a minimum of three (3) pages and both pages must be uploaded.

  10. Click ‘Submit and Pay.’

  11. You will then be automatically redirected to the payment webpage (Ark Gov Pay) if a payment is required.

STEP 2 - FBI NATIONAL BACKGROUND CHECK:

  1. THIS STEP IS NOT REQUIRED IF YOU HAVE LIVED IN ARKANSAS FOR AT LEAST 6 YEARS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO FILING YOUR PETITION FOR ADOPTION.

  2. If you have lived in Arkansas for less than 6 years immediately prior to filing your petition for adoption or your adoption is an interstate adoption, a national fingerprint-based criminal background check is required and you should proceed with this step.

  3. Go to https://www.edo.cjis.gov/ and complete the steps to submit your request.

  4. An email address must be provided in order to initiate the application process. This must be done for each applicant.

  5. Once you’ve completed the steps to submit a background check request online, a secure link, along with a personal identification number, will be emailed to you. Save this email, as you will be able to use its information to check the status of your federal background check online.

  6. Print off that email and any other document you are instructed to keep, if any.

  7. Take the printed documents with you to get a fingerprint card.

    • Call Cory Adams with LR LiveScan. Cory’s number is (501) 519-5391. He will schedule an in-person appointment to get your fingerprint cards.

    • Be sure to ask Cory where the meeting will take place, but as of writing these instructions, his office is located at 6701 W. 12th Street, Suite 8, Little Rock, AR 72204 (aka Unlimited Properties).

    • Complete this form prior to scheduling your appointment.

    • The fee for each person’s search will be $20.00.

  8. You should have your completed fingerprint cards in hand within 15-20 minutes.

  9. Mail the documents you printed off and your completed fingerprint cards to:

    FBI - CJIS Division

    Attn: Electronic Summary Request

    1000 Custer Hollow Road

    Clarksburg, WV 26306

  10. Overnight is preferred if your adoption hearing or the baby’s birth is within 1 month.

  11. It is very important that the mailing address and recipient matches the address above exactly to ensure quick results.

  12. Results should come to your email address within 1 week.

STEP 3 - STATE BACKGROUND CHECK:

  1. Print and complete THIS FORM.

  2. Travel with the completed form to the Arkansas State Police Headquarters at 1 State Police Plz, Little Rock, AR 72209.

  3. Tell them you would like to submit the background check form and receive the results while you are there, if possible (should take about 30-45 minutes at most).

  4. Scan and email the completed background checks to me at evan@belllaw.co.