Is there a way I can petition the court to waive the fee for the home study or waive that I do not need one since I had him for almost three years?

A home study is a necessary part of the adoption process. It should not cost $1,000. You may want to check with the adoption agency as to the cost and what the home study will entail.

The adoption statutes provide that the home study can be waived by the court if the petitioner (person adopting) is a step-parent or grandparent of the child to be adopted. I have seen some case law where the home study was waived when the child was already living with the petitioner, but it is not a guarantee. You should do a motion requesting that the home study and period of supervision be waived and detail the reasons why. You will still have to have a criminal background check conducted on yourself and any co-petitioner. If the motion is denied then you'll have to do a home study. You should submit the background checks with the motion to waive. Good luck.

In Oklahoma the only statutory provision for waiver of a home study is for step parent adoptions when the parties have been married for at least a year.