Adoption is an institution of family law, and its history reaches far into the past. In the contemporary context, adoption is characterized by two features. The first feature is the protection and care of minor children who lack parental care, while the second feature is of a personal nature and serves the creation of a family. Social work plays a pivotal role in adoption procedures, and its importance is highlighted through the activities of the Croatian Social Welfare Institute. The Croatian Social Welfare Institute is responsible for conducting adoption proceedings, including assessing the suitability and eligibility of potential adoptive parents, selecting the most suitable candidates, preparing the child for adoption, and the adoption process itself. In order for adoption to be established, certain prerequi sites need to be met both on the child's side and on the potential adoptive parent's side. Through out the process, special attention is given to the child's well-being. The adoption process consists of two phases. The first phase involves assessing the suitability and eligibility of potential adoptive parents, followed by the actual adoption process. The parties involved in the process are the child and the most suitable potential adoptive parent. In order for adoption to proceed, consents from certain individuals are necessary, and in some situations, the court may substitute its decision for the consent to adoption. If the adoptive parents meet all the prerequisites, they are required to undergo education. Adoption acquires legal effects upon the finality of the adoption decision, or after the expiration of the appeal period. The aim of this paper is to depict the role of social work in adoption proceedings, which encom passes assessment, preparation, and monitoring of the process to ensure safe and appropriate adoptions in accordance with the besti nterests of the child.