The article is devoted to the practice of using special psychological knowledge in disputes about children. When protecting the rights of guardians, adoptive parents and children, there is a need to conduct a psychological study to resolve issues of key importance. In the article, the author considers the requirements for a social and psychological examination of adoptive parents and guardians, lists the possible resources and risks of accepting an adopted child into a family. Based on the results of such an examination, a conclusion is drawn up. The author names typical mistakes in such conclusions, gives examples of preparing conclusions of a specialist psychologist.