"A Long Way From Home" is the seventh episode of the third season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It is the 31st overall episode of the series and was written by producer Etan Frankel, and directed by Mimi Leder. It originally aired on Showtime on March 3, 2013.

The series is set on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, and depicts the poor, dysfunctional family of Frank Gallagher, a neglectful single father of six: Fiona, Phillip, Ian, Debbie, Carl, and Liam. He spends his days drunk, high, or in search of money, while his children need to learn to take care of themselves. In the episode, Frank and Fiona face in court to determine the future of the children.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 1.76 million household viewers and gained a 0.8 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim, who praised the main storyline, writing and performances (particularly Rossum).

Fiona (Emmy Rossum) prepares to ask a lawyer to help her gain full custody of her siblings, planning to cut ties with Frank (William H. Macy) after discovering he was the anonymous tip. Frank, meanwhile, is planning to appeal to maintain his paternity rights and tries to get sobriety chips to help his case.

Debbie (Emma Kenney) dislikes her new home, as Mama Kamala (Juanita Jennings) makes her work on illegal manual labor along with the other children. One night, she decides to glue her eyes after drugging her with benadryl and runs back home to eat. Lip (Jeremy Allen White) and Mandy (Emma Greenwell) visit Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) and Liam at their home, with Lip asking him to resist his new lifestyle while the case is worked out. Ian (Cameron Monaghan) visits Mickey (Noel Fisher), who is still shaken by the brutal beating that his father gave him; Ian is heartbroken when Mickey chooses to avoid him. Meanwhile, Jimmy (Justin Chatwin) is constantly brought back into Estefania's apartment, as he needs to convince immigration officers of their marriage.

Sheila (Joan Cusack) is disturbed when Jody (Zach McGowan) returns to his sex addiction, as he wants her to perform erotic asphyxiation on him. They are visited by Timmy Wong (Albert Kuo) and his mother, who want to take Hymie to live with them. Despite Jody protesting, Sheila realizes she has an unfit home for a baby and reluctantly decides to give Hymie back to the Wong family. Later, Sheila desperately asks Frank to help her stage an intervention for Jody's sex addiction. Frank and his friend Tommy (Michael Patrick McGill) help Jody understand the consequences of his addiction and convince him in changing for the sake of Sheila; Frank also seizes the opportunity to take Jody's chips to help his case. The following day, Sheila is shocked when Karen (Laura Slade Wiggins) returns; Karen apologizes to her mother for her past actions, and the two reconcile.

To better her chances in court, Fiona forges a will in which Aunt Ginger leaves them with the house, and she forges Monica's signature to sign away her paternity rights. With the help of Veronica (Shanola Hampton), Fiona also gets an unidentified body from the morgue, preventing Frank from cashing more checks. While Frank and Fiona face in court, Lip and Mandy try to file the forged will, but they find out that Patrick, Frank's cousin, has already filed an equally forged will that supersedes theirs. In court, Frank and Fiona both give their respective statements. In his chambers, the Judge tells Fiona that while he is aware of Frank's pathological lies, the lack of evidence prevents him from taking his parental rights. However, he tells Fiona that he will make her a legal guardian, but warns her that taking on the responsibility will greatly affect her future. After considering, Fiona ultimately decides to accept; the kids are allowed to move back home, while Frank is tasked to attend 60 days of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

The episode was written by producer Etan Frankel, and directed by Mimi Leder. It was Frankel's fourth writing credit, and Leder's third directing credit.