Adoption is most commonly associated with the legal process of becoming a non-biological parent. According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, prospective adoptive parents can be single or married and must meet the following requirements:
- At least 21 years of age is required to participate.
- Have a solid financial foundation.
- Be mature and responsible.
- Fill out an adoption application and include history and lifestyle information as well as references.
- Proof of marriage and/or divorce is required (if applicable).
- Have a home study that is finished
- Submit all adults in the family to police records and child abuse checks.
Adoptions of infants
Infant adoptions are typically private adoptions created by an agreement between birth parents who are willingly giving up their parental rights as opposed to a foster or public adoption of a newborn. In private adoptions, ethical and caring adoption attorneys play a critical role in safeguarding the rights of the birth family, adoptive family, and child.
Adoption by stepparents
Stepparent adoption is the most common type of adoption in the United States, and it occurs when a new spouse petitions the court to become the legal parent of their child(ren) through marriage.
Adoption by relatives
Adopting a grandchild, niece or nephew, or cousin is referred to as a “related adoption.” While many families create informal kinship care arrangements, a legally binding relative adoption needs both parents’ parental rights to be terminated before the adoption procedure can commence. One parent’s rights must be terminated before the stepparent adoption procedure begins.
Why is hiring an attorney for assistance important?
- You’ll need a lawyer to act as a mediator between you and the other side.
- An attorney will assist you in gathering the necessary documentation.
- If any problems emerge, an attorney will represent you in court.
- Legal help will minimize the risk of adoption failure.
You should consider the advantages of having your own legal assistance to ensure you figure out what’s going on. An attorney may be quite beneficial during the adoption process. Hiring an attorney will assist you in navigating the adoption process and avoiding roadblocks, resulting in a simpler and quicker adoption.