Need a Houston Adoption Attorney? Call the Longworth Law Firm if you need help with adoption or family law issues in Texas.
Adoption Attorney in Houston
Children need a stable loving home for them to develop into useful members of our communities. Adoption gives every child a chance to belong to a loving family, but the process can be extremely complex and full of frustrations.
But with the help of an experienced family law attorney the whole process may become easier and more likely to be successful.
Your attorney will handle all the initial paperwork and make sure that all the rules are followed to avoid any issues in the future.
Adoption Process in Houston
You need to go through some processes and fulfill certain requirements for an adoption to be finalized.
The biological parent or parents of the child must first terminate their parental rights voluntary, or the rights must be terminated by the state.
The state can only terminate parental rights because of abandonment, neglect, abuse, or a situation where the biological parents are unfit to care for the child. Other requirements and procedures include:
- The adoptive parents must have lived with the child for at least six months
- There needs to be home visits where all family members are present so that the prospective parents may be interviewed (home study)
- Background checks and criminal records should be presented to the court
- Finances of the family will be looked at to determine financial stability
- The child will need to consent to the adoption if they are over 12 years of age
In an interstate adoption situation the adoptive parents will have to have counsel in Texas and in the state where the child currently lives.
Adoption Family Lawyer in Houston
Types of Adoptions
You will need a lawyer that gives extra attention to detail and reviews all the documents to prevent any unexpected future roadblocks. Your lawyer can handle all your legal issues even when you are seeking to adopt a relative or want to adopt through an adoption agency. Your family law attorney can help you handle different adoptions such as:
International Adoption
This involves adopting a child from other regions or countries outside the United States. The prospective parents still have to comply with Texas adoption rules and also international adoption rules.
Stepparent adoption in Houston
A stepparent can get parental rights for the child of their spouse in certain situations. For example, a stepparent may want to adopt a child if the biological parent of the child is abusive to the child.
Private adoption
The birth mother or birth parents are able to choose the family that will adopt their child. The prospective parents can also choose the birth mother.
Adoption Lawyer Questions
When hiring a lawyer there are certain questions you should ask. First, ask the lawyer how long the lawyer has been practicing law. Find out whether the lawyer has handled cases similar to yours in the past and what the likely outcome of your case will be. Experience matters in legal practice because a lawyer that has handled cases similar to yours is able to determine the possible outcome of your case.
See also…Joint Custody in Texas