| For an
experienced stepparent adoption lawyer serving clients in Denton, Dallas,
Collin or Tarrant County, contact The Guerra Law Firm in Carrollton, Texas.
If you are considering establishing a legal parental
relationship for your stepchild or grandchild, contact a stepparent adoption
attorney at The Guerra Law Firm to help you make your family unified.
Our family law attorneys are familiar with the adoption laws in Texas and
can help you navigate the necessary legal procedures.
If you are living in a blended family or you have been
helping to raise your stepchild or grandchild, it may be time to formalize
your parental relationship. After a child is adopted, the adoptive
parent and child enjoy the same legal rights and responsibilities as a
natural born child. As an adoptive parent, you will have all of the
legal rights of a parent, including the right to make decisions regarding
the child's school, medical treatment and other major events. You will also
have the responsibility to support the child, and he or she will have the
right to inherit from you. Most importantly, your adopted child will
gain the security and assurance that he or she is loved, wanted, and belongs
to a loving family.
In Texas, adoption of a child is a two step process.
The first step in a stepparent adoption is the
termination
of parental rights of the non-custodial biological parent. When the
parties are all in agreement, the biological parent may give up his or her
parental rights voluntarily. Even if the non-custodial parent does not
want to give up his or her rights, the Court may determine that it is in the
best interest of the child under some circumstances.
The second step for a stepparent adoption has several
procedural requirements, including providing the Court with a criminal
background check on the stepparent. There will normally be a
home study conducted, and the Court will appoint an attorney ad litem to
independently represent the child. If the child is over the age of 12,
the child must also give his or her consent to the adoption.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment
regarding stepparent adoption, please
contact us.
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