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Basic Guidelines to Consider Before Seeking Adoption

On Behalf of | Feb 27, 2017 | Uncategorized

You recently found your soul mate and after spending valuable time together, getting hitched appears as the most logical thing to do. In most cases, your significant other is rarely attached to family responsibilities as a parent. In some situations, they might be a divorcee with a couple of children. When you tie the knot with such a person, you essentially become part of their life and raising their children as your own would eventually become a norm. Adopting a child is widely considered to be a noble and responsible thing to do by any spouse. As a Texas resident, adopting a stepchild is quite a simple process, to say the least.

The adoption process can be much easier when both birth parents consent to the adoption for the best interests of the child. When a non-custodial parent agrees with the espousal of their child, they comprehensively give up all parental rights and responsibilities. If the child has exceeded 12 years of age, then obtaining their consent becomes crucial in the entire process. Nevertheless, the courts can revoke parental rights when a non-custodial parent fails to meet their basic responsibilities such as child support or failed to make any contact with the child.

Filing for adoption is a no-brainer, and mainly follows a similar structure to any legal procedure. The first order of business would involve filing for adoption petition at a Texas court. Once received, the court would conduct a social study to determine your capacity to raise a child. In simpler terms, they would evaluate your financial stability and identify any past criminal records that might affect the adoption process. As an adoptive parent, it is in your best interests to ensure that you have a clean criminal record.

In case the court finds you unfit to adopt a child, termination of rights is immediately instigated, and further actions can be taken to protect the child. While filing for adoption, it is crucial to decide on the best type of child custody to pursue. In an open adoption, the adoptive parent meets and maintains contact with the birth mother. For a closed adoption, no regular contact is established between contracting parties.

Before making any significant decision, contact an experienced New York adoption attorney for basic legal advice.

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