To adopt a child in Texas, you must complete an application for adoption and a home study and then wait for the adoption agency to place a child with you.
Texas has more adoptive families than any other state. People choose to become adoptive parents for many reasons. Some couples choose adoption because they have been diagnosed with infertility and have decided to become parents through adoption instead of pursuing costly elective medical treatments which carry no guarantee that they will result in a live birth. Other families possess parental love in abundance but do not want to increase the world’s population. Some of today’s adoptive parents were themselves adopted as children and want to do as their adoptive parents have done. Meanwhile, some adoptive parents wish to legally formalize the parental role they already play in the life of their stepchild, younger sibling, niece, nephew, or grandchild. The Fort Worthfamily law attorneys at the Law Office of Kyle Whitaker can help you avoid delays in the adoption process.
Are You Eligible to Adopt a Child in Texas?
The first step in the Texas adoption process is to determine your eligibility. All adoptive parents in Texas must fulfill the following criteria:
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Complete a home study and provide information about their home lives
- Have sufficient financial means to support the child (meaning that being financially responsible for the child would not make you need more public assistance than you currently receive)
- Provide references
- Undergo a criminal background check and child abuse check
Your marital status is not a factor in determining your eligibility to adopt; neither is your sexual orientation. You can still be eligible to adopt a child if you live with other adults who will not be adopting the child, but these other household members must also undergo background checks.
Factors to Consider in Your Adoption Decision
These are some of the first questions that an adoption agency or adoption lawyer will ask you:
- Do you want to adopt an infant or a child beyond the age of infancy?
- Do you want to adopt a child born in the United States or in another country?
- How much contact, if any, do you want to have with the child’s genetic parents after the adoption becomes final?
Remember that even if you do not wish to have contact with the genetic parents and they do not want to have contact with you, DNA testing is so widely available that there is almost nothing you can do to stop your adopted child from trying to contact his or her genetic relatives when he or she is an adult.
Why You Should Hire a Texas Adoption Lawyer
Mistakes in paperwork and interactions with adoption agencies can cause complications in the adoption process. A family law attorney can help you ensure that the process of adopting your child goes through successfully. Contact the Law Office of Kyle Whitaker in Fort Worth, Texas, to discuss your case.
