Dallas Private Adoption Lawyers
Understanding the Private Adoption Process in Texas
Many prospective parents underestimate just how complicated the adoption process can be. If you want to adopt a child, having an experienced adoption lawyer by your side can help you navigate the endeavor more easily.
At Verner Brumley Mueller Parker PC, our Dallas private adoption attorneys can help you prepare to adopt a child and finalize the adoption.
To schedule a consultation with our team or learn more about the adoption process in Texas, contact us online or via phone at (214) 225-6766.
What Is a Private Adoption?
There are three different types of adoption:
- Foster care adoption, in which parents work with the Texas foster care system to adopt a child from a foster care facility;
- Private adoption, in which parents work with a private adoption agency to adopt a child;
- International adoption, in which parents work with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to adopt a child from a different country.
Our services are tailored to helping parents adopt from private adoption agencies.
How Does Private Adoption Work in Texas?
To adopt a child in Texas, you must:
- Be at least 21 years old;
- Be financially stable;
- Complete an adoption application, complete with information about why you want to adopt, identifying documents, and information about your lifestyle;
- Provide references who can vouch for your capabilities as a parent;
- Provide proof of marriage if you wish to adopt a child with your spouse;
- Complete a home study with the adoption professional(s) overseeing the adoption process;
- Complete criminal background and abuse checks to ensure you and any adults in your household do not pose a danger to the child.
The home study is often the most rigorous part of the adoption process. During a home study, adoption professionals will visit your home to ensure it can meet an adoptee's needs. Adoption professionals may also require prospective parents to take various parenting classes to prepare them for the adoption.
Depending on your case's circumstances, you may also need to make other decisions throughout the Texas adoption process.
Close vs. Open Adoption: What You Need to Know
For example, you might need to decide whether you want a close or an open adoption. In an open adoption, the adoptee's biological parents maintain contact with the adoptive parents post-adoption. In a closed adoption, the biological parents do not contact the adoptive parents after the adoption is finalized. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages - consider speaking with your adoption professional and lawyer to see which they recommend.
The Benefits of Choosing Private Adoption
Eventually, assuming you meet the requirements to adopt, the adoption agency will match you with a prospective adoptee. One major advantage of private adoption is that it's easier for parents to match with an infant, which can make bonding with the adoptee slightly easier. If it's a good match and the child's biological parent(s) approve, the adoption agency can move forward with the adoption.
Our Dallas private adoption attorneys will help you throughout the adoption process and work with you to legalize the adoption. We can also help you prepare for post-adoption occurrences, such as post-placement visits from adoption professionals and the finalization hearing that will sign the adoption into law. If you need an adoption attorney in Dallas, contact Verner Brumley Mueller Parker.
To schedule a consultation with our team of adoption attorneys in Dallas and receive the support you deserve during the adoption process, contact our office online or via phone at (214) 225-6766.