A Comprehensive Guide to Private Adoptions in Texas!

Among all of the ways that Texas families can adopt a child, private adoption gives them the most control over the adoption arrangements and process.

With the assistance of an experienced private adoption law firm, prospective parents can work directly with mothers seeking adoptive homes for their babies.

A local adoption firm is an instrumental asset for helping parents with the legalities of adoption in Texas so they may successfully welcome a new child into their lives.

Below are the important details to know about private adoption in Texas.

What Is A Private Adoption?

A private adoption is one in which adoptive parents already know the birth mother offering her child for adoption and must simply go through the legal process of relinquishing and reassigning parental rights of that child.

To do so, parents can hire a local adoption firm to help them through the adoption process and take care of all the legal requirements.

Experienced adoption attorneys will advise prospective parents of the state requirements to complete the adoption, then facilitate the transfer between the birth mother and the adoptive individual or family.

What Is the Private Adoption Process In Texas?

To successfully complete a private adoption in Texas, a private adoption law firm will help the parties move through the following required process:

Petition for Extermination and Adoption - This filing begins the adoption process and serves to terminate the rights of biological parents to transfer them to the adoptive parents upon successful completion of the process.
Amicus Attorney and/or Attorney Ad Litem Appointed - Though the adoptive parent will hire their own adoption lawyer, the court will provide an amicus attorney to represent the court during the legal process and protect what is in the best interest of the child. Additionally, if the whereabouts of the biological parents are unknown or there are other issues pertaining to parental rights, an attorney ad litem may also be assigned by the court to facilitate the legal process.
Home Study - Once all paperwork has been filed and parental rights issues have been worked out, social workers assigned by the state will perform a detailed home study with the parents to ensure the adoptive home will be a good environment for the child.
Depositions and Affidavits - After a successful home study, Texas adoption lawyers must then assist in a social study of interested adoptees by gathering sworn statements and depositions from individuals who know the adoptive parents. These statements are collected to provide further evidence that the adoption is in the best interest of the child.
Background Check - A required background check of the hopeful parents’ criminal history will also be performed, as a number of circumstances will disqualify an individual from being able to adopt. A past that includes instances of felonies, domestic violence, sex crimes, and other criminal acts will prevent them from being able to adopt, even in a private setting.
Decree of Adoption - With the successful completion of all paperwork as well as investigations and parental rights concerns successfully addressed, the court will then transfer rights to the adoptive parent(s), finalizing this motion in a legal Decree of Adoption.

Open vs. Closed Adoptions

Another important decision that private adoption lawyers help birth and adoptive parents make when starting the adoption process is whether continuous contact after the adoption is welcome or not.

In an open adoption, contact between the parties and the child is welcome, while in a closed adoption, contact is forbidden and written into the final adoption order that it must be avoided.

Hire An Experienced Local Adoption Firm For A Private Adoption

The process of private adoption in Texas may seem confusing and stressful, but it does not have to be.

With the assistance of an experienced local adoption firm, anyone looking to adopt directly from birth parents can do so in a more relaxed and reliable setting.

Consult with a local private adoption firm to learn how they can facilitate a private adoption and help parents bring a new baby into their lives without the expense and issues often faced when dealing with agencies.