The decision to adopt a child is one of the most important and fulfilling decisions you can make, aside from the initial decision to have a child to begin with. Adoption is an amazing way for a family to expand and ensure that all children have a great family. If you are considering adoption, there are many legal repercussions that can delay the process or even prevent it from occurring. It is important to consider these situations early on and make a plan to combat them from the onset.

Adoption can take many forms and fashions, including the age of the child, the birth country of the child, and the extraneous legal circumstances which may impact the adoption. In a typical adoption case, both parents choose to adopt a child whose parents have had their parental rights terminated. This may have been from a number of reasons, but likely the result of an order which relinquishes care and custody of the child early on to a guardian. The adoptive parents then are able to take care and control of the child after the culmination of adoption proceedings. However, this entire process often requires several different legal documents to be exchanged among the various parties, which an experienced family law attorney can assist with.

Any person in Texas may adopt a child as long as they are at least 21 years of age and can provide for a child. However, the various adoption agencies may require a potential adoptive parent to undergo rigorous background checks to ensure the child will be well-taken care of and provided for. The background checks may include criminal background checks, home visits and interviews with all members of the family, reference collections from family and friends, and documentation to indicate the family is financially stable. Once the adoption is finalized, parents will also have to go through the legal process of name change. An experienced family law attorney can assist you in drafting and filing the appropriate documentation and preparing you for the intricacies of the adoption background checks.

Adoptive parents ordinarily have standing in any situation regarding their children, as they are considered to be the guardian and conservator of the child. In certain situations, even potential adoptive parents may have standing in Suits Affecting the Parent Child Relationship, which often relate to the custody of the child. In such cases, adoptive parents or future adoptive parents may bring a claim against the parent for child support or to terminate that parent’s parental rights. An experienced family law attorney will assist you in determining the appropriate level of standing for a pending suit and can assist you in drafting legal documentation that will protect both you and the child.

If you are in the process of an adoption or are considering an adoption, do not hesitate to contact the attorneys of the Malley Law Firm. Our attorneys enjoy the experience of bringing together a new family through adoption. Adoption is one of the most beautiful moments in a parent’s life, but can also be fraught with legal issues. Our attorneys will help ease this burden and make the process relatively pain-free. Contact our Houston or Beaumont offices today for your initial free consultation.