Stepparent Adoptions Can Make Your Family Complete

There may be many reasons why you are considering adoption. You may have been a single parent who has remarried and your new spouse would like to adopt your children. Or, you may have married someone and want to adopt his or her children.

No matter what the reason, the process to complete an adoption is very technical. You need experienced legal counsel to secure your rights. I am family law attorney Kristi Barnhill, and I am here to help. To learn more about how I can help with your stepchild adoption, contact my law firm in The Woodlands, Texas, online or call 713-965-7612 to schedule a consultation.

Defining The Stepparent Adoption Process In Texas

Before filing for adoption, the parental rights of the biological parent must be terminated. Once terminated, he/she will have no claim to the child, no visitation rights and will no longer have to pay child support. This termination process can be accomplished by obtaining a voluntary affidavit from the biological parent if he/she is in agreement.

If the biological parent refuses to surrender his/her rights, I will work to prove that his/her rights should be terminated under the law. To terminate a parent’s rights without consent, a court must find that termination is supported by at least one statutory ground and is in the child’s best interest.

Once the biological parent’s rights are terminated, the adoption can proceed. A background check is conducted and an amicus attorney is appointed to act as a fact-finder. This amicus attorney will meet with the new family — the biological parent, the stepparent and the child — to make sure the adoption is in the best interest of the child. There will also be an adoption evaluation conducted on the family.

I am committing to guiding you through this process, advising you along the way and preparing the necessary paperwork.

Addressing Important Aspects Of Stepparent Adoptions

With stepparent adoptions, there are a few things that clients must be aware of before finalizing the adoption, such as:

• Once the biological parent terminates his/her rights, he or she will have no rights to the child. This means he or she will not have the right to see the child or the duty to pay child support.
• The stepparent will legally become a parent and be responsible for the child. In the event of a divorce or if the biological parent dies, the adoptive parent will be responsible for supporting the child.

Expanding Your Family Through Stepchild Adoptions

I have been appointed by the court many times to serve as an amicus lawyer — acting in the child’s best interests. I understand firsthand the complexities of stepparent adoptions, especially when the termination of parental rights is contested. Put my years of experience and legal resources to work for you.

Contact my law office in The Woodlands, Texas, today to schedule a consultation. I am highly experienced at handling cases in Montgomery County. My law office is conveniently located near The Woodlands Mall and minutes from the freeway.