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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Posts
    1

    Default Legal Adoption Of Stepson In Texas

    My husband wants to adopt my son whom he has raised for the past 8 years. My son's biological father has been absent for 3 years and lives somewhere in Florida. I've already mentioned this to him and he refuses to sign over his rights even though he hasn't seen his son or paid child support in three years. What can I do to start the adoption and are there circumstances where the adoption can still take place even if the bio-father does not consent? Can it be proven that it is in the best interest of the child due to drug use and several other factors?
    Also, since we reside in Texas and the bio-father resides in Florida, how difficult will this be?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    28,906

    Default Re: Legal Adoption Of Stepson In Texas

    Under Texas law,
    Quote Quoting Texas Family Code, Sec. 162.001. Who May Adopt And Be Adopted.
    (a) Subject to the requirements for standing to sue in Chapter 102, an adult may petition to adopt a child who may be adopted.

    (b) A child residing in this state may be adopted if:
    (1) the parent-child relationship as to each living parent of the child has been terminated or a suit for termination is joined with the suit for adoption;

    (2) the parent whose rights have not been terminated is presently the spouse of the petitioner and the proceeding is for a stepparent adoption;

    (3) the child is at least two years old, the parent-child relationship has been terminated with respect to one parent, the person seeking the adoption has been a managing conservator or has had actual care, possession, and control of the child for a period of six months preceding the adoption or is the child’s former stepparent, and the nonterminated parent consents to the adoption; or

    (4) the child is at least two years old, the parent-child relationship has been terminated with respect to one parent, and the person seeking the adoption is the child’s former stepparent and has been a managing conservator or has had actual care, possession, and control of the child for a period of one year preceding the adoption.
    (c) If an affidavit of relinquishment of parental rights contains a consent for the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services or a licensed child-placing agency to place the child for adoption and appoints the department or agency managing conservator of the child, further consent by the parent is not required and the adoption order shall terminate all rights of the parent without further termination proceedings.
    A petition requesting termination may be joined with a petition requesting adoption, and the trial court may grant termination of it decides that it would be in the best interest of the child. (Texas Family Code § 162.016).

    You can read Texas adoption laws here (PDF).

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