Adopting a child can be one of the most rewarding things you may ever experience, but the process involved in doing so is not necessarily a quick or easy one. Before you can begin to move forward with a Texas adoption, you need to prove that you and your situation meet certain licensing standards required for becoming an adoptive parent. At the Law Office of Kate Soulsby, we recognize that these licensing standards exist so that the state can feel confident you have what it takes to care for an adopted child, and we have helped many people navigate these and other steps involved in bringing an adoptive child home.
According to AdoptUSKids, before you can move forward with a Texas adoption, you need to prove that you are at least 21, a responsible, mature adult and financially stable. It does not matter if you are single, married or divorced, but the state will typically ask you to furnish proof if you are, in fact, married or divorced.
You will also need to provide relative and non-relative references from people who can attest to your parenting ability, and you must, too, agree to undergo a criminal background and abuse and neglect check before moving forward with the adoption process. Anyone else over the age of 14 who is living in the home the adoptive child would live must also agree to undergo a criminal background and abuse and neglect check.
You will also need to participate in a home study before you can legally adopt a child in Texas, and all other members of your household must be present for the study. You must also attend a complimentary training session where you will learn about issues common among abused or neglected children. Our webpage offers more information about what it takes to legally adopt a child in Texas.