When a divorced parent remarries, it is common for the new spouse to want to adopt a child from a previous marriage. It can also be common for a step-parent to adopt a child that has been born to their spouse outside of a marriage.
An experienced Texas adoption attorney can assist you through the process of step-parent adoption. At Neal Ashmore, we can answer your questions, including those concerning finances, and help you take the necessary steps to create a legal relationship between you and your stepchild.
In many cases, the consent of the biological father or mother must be obtained before a step-parent can adopt a child. There are some situations, however, where a step-parent adoption can take place without this consent. These circumstances include:
- The noncustodial parent has abandoned the child for more than six months.
- The noncustodial parent has failed to support the child for more than one year or failed to make court-ordered child support payments.
- The noncustodial parent has failed to significantly communicate with the child for more than one year.
- The noncustodial parent is unfit to parent the child. Issues such as drug abuse, mental illness, or imprisonment may indicate unfitness.
If you are considering a Texas stepparent adoption, please contact our firm for more information. We will help you through the stepparent adoption process, and if necessary, go to court to prove that the consent of the non-custodial parent is not necessary.
