Adoption and Guardianship Attorney in Temple Fulfilling Your Dreams of Expanding Your Family with Compassionate Legal Counsel

Children are a blessing, and expanding your family through adoption can be one of the greatest joys in life for everyone involved. The road to adoption isn’t easy, though nothing worth having ever is. As such, families must be invested and committed to the process if they want to reach the finish line — hurdles and all.

The good news is that in experiencing a variety of adoption cases, we are efficient in navigating the process and can minimize some of the speed bumps. We have helped many wonderful families achieve their dreams and welcome children into their homes from the United States and beyond.

Every adoption process differs, from public to private to local and international adoptions. Know that we can assist and support you with agency adoptions, independent adoptions, international adoptions, legal guardianship, and relative adoptions.

When you book a consultation, we can provide an overview of the process, potential legal fees, and related costs, as well as your parental rights. Full transparency is our goal, as is putting you at ease so that you know you’re in capable hands.

With all of your delicate and time-sensitive adoption or legal guardianship needs, turn to Barina Law Group for results. We will help you fulfill your dreams of expanding your family. Contact our law firm today to get started: (254) 523-4446.

What is a Private Adoption in Texas?

Private adoption is when the birth parents select adoptive parents and place the child directly with them. This arrangement transfers custody directly between the parents rather than through an adoption agency.

Terms of a private adoption—such as whether the birth parents will be involved, parental rights, and medical and birthing costs—are typically solidified before the birth. This is a critical stage to involve an attorney to ensure your parental rights are protected.

With such a difficult and emotional decision, biological parents can decide to withdraw or change their minds after the baby is born. Without any legal agreement or option for legal recourse, you could lose out on the adoption and be on the hook for medical costs.

In a private adoption, the cost ranges from $25,000 to $38,000, according to adoption.org. The same study shows that agency adoptions can cost anywhere from $30,500 to $48,500 for comparison purposes.

What Disqualifies You from Adopting a Child?

There are certain requirements to adopt in Texas. Adoption agencies, biological parents, and the foster care system look at various factors before signing over any rights. These include:

• Proof of age—at least 21 years of age
• Character-specific traits such as maturity
• A complete application for adoption
• Clean background check
• Solid references
• Proof of marriage or divorce
• Complete home visit

Regarding disqualifications, certain circumstances will prevent you from adopting a child or becoming a legal guardian in Texas. The state requires at least a 20-year probation period for certain criminal convictions related to enticing a child, aggravated assault, prohibited sexual contact, advertising for placement of a child, prostitution, and interference with child custody, per childwelfare.gov.

Suppose you have criminal charges on your record and are interested in becoming a legal guardian or adopting a child. In that case, it’s best to have an attorney review your history before jumping to conclusions.

Is Public or Private Adoption Better?

There are many routes to adoption, and every process is different and depends on whether you want a newborn baby or an older child. Public adoption involves the foster care system. Children of neglectful or unfit parents are put into the foster system or unwanted babies that parents cannot take care of for one reason or another.

Children can range from newborns to 17 years of age, and it can take one to five years to legally adopt a child. It’s also a more cost-effective option as the state contributes some funding.

There are public adoption programs or foster-to-adopt programs in which children are placed in your home with an option for a temporary situation or long-term. Some children are eligible to be adopted right away.

On the other hand, private adoption is a direct agreement with biological parents that sign away their parental rights. This situation is often a fit for parents that want a newborn baby rather than an older child.

How Do I Get Legal Guardianship of a Child?

Guardianship is a unique role, and it differs from adoption.

A legally-appointed guardian can make essential decisions on another person’s behalf and, in this case, a minor child. This includes financial decisions, everyday essentials, medical care, education, and activities.

When a biological parent cannot properly care for a child or pass away unexpectedly, family members such as grandparents or stepparents might want to pursue legal guardianship to care for the child or children as their own.

You must follow a strict procedure in Texas to obtain guardianship, and most courts will not consider applications that aren’t reviewed or filled out by an experienced family lawyer. We can help you file the appropriate paperwork, represent you in a hearing, and ensure the court sees why you’re a viable option for your loved one.

Whether legal guardianship or adoption, both processes demand the time, attention, and knowledge of a family law attorney experienced in adoption and guardianship laws. Barina Law Group is the answer, and we will handle you and your adoption or guardianship needs as if they’re our own.

Book a consultation with our firm to discuss your adoption and legal guardianship case: (254) 523-4446.