| To adopt a minor child, you must terminate
the parental rights of the other parent or both parents. In other words,
if a step-father is adopting his step-child, the natural father's parental
rights must be terminated and if a couple is adopting a child, the parental
rights of both natural parents must be terminated. This can be done voluntarily
(and often is) or involuntarily (very difficult). With termination, the
adoption can proceed and involves a Social Study, background check etc.
When a person adopts a child, they become the child's parent for all purposes
and the child's old birth certificate is removed and another birth certificate
replaces it listing the adopting parent as if he and/or she were the child's
parent at birth. Adoption records are always sealed.
It is possible to adopt an adult and it is easier because the parental
rights of the natural parent are not terminated. I have been involved
in many adoptions wherein the step-parent was more of a parent than the
natural parent, but we had no grounds to terminate the rights of the natural
parent. When the child turned eighteen, he or she was adopted by the step-parent
and since the rights of the natural parent were not terminated, he or
she had two fathers or mothers.
If you are looking for an experienced family law attorney / lawyer including divorce, child support, adoption, paternity and domestic violence, we are well-prepared to help you. Call us at (972) 226-0042, or fill out the form on the
contact page to schedule an appointment with our attorney at our law office in Mesquite, Texas.
Contact Dalana J. Wills, CP and Family Law Mediator.
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