Adoption

AGENCY ADOPTION

If you are considering using an adoption agency for your adoption, Trina may be able to help you. It is imperative that you exercise your own due diligence when selecting an agency to work with. Johnson Dorsey Law Firm can assist you with reviewing agency contracts and ensuring you fully understand what you are signing. Trina can guide you through the adoption process including helping you find an agency to work with.

CPS/ FOSTER PARENT ADOPTION

If you are seeking to adopt your current foster child or a child in CPS custody we can help you with finalizing all of the necessary paperwork

As a CPS approved adoption attorney, if your adoption is approved for subsidy, we are able to complete your adoption without any out of pocket expense paid by the family. We are able to directly bill CPS for subsidized adoptions.

PRIVATE/INDEPENDENT ADOPTIONS

In private adoptions, prospective adoptive parents adopt directly from the biological parents. An advantage to private adoptions is that they generally are less costly. By eliminating an adoption agency, adoptive parents can save thousands of dollars. The great thing about private adoptions is that the prospective adoptive parents take an active role in locating their future child. If you have already located a birthmom who has decided to place her child for adoption, private adoption is your answer.

INTERSTATE ADOPTION (ICPC)

If the prospective adoptive family or the birth family lives in another state other than Texas, you must comply with the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC). ICPC requires the state where the adoptive family lives and the state where the child is born to both approve the baby crossing state lines. In an interstate adoption the baby must remain in the state she or he was born until both states approve the baby crossing state lines. It is critical that you hire an attorney with experience with ICPC.

STEPPARENT ADOPTION

Stepparent adoptions enable a stepparent to formally and legally recognize their parental relationship with their spouse’s child. At Johnson Dorsey Law Firm we can help you through each step of your stepparent adoption, such as obtaining the consent of a non-involved parent.

ADULT ADOPTION

Adoption of a person over the age of 18 is legal in the state of Texas. Adults may adopt adults to establish and formalize a legal parent-child relationship

RE-ADOPTIONS/VALIDATION OF FOREIGN ADOPTIONS

Did you know that Texas provides for validation of your child’s Foreign Adoption? If you have adopted a child from another country you are permitted to “re-adopt” your child in Texas. Texas fully recognizes foreign adoptions with the full validity of a natural-born child. International adoption can pose many legal difficulties for adoptive parents. At Johnson Dorsey Law Firm we can help you navigate the process of validating your foreign adoption.

RELATIVE/KINSHIP ADOPTION

There are many circumstances that may open the door to a relative adoption. If a biological parent is unable to care for a child, a relative may seek to become the child’s guardian or adoptive parent.

BIRTH PARENT REPRESENTATION

Making the decision to place your child for adoption can be a difficult and emotional decision. At Johnson Dorsey Law Firm we provide representation to birth parents to review their consent to the adoption or affidavit of non paternity. It is imperative that you understand the legal consequences of what you’re signing. Our goal is to help a birth parent make an adoption plan which is made freely, voluntarily and with full understanding of the consequences and effects of the adoption consent. We recognize the decision to place your child for adoption is not an easy decision to make. Trina believes that every birth parent should be fully advised on their legal rights under Texas law.

OPEN ADOPTION

Texas law does not recognize open adoption contracts. However, adoptive parents can agree to stay in contact with the birth parents. There are many different options for an open adoption. The frequency and type of contact can range from sending a picture of the child to the birth parents once a year to the birth parents having visits with the child once a year.