Posted by Mary E. Ramos | Adoption
Adoption is a very rewarding experience for the entire family. When a family opens their home and hearts to children, it enriches the lives of family members as well as the children who are adopted. Texas law outlines a number of options for families who want to adopt. Regardless of the type of adoption chosen, …
Continue reading "What are the Different Types of Adoption in Houston?"
Posted by Mary E. Ramos | Adoption
How much does adoption cost in Texas? This is a vital question for families considering adoption, as expenses can add up quickly. Welcoming a new person into your family unit is a blessing and adopting a new child is one of the best things you will ever do. You may have many questions as you …
Posted by Mary E. Ramos | Adoption, Family Law
Adopting a child is a blessing for the entire family. If you are considering adoption, or are about to start the process, you likely want to expand your family as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, adoption does not happen overnight. Additionally, it is very difficult to determine how long any one case may take because the …
Continue reading "How Long is the Adoption Process in Texas?"
Posted by Mary E. Ramos | Adoption
Understanding the adoption rights for single parents in Texas is crucial if you are considering adopting a child in the state. You are no doubt eager to learn more about the process, statutory requirements, and procedural issues that are required to welcome a new member of the family. However, when you are not married, one …
Continue reading "Understanding the Adoption Rights for Single Parents in Texas"
Posted by Mary E. Ramos | Adoption
Adoption is a process by which a child is adopted and rights of one or both parents is terminated. Please refer to our blog post The Legal Challenges of Adoption for more information about adoption. Termination is a necessary component to the Texas adoption process. The following individuals have standing to bring an adoption or …
Continue reading "The Termination of Parental Rights for Adoption in Texas"
Posted by Mary E. Ramos | Adoption
Adoption is one of the more delightful parts of Family Law. It is a beautiful process whereby a child is formally and officially made part of another loving family. For adoption to occur according to Texas adoption laws, at least one of the parents (such as in a step-parent adoption) or both must terminate their …
Posted by Mary E. Ramos | Adoption
While adopting a child is certainly an exciting process for everyone involved, it can also be quite intimidating. There are plenty of hoops to jump through and complicated steps to take. Attempting to adopt without professional assistance is extremely difficult, which is why having a lawyer in Houston, Texas is critical. You will need to …
Posted by Mary E. Ramos | Adoption
Finalizing an adoption in Texas is one of the few joyous occasions in a family law courtroom. Most of the family law judges in Harris County require a pretrial hearing prior to the final trial to ensure that all requirements have met and that the parents don’t show up the day of the adoption hearing only to be sent home disappointed. Once the pretrial hearing has been held and all necessary requirements have been completed, including a social study and background check of the adoptive parents, then all necessary parties will appear before the judge to finalize the adoption.
Posted by Mary E. Ramos | Adoption
The recent adult adoption of a Florida businessman’s girlfriend in an attempt to protect assets from civil litigation has put the spotlight on the legal act of adopting an adult. The Texas Family Code, Section 162.501 specifically allows for the legal adoption of an adult by another adult. Adult adoption differs little from the adoption from a minor, with the exception that an adult must consent to the adoption. The biological parents of the adoptee do not need to be notified of the adoption and are not entitled to notice of any adoption proceedings. An original petition for adoption must be filed with the court and a hearing will be held.
Posted by Mary E. Ramos | Adoption, Child Custody, Divorce
The termination of parental rights is referred to as the “civil death penalty” because there is nothing worse a Court can do to a person than to legally and permanently remove that person’s parental rights. Because of the severity of termination, it can be difficult to have one’s rights terminated. There must be good cause for a Court to legally remove a child’s parent from its life and there is a process to completing a termination suit.
