Adoption Lawyer in Houston
A board certified family law attorney guiding Texas families through every type of adoption.
Deciding to adopt is at once exciting, stressful, and complex. You are likely feeling happy anticipation, but the strict laws and procedures that govern adoption can quickly burst that bubble and leave you feeling confused and defeated. As a Houston adoption lawyer, I guide families through every step, anticipating and clearing the red tape that frustrates so many people who set out to adopt. I am based in Houston and have helped adopting families in Harris County and throughout the greater Houston area.
I am board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a credential held by roughly 800 of the more than 110,000 attorneys licensed in Texas. Before I became an attorney, I was a teacher, so I understand what children actually need: support, care, and stability, which is the whole point of adoption.
Texas Adoption Laws and Types of Adoption
Each state regulates its own adoption laws, so Texas adoption law is specific to Texas. If you are adopting a child from another state, that state’s laws may also affect your case, and with international adoptions you are dealing with U.S. federal law as well as the laws of the child’s country of origin. All of these overlapping rules are what make adoption complex, and they are why working with an experienced adoption attorney in Texas matters. As an adoption lawyer in Texas, I assist with every type of adoption, including:
- Domestic adoption
- International adoption
- Public adoption from foster care
- Agency adoption
- Independent adoption
- Grandparent adoption
- Stepparent adoption
- Sibling group adoption
- Special needs adoption
It is important that an adoption is aboveboard from the very beginning, and an adoption lawyer helps make sure it is. For example, in Texas it is illegal for adoptive parents and birth parents to advertise regarding adoption, and a birth mother must wait at least 48 hours after the birth to give her consent, even if she planned the adoption with an agency in advance. To avoid a disrupted adoption, you have to follow these requirements and many others precisely.
Helping a child move into a loving, permanent family is the most rewarding part of what I do. It is also work where the details carry enormous weight, because a missed step can put the whole adoption at risk.
Talk With a Houston Adoption Attorney
If you are considering adoption and you live in the greater Houston area, you can schedule a consultation with the Law Office of Maria Lowry for advice and representation. As an adoption lawyer in Houston, TX, I work with families across the region, and a consultation is a paid, one-on-one working session in which you will get a clear read on your path to adoption and what it will involve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an adoption lawyer in Texas?
Texas adoption law is detailed and unforgiving of mistakes, and a single misstep, such as improper consent or a missed waiting period, can disrupt an adoption. An adoption attorney makes sure the legal requirements are met from the start so your adoption holds up. This is one area where the documents are far too important to source from an online template.
How does stepparent adoption work in Texas?
In a stepparent adoption, a stepparent becomes the child’s legal parent, which usually requires terminating the other biological parent’s rights first, whether by consent or by court order. Once that is resolved, the stepparent can adopt and the child gains the full legal relationship that comes with it. As a Houston adoption attorney, I handle stepparent adoptions from the termination through the final order.
How long does adoption take in Texas?
It depends on the type of adoption and whether any parental rights need to be terminated, but most adoptions involve a home screening, a waiting period, and a final hearing before a judge. Agency and international adoptions add their own timelines and requirements. I can give you a realistic estimate once I understand your situation.
Can grandparents adopt a grandchild in Texas?
Yes. Grandparent adoption is common when the parents are unable to care for the child, and it follows the same core requirements as other adoptions, including resolving the biological parents’ rights. It is a meaningful way to give a grandchild permanence and stability within the family.