Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

She needs to terminate the biological father's rights prior to consumating a step-parent adoption. Even if the biological father has no presumed or adjudicated relationship/rights with respect to the child, she does not want to look over her shoulder for an attack from the biological father.

She can ask him to terminate his rights voluntarily or she can seek to involuntarily terminate his rights. Either of those actions can be undertaken in the same pleadings as the step-parent adoption.

She will need to hire a family law attorney to do this for her. These are not DIY projects because terminations and adoptions are subject to later attack by the biological parent if all of the formalities are not followed with strict adherance to the law.

If she doesn't think she can afford an attorney, she can contact the Texas Legal Services Center (www.tlsc.org) and they will direct her to an attorney who will handle her case at a significant discount.

Good luck!!