Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

Re: steps to take for legal adoption

I can't imagine why you would undertake something as important your family's future as self-help lawyering. Would you try to take out your daughter's appendix? But if you wish to persist, go to a local law library and look up the forms under adoption. Good Luck.

Re: steps to take for legal adoption

Since terminating a person's legal rights to their child is permanent and so severe, the courts take termination of a person's rights very seriously.

(I posted an answer several months ago on a very similar question and I went into detail about a nightmare case I was the attorney ad litem in the case and it went on for over 2 years!)

What you need is a terimination of the current father's rights THEN an adoption by a step-parent.

You will probably need an attorney to represent the interests of the child and a social study.

You need to serve the current father and give him a chance to contest the lawsuit. The process is slow and very detailed.

I recommend going to a law library and spending an entire day reading up on what is involved. You will then have a horrible head-ache, be severely depressed, and understand why you need an attorney to handle this matter for you.

The county you live in is required to accept any papers you file but that does not mean that the termination and adoption will occur.

If you live in the Houston area, please feel free to contact me at 713-847-6000.

Best of luck to you!