Conroe Adoption Attorney

Conroe Adoption Lawyer Serving Montgomery County

There are many situations where a person or couple may wish to adopt a child. Doing so may be an option for growing a family in cases where a person cannot or does not wish to have biological children. In other cases, families may provide homes for children in the foster care system, and after establishing relationships and emotional bonds with children, a person or couple may wish to make the arrangement permanent and become the child's legal parent(s). Stepparents may also choose to adopt their stepchildren, or other family members who provide care for a child may pursue adoptions so that they will have the right and obligation to make decisions about how the child will be raised. In all of these cases, parents will need to follow the proper steps to complete the adoption process, and an experienced, compassionate family law attorney can help them complete their legal requirements.

At The Bihm Firm, PLLC, we work with families of all types to address the legal issues that they may encounter. We understand the procedures that will need to be followed when adopting a child, and we can help families address any concerns that may affect parents or children. Our goal is to ensure that children will have a loving home and that parents will have the tools to provide for children's ongoing needs.

Legal Help with Different Types of Adoptions

To adopt a child, a person will generally need to be an adult, and they will need to demonstrate that they have the ability to support the child financially and that they have enough space in their home for the child to live. They will also need to complete a criminal background check, and a home study will typically be required. Depending on the type of adoption, parents may need to address other issues to ensure that they will be able to assume legal responsibility for a child. Our firm can assist with:

• Private adoptions - When adopting a child through an agency or a private agreement with the child's biological parent(s), adoptive parents will need to understand whether their adoption will be open or closed. In an open adoption, the child may maintain contact with the birth parent(s), while in a closed adoption, the child and biological parents will not know each other's identities.
• Family or related adoptions - If a child's birth parents are unavailable or unable to provide care due to physical or mental health issues, other family members may assume the responsibility of raising the child, and by legally adopting the child, they will be able to have the legal rights and responsibilities to make all necessary decisions.
• Stepparent adoptions - The spouse of a person who has a child from a previous relationship may serve in a parental role, and by adopting the child, they will become the child's legal parent.

Addressing Issues Related to the Termination of Parental Rights

Before a child can be adopted, the parental rights of one or both of the child's biological parents will need to be terminated. In many cases, parents may voluntarily agree to terminate their rights. However, if a parent is unwilling to give up their rights, or if a parent cannot be located, the adoptive parents may take action to pursue an involuntary termination of parental rights. Grounds for involuntary termination include endangerment of a child due to issues such as criminal behavior or substance abuse, abandonment of a child, failure to provide child support for at least one year, failure to follow a service plan when a child is in the custody of Child Protective Services, or mental illness that has caused a parent to be unable to provide for a child's physical and/or emotional needs.

Contact a Willis, TX Adoption Attorney

Whether you are looking to add a child to your family through adoption or wish to formally establish legal parentage for a child in your care, The Bihm Firm, PLLC can provide the legal help you need. To set up a free consultation and learn how we can help you complete the legal process of adoption, contact us at 936-788-6100. We represent clients in adoption cases and other family law matters in Grimes County, Conroe, Liberty County, Willis, Waller County, Magnolia, Walker County, Porter, Montgomery County, Kingwood, Cleveland, Spring, and The Woodlands.