When you get married in Texas, your new wife may have children from a previous marriage. In some situations, you may want to adopt these children. We at Lisa E. McKnight, PC, understand you usually have many questions about this process.
There are a few things you usually need to take into consideration when you want to adopt your stepchildren. FindLaw says that you typically need the consent of the children’s birth father. Once this parent gives his consent, he usually terminates his parental rights. While some fathers may not be willing to give this consent, others may realize that the adoption will be good for the children. Sometimes you may need to go through several home visits so a court can determine that adoption is truly in the best interests of your stepchildren.
Sometimes you may encounter difficulties getting the children’s biological father to give up his parental rights. If the children’s father has not financially supported the children or contacted them for over a year, a court may sometimes terminate his rights. Additionally, if this parent is in prison or has a drug addiction, a court may sometimes find that he is not fit to be a parent. In these situations, you usually do not need his consent to adopt the children.
There are numerous reasons why adopting your stepchildren can be a good choice for your family. Once you have legally adopted these children, they can be added to your will, giving you the ability to provide for them after your death. If you also have children, an adoption can make all of the children legal siblings and help your family avoid rivalry. An adoption also shows your stepchildren that you are committed to being their father. More information about this subject can be found on our webpage.