Adoption and guardianship cases help new families come together in a positive way. Whether you are a stepparent who wants to adopt your spouse’s child or a grandparent who wants to establish legal guardianship over your grandchild, an experienced Dallas-Fort Worth adoption and guardianship lawyer can help you achieve your goals and protect the best interests of the child in your life.
The Carroll Law Firm can provide the assistance you need. Since 1997, Texas adoption and guardianship attorney Nicole Carroll has provided sound advice and compassionate support to clients interested in bringing a child into their family. We serve clients located in Tarrant and Denton counties and the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.
Adoption in Texas
In order for a child to be eligible for adoption in the state of Texas, all prior parental rights need to be terminated. In most cases, this involves the biological parent or parents voluntarily signing an Affidavit of Relinquishment of Parental Rights. However, in some cases, Child Protective Services (CPS) terminates parental rights due to negligence, abuse or other misconduct.
Adoption and guardianship lawyer Nicole Carroll helps new parents facilitate many types of adoptions, whether parental rights have already been terminated or require the assistance of an attorney to complete.
Stepparent Adoption: Stepparent adoptions allow stepparents to undertake the legal role of parent. These adoption cases frequently occur when parents divorce and the non-custodial parent chooses not to provide child support or enforce his or her custodial rights. Our firm handles all paperwork and legal processes involved in stepparent adoption, including appropriate proceedings for termination of parental rights.
Family Adoption: When CPS removes a child from a situation of abuse or neglect, options exist beyond placing the child in a foster-care setting. Aunts, uncles and grandparents may wish to pursue custody. Once the child has been in your care for more than one year, you have a valid stake in the outcome of the adoption. Relative adoptions may also be applicable in cases where the child’s biological parent or parents have died.
Agency Adoption: We handle open and closed adoptions for couples looking to adopt a child domestically or internationally. The process can be complex, and we have helped many couples realize their dreams through successful adoption.
Private Match Adoption: Sometimes families seeking to adopt can match themselves with a birth mother who has decided to place her baby for adoption. By eliminating an agency intermediary, adoptive parents can save thousands of dollars. In these situations adoptive parents need the guidance of an attorney who can ensure compliance with all legal requirements.
Guardianship in Texas
The Carroll Law Firm handles various legal matters on behalf of grandparents, other family members and even family friends. Often, guardianship matters arise in relation to grandparents’ rights issues. A grandparent may be named the legal guardian of the child if the parent is absent or has other problems that prevent the parent from caring appropriately for the child.
Contact The Carroll Law Firm
Whether you are blending two families together or want to establish legal guardianship of a youngster in your life, our firm can help. Contact The Carroll Law Firm online or call us at 214-800-2812 or 817-706-7322 to arrange your free initial consultation. We offer flexible appointment times to meet your scheduling needs.