Adoption is a life-changing decision that allows you to provide a child with a safe, permanent, and loving home. If you’re considering adoption, you may be wondering: How do I become an adoptive parent in Texas?
The process involves meeting certain eligibility requirements, completing training and home studies, and going through the legal steps to finalize the adoption. Here’s what you need to know.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS TO ADOPT IN TEXAS
To qualify as an adoptive parent in Texas, you must:
- Be at least 21 years old
- Be financially stable and provide proof of income
- Pass a criminal background check and child abuse registry check
- Provide personal references
- Demonstrate emotional and physical health sufficient to parent
- Complete a home study conducted by a licensed social worker
Both single adults and married couples (including LGBTQ+ couples) are eligible to adopt in Texas.
PATHS TO ADOPTION IN TEXAS
There are several ways to become an adoptive parent, each with its own timeline and costs.
1. Foster Care Adoption
Children in the foster care system are often available for adoption if parental rights have been terminated. This path is usually low-cost or free, and the state often provides adoption subsidies and benefits such as Medicaid and tuition waivers.
2. Private Infant Adoption
Families may adopt a newborn or infant through a private agency or attorney. This process often involves working directly with birth parents and can be more expensive, typically costing $20,000 to $50,000.
3. Kinship Adoption
When a relative (such as a grandparent, aunt, or uncle) adopts a child already in their care. This process is generally less complicated and less expensive.
4. Stepparent Adoption
If you are married to the child’s parent, you may pursue stepparent adoption once the other biological parent’s rights are terminated.
5. International Adoption
Texas families can also adopt from abroad, but this process requires compliance with both U.S. and foreign adoption laws. Costs are generally $25,000 to $60,000.
STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS TO BECOME AN ADOPTIVE PARENT
Step 1: Choose the Type of Adoption
Decide whether foster care, private, kinship, or stepparent adoption is right for your family.
Step 2: Attend Orientation
DFPS and licensed agencies require prospective parents to attend informational sessions.
Step 3: Training and Application
Complete required training, such as the Parenting for a Lifetime program for foster and adoptive parents. Submit an application with references and personal history.
Step 4: Home Study
A social worker will interview you, inspect your home, and review your finances, background checks, and readiness to adopt.
Step 5: Matching and Placement
Once approved, you will be matched with a child. For foster care adoptions, children may live with you on a trial basis before adoption is finalized.
Step 6: Finalization in Court
After the placement period (usually six months), your attorney will schedule a court hearing. The judge will review the case and issue a Final Order of Adoption, making you the child’s legal parent.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME AN ADOPTIVE PARENT?
- Stepparent/Kinship Adoptions: 3–6 months
- Foster Care Adoptions: 6–18 months
- Private Adoptions: 6–12 months
- International Adoptions: 12–36 months
Timelines vary depending on the type of adoption, court availability, and whether parental rights must be terminated.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I have to be married to adopt in Texas?
No. Single adults are eligible to adopt. Only stepparent and joint adoptions require marriage.
Can same-sex couples adopt?
Yes. Texas recognizes adoption rights for married same-sex couples.
Is a home study always required?
In most cases, yes. However, some courts may waive the home study in kinship or stepparent adoptions.
KEY TAKEAWAYS AND NEXT STEPS FOR ADOPTING IN TEXAS
Becoming an adoptive parent in Texas requires preparation, patience, and a commitment to providing a safe and loving home. Whether through foster care, private adoption, or kinship adoption, the process ensures children are placed with families who can support their long-term needs.
Interested in Becoming an Adoptive Parent in Texas?
Contact The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC today to schedule a consultation. Our adoption attorneys can guide you through each step of the process and help you build the family you’ve been dreaming of.
Bryan Fagan is a Texas family law attorney with a heart for adoption—inspired not just by his legal career, but by his own family story. Growing up in Atascocita with two adopted brothers, Bryan learned early the profound meaning of chosen family. His passion for justice was sparked by John Grisham’s The Pelican Brief, and he became the first lawyer in his family, balancing night classes at South Texas College of Law while caring for his grandmother with Alzheimer’s.
Today, Bryan brings that same dedication to his practice, guiding families through adoptions, custody disputes, divorces, and complex marital agreements. A certified member of the College of the State Bar of Texas, he combines elite legal expertise with genuine empathy—drawing from his roles as a husband, father of three, and advocate for families facing false CPS allegations.
Based in Houston, Bryan is actively involved in the Houston Bar Association’s Family Law Sector and statewide family law organizations. Whether finalizing an adoption or protecting parental rights, he believes the law should reflect the deepest values of home, commitment, and love.