Stepparent and Grandparent Adoptions
The legal process of adoption has many steps and is often confusing for parties looking to adopt a child. At H. Steven Byers, Attorney at Law & Mediator, we represent prospective stepparents, grandparents, and others throughout the adoption process.
Contact us to schedule an initial consultation where we can discuss your legal options.
Termination of Parental Rights
For a prospective stepparent to adopt the child of his or her spouse, the rights of the non-active biological parent must be terminated. Our firm assists clients throughout the termination of parental rights process. Once a stepparent adoption is complete, the stepmother or stepfather has the same rights as the biological mother or father.
Grandparent Adoptions
Grandparents do not have automatic custody rights to their grandchildren - even if they are better fit caregivers than the biological parents. Grandparents who wish to legally establish their position as primary caregivers should consider a grandparent adoption or a grandparent custody order.
Our firm assists grandparents who wish to adopt a grandchild. There may be many reasons for a grandparent to pursue an adoption, including:
- Alcohol or substance abuse by parent(s)
- Abandonment by parent(s)
- Death of parent(s)
- Mental health issues
- Abuse of child by parent(s)
Another reason a grandparent may wish to adopt a grandchild is to stop interference by one or both biological parents. Once grandparents' rights have been legally established, a grandparent has the same legal rights as a biological parent. If a biological parent tries to interfere, a grandparent now has legal recourse.
Contact Us
To find out more about the adoption process - including grandparent and stepparent adoptions - contact an adoption lawyer in Kingwood, Texas.
