If you are hoping to adopt a baby in Texas, understanding the process can make the journey easier to manage. Domestic infant adoption involves several important steps.
You will choose an adoption professional, complete a home study and become an approved waiting family. Later, you may match with an expectant parent and prepare for placement. After placement, you will complete post-placement requirements before finalizing the adoption in court.
Adoption Alliance is a licensed Texas adoption agency. We help prospective adoptive parents through each stage of private domestic infant adoption.
This guide explains the main steps and what you can expect along the way.
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What to Know Before Starting a Domestic Infant Adoption in Texas
Texas law allows eligible adults to petition to adopt a child. Adoption agencies may also have their own requirements for prospective adoptive parents.
Adoption Alliance can explain our current requirements when you begin the application process.
Texas law also includes rules about parental rights, consent and placement. For example, a parent generally cannot sign an affidavit relinquishing parental rights until at least 48 hours after the baby is born.
The legal documents must also meet specific Texas Family Code requirements.
Prospective adoptive parents must complete a home study before placement. The home study looks at your household, background and readiness to care for a child.
Every adoption is different. Therefore, Adoption Alliance works with the appropriate legal professionals throughout the process. They can explain the requirements that apply to your adoption.
Step 1: Decide Whether Domestic Infant Adoption Is Right for Your Family
Before you begin, think about why you want to adopt. You should also consider whether you are ready for the lifelong responsibilities of parenting through adoption.
Domestic infant adoption involves more than paperwork and waiting for a baby. The process may include uncertainty and strong emotions.
In addition, your child’s birth family may continue to play an important role in your child’s life.
If you are adopting as a couple, both partners should feel ready to move forward. Families who have experienced infertility or pregnancy loss may also need time to process those experiences.
Adoption Alliance can help you understand what domestic infant adoption involves. That can help you decide whether it is the right path for your family.
Step 2: Understand How Domestic Infant Adoption Works in Texas
Domestic infant adoption usually involves the voluntary placement of a newborn or infant with an adoptive family.
Although every adoption is different, most private infant adoptions follow several basic stages.
First, prospective parents apply with an adoption agency and complete a home study. After approval, they can become an active waiting family.
Expectant parents considering adoption can review waiting-family profiles. They may then choose a family they would like to learn more about.
If an expectant parent chooses your family, the agency can help everyone prepare for the rest of the pregnancy. The agency can also help with communication, the hospital experience and possible placement.
After placement, the adoptive family completes required post-placement visits. The family can then move toward finalizing the adoption in court.
The amount of contact between an adoptive family and birth family also varies. Many families choose some form of ongoing communication after adoption.
Step 3: Choose a Licensed Texas Adoption Agency
Choosing an adoption agency is an important early decision.
A licensed child-placing agency helps coordinate many parts of a domestic infant adoption. These may include the home study, adoption education, expectant-parent services, matching, placement and post-placement support.
When comparing agencies, ask about their experience with domestic infant adoption. You should also understand their fees, waiting-family process and matching practices.
In addition, ask what services the agency provides to expectant parents and adoptive families.
Adoption Alliance has provided adoption services in Texas since 1989. Our team can explain our program and answer your questions.
We can also help you decide whether Adoption Alliance is the right agency for your family.
Step 4: Become an Active Waiting Family
Before a baby can join your family through adoption, you must complete the required approval process.
An important part of that process is the pre-adoptive home screening, commonly called a home study.
After your home study meets Texas child-placing agency requirements and our other program requirements, Adoption Alliance may approve you as a waiting family.
You will then create a family profile. This profile helps expectant parents learn more about you.
For example, your profile may include information about your family, home, interests, lifestyle and hopes for parenting.
Expectant parents can review these profiles when considering adoption. They can then decide whether they would like to learn more about a particular family.
What Happens During a Texas Adoption Home Study?
A home study is not a test of whether your family or home is perfect.
Instead, it helps determine whether your household can provide a safe and appropriate environment for a child.
The process generally includes interviews with prospective parents and other household members. It also includes a visit to your home.
Your home-study professional will review several areas of your life. These may include your health, relationships, finances, background and reasons for adopting. Texas DFPS outlines specific requirements for adoptive home studies, including interviews with household members, a home visit, financial and health information, background information, and an assessment of the family’s readiness to adopt
You will also discuss your parenting plans and expectations about adoption.
Your adoption professional will tell you which documents you need. Requirements can vary based on your circumstances.
The overall goal is simple: to help make sure prospective parents are ready to provide a safe and stable home for a child.
Step 5: Match With an Expectant Parent
After Adoption Alliance approves you as a waiting family, you can begin the matching process.
The amount of time it takes to match varies from family to family.
In domestic infant adoption, expectant parents often help choose the adoptive family for their baby. They may review approved family profiles before deciding whom they want to learn more about.
If an expectant parent is interested in your family, Adoption Alliance can help with communication.
We can also help everyone discuss expectations for the pregnancy and possible placement.
However, a match does not guarantee that an adoption will occur. The expectant parent keeps her legal rights until she completes the required legal steps after the baby’s birth.
Prospective adoptive parents should enter this stage with both hope and patience. Circumstances can change before placement.
Step 6: Prepare for the Baby’s Birth and Possible Placement
Before delivery, the expectant parent may create a hospital plan.
The plan can include her preferences for labor, delivery and time with the baby. It can also address how involved she wants the prospective adoptive family to be.
The expectant parent remains in control of her medical decisions and hospital experience.
Texas law generally requires a parent to wait at least 48 hours after the baby’s birth before signing an affidavit relinquishing parental rights.
The appropriate adoption and legal professionals will explain the documents and legal process.
If the parent completes the required legal steps and placement occurs, the baby may then leave with the adoptive family. The details can vary based on the adoption.
Adoption Alliance helps coordinate this stage. Our goal is to make sure everyone understands what to expect.
Step 7: Post-Placement Support and Adoption Finalization in Texas
Placement is an important milestone, but it does not make the adoption legally final.
After placement, Adoption Alliance completes the required post-placement supervision and reports.
During these visits, an adoption professional can see how your family and the baby are adjusting. The visits also give you an opportunity to ask questions or request support.
Texas generally requires the child to live with the adoptive parents for a period of time before finalization. In many cases, the requirement is at least six months, although a court may waive it in certain circumstances.
Once you complete the necessary requirements, you can move toward court finalization.
Your attorney will help guide you through the legal process. A judge will then review the adoption and, when the requirements have been met, issue the final adoption order.
After finalization, the adoptive parents become the child’s legal parents.
Adoption Alliance remains available to support families after placement and finalization.
Frequently Asked Questions About Domestic Infant Adoption in Texas
How do I start the adoption process in Texas?
A good first step is to contact a licensed adoption agency and learn about its domestic infant adoption program. You will typically complete an application, education requirements and a home study before becoming an approved waiting family.
Do I need a home study to adopt a baby in Texas?
Yes. Prospective adoptive parents generally must complete an approved pre-adoptive home screening before an infant can be placed in their home. The screening evaluates the prospective parents, household and home environment.
How long does it take to adopt a baby in Texas?
There is no single timeline. Completing the application and home study may take weeks or months, while the amount of time a family waits to be chosen by an expectant parent can vary significantly.
Does a birth mother choose the adoptive family?
In private domestic infant adoption, expectant parents often review approved waiting-family profiles and choose the family they would like to consider for their baby.
Can an expectant mother change her mind?
Yes. A prospective adoptive match does not terminate an expectant parent’s legal rights. Texas has specific requirements governing when and how parental rights may be relinquished after a child is born.
When is an adoption final in Texas?
Placement itself does not finalize the adoption. Post-placement requirements must be completed, and a court must issue a final adoption order.
Ready to Start the Texas Domestic Infant Adoption Process?
If you are considering adopting a baby in Texas, Adoption Alliance can help you understand your next steps.
Our team can explain our domestic infant adoption program and eligibility requirements. We can also walk you through the home study, waiting-family process, matching, placement and finalization.
Contact Adoption Alliance to learn more about beginning your adoption journey.
Contact Adoption Alliance today to learn how to begin your adoption journey.