Texas

Good news — Texas is one of our most active states. We've helped more families complete adoptions in Texas than any other state, so we know the process there very well.

For your situation (biological father not on birth certificate), here's what's specific to Texas:

## Texas Process:

You'll file in the District Court (or Statutory County Court with family law jurisdiction) in the county where you live.

Since the father isn't on the birth certificate and his identity is unknown, the court will terminate the rights of the "unknown father" as part of your adoption. This is very common in Texas courts.

## Texas Timeline & Costs:

• Timeline: About 3 months after filing (Harris County can sometimes take 4 months due to higher volume)
• Filing fee: Approximately $250-$350 depending on your county
• Background check: Required for the stepparent (results in 3-4 weeks)
• Home study: Can typically be waived for stepparent adoptions in Texas
• Total court costs: Approximately $300-$500

## Texas-Specific Requirements:

• Criminal background check on the adopting stepparent is mandatory
• Affidavit of Status of Child (we provide this)
• Health, social, educational, and genetic history report (we provide the form)

## What We Provide for Texas:

Your package includes all Texas-specific forms:

• Petition for Adoption
• Affidavit of Status of Child
• Background check forms and instructions
• Motion to Waive Home Study
• Order Granting Adoption
• New birth certificate application
• Court hearing prove-up reference (helps you know what to expect at the hearing)
• All other required documents customized for your county

Our service: $349 — compare that to $3,000-$5,000+ attorneys charge in Texas for the same adoption.

When you're ready, you can start at stepparentadoption360.com/questionnaire. We'll have your documents prepared within 24 hours.

Do you have any other questions about the Texas process?