Home study
Waived
Texas waives the home study for stepparent adoptions, so no social worker visits your house.
Tex. Fam. Code § 107.153(a-1)
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$349
Complete Texas package
3,478 Texas families helped since 2001
Make Your Texas Family Official.Texas stepparent and adult adoption, done for you, with court-ready documents for the right Texas court in 24-48 hours.
We prepare every form, show you exactly where to file in your county, and stay with you by phone until the judge signs your decree.
$349 complete Texas package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Residency wait
None required
Texas sets no residency waiting period, so you can file as soon as your papers are ready.
Tex. Fam. Code § 162.009Child's consent
Age 12 and up
A child who is 12 or older must consent to the adoption in Texas.
Tex. Fam. Code § 162.010Abandonment period
6 months
A parent who has abandoned the child for 6 months can have parental rights ended in your case.
Tex. Fam. Code § 161.001
100%Court acceptance
money-back guarantee
money-back guarantee
Why Texas families choose us
We make your Texas adoption simple, fast and affordable.
SimpleA 15-minute questionnaire. We do the rest and send your packet ready to sign and file.
Court approvedPrepared for your Texas District Court and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
3,478 Texas families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation Texas courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A Texas adoption specialist handles your case.
- We stay with you from filing to the new birth certificate.
- Unlimited revisions and real people on the phone, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST.
Start Your Texas AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One District Court. About 3 months.
Texas hears stepparent adoptions in District Court under Texas Family Code Title 2, Chapter 162, and the home study is already waived.
Day one · One short interviewTell us about your family
Day one · One short interview
Tell us about your family
Answer simple questions about you, your spouse, your child and the other parent. We turn your answers into Texas-ready forms within 24-48 hours.
Texas Family Code Title 2, Chapter 162Right after your documents arriveFile with your county District Court clerk
Right after your documents arrive
File with your county District Court clerk
We give you a filing checklist for the District Court clerk in your Texas county. The clerk sets the filing fee, and we tell you what to ask when you call.
Tex. Fam. Code § 162.001While your case is pendingThe other parent signs, or the court acts
While your case is pending
The other parent signs, or the court acts
If the other parent will sign, the consent papers are ready. If not, we prepare the notice and the termination papers, which are handled inside the same Texas case.
Tex. Fam. Code § 161.001Final step · About 3 months inHearing, decree and new birth certificate
Final step · About 3 months in
Hearing, decree and new birth certificate
You attend a short hearing and the judge signs your decree. Then we help you request the new birth certificate from the Texas Vital Statistics Unit.
Texas Vital Statistics UnitDoes the other parent have to agree?
No. Courts want a two-parent home for your child, and most families we help finish without the other parent's consent. In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent.
They agree
If the other parent is willing, the Texas process is simple. They sign the consent papers we prepare and your case moves ahead.
- We prepare the consent papers for you
- Signing is quick and no extra case is needed
- A child 12 or older also gives consent
They won't sign, or can't be found
Texas law gives the court clear grounds to end the rights of a parent who has abandoned the child for 6 months.
- Abandoning the child for 6 months is a ground to end parental rights.
- It applies when the other parent has abandoned the child for 6 months, whether they left, went silent or cannot be found.
- The rule is in Tex. Fam. Code § 161.001.
Notice to the other parent is a routine step, and we prepare it. In Texas, termination is not a separate lawsuit; it is part of your adoption case.
Tex. Fam. Code § 161.001Most families we help finish without the other parent's signature, and your home study is already waived.
One flat price, no home study cost, no surprises
A Texas family pays $349 for the complete document package for one child, and $99 for each additional child, plus the clerk's filing fee.
The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
Start for $349The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
What Texas families tell us
★★★★★
Good afternoon, I just wanted to take a moment to express how incredibly pleased I am with your service. 2025 could not have started out any better! Every time I called, I was met with a friendly and knowledgeable person who answered all of my questions with patience and clarity. We filed our adoption paperwork with the court a few months ago, and on January 21st, it was officially finalized! The judge even commented that it was the most well-prepared pro se adoption paperwork he had ever reviewed. I truly appreciate everything you’ve done to make this process smooth and stress-free. Exceptional company and outstanding service—thank you!
★★★★★
What a blessing your service has been! My husband was able to adopt my son after years of wanting to make our family whole. The paperwork was flawless, and the court had no issues with any of the documents. You made this process simple and stress-free, and we are forever grateful.
★★★★★
Hello, I just wanted to thank you for all your help in our stepparent adoption process of our daughter. She is so happy to officially part of our family. It was a joyous occasion that we will always cherish, thanks to you and your fine team. The cost of an attorney prohibited us from doing this sooner, however your advertisement on the Internet gave us hope. God bless you and please keep up the great work. Kindest Regards
What arrives in 24–48 hours
Your Texas packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for Adoption prepared for the Texas District Court
- Other parent's consent and surrender papers, or the termination papers and notice when the other parent does not sign
- Child's consent form for children 12 or older
- Home study waiver reference under Tex. Fam. Code § 107.153(a-1), so no home study is needed
- County District Court clerk filing checklist and hearing instructions
- Final decree of adoption and the new birth certificate request for the Texas Vital Statistics Unit
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult stepchild in Texas
A Texas adult may adopt another adult under Tex. Fam. Code § 162.501, and no relationship or age-gap condition is stated. The adult being adopted gives written consent under Tex. Fam. Code § 162.504, and the biological parents' consent is not required. The case is filed in the district court, or a statutory county court with family-law jurisdiction, in the petitioner's county. A hearing is required, and most adult adoptions finish in 4-8 weeks.
Adult petitionerMust reside in Texas
Adoptee consentWritten consent required
Spouse joinsMarried petitioner's spouse joins
HearingBoth attend unless waived
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed Texas instructions make the process simple, and we are a phone call away at every step.
1
AnswerTell us about your family in our 15-minute questionnaire. Save and come back any time.2
Review & signYour complete packet arrives in 24–48 hours with step-by-step filing instructions.3
FileFile with your clerk. We stay with you through the hearing, the decree and the new birth certificate.
Talk to a Texas adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what Texas courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 254 counties
Every one of Texas's 254 counties covered
Texas has 254 counties, and your adoption is heard in the District Court that serves yours. We prepare your papers for the right clerk whether you live in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth or a small rural county.
HoustonSan AntonioDallasAustinFort Worth+ every county
Adoption AI Assistant
Texas stepparent and adult adoption
Have questions about adopting your stepchild? Our AI assistant draws on experience from over 34,000 completed adoptions to give you accurate, helpful answers. Ask anything — it's free and confidential.
Free & confidential · Not legal advice · Powered by AI
What Texas families ask us
How do I adopt my stepchild in Texas?
You file a petition in the Texas District Court in your county, attend a short hearing and receive a decree. We prepare all the documents in 24-48 hours, and most cases finish in about 3 months. The process falls under Texas Family Code Title 2, Chapter 162.
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in Texas?
Yes. Texas allows an adult residing in the state to adopt another adult under Tex. Fam. Code § 162.501. The adult stepchild gives written consent, and these cases often finish in 4-8 weeks.
How much does a stepparent adoption cost in Texas?
Our complete package is $349 for one child and $99 for each additional child. The home study is waived, so that cost is $0. The county clerk sets the court filing fee, so call the clerk to confirm it.
What if the other parent in Texas refuses to sign or can't be found?
Your case can still go forward. In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent. Texas allows rights to be ended for abandonment of 6 months under Tex. Fam. Code § 161.001, and notice is a routine step we prepare.
Does Texas require a home study for stepparent adoption?
No home study is required for stepparents. Texas waives it under Tex. Fam. Code § 107.153(a-1). We prepare the forms the District Court expects and tell you what to bring to the clerk.
Does my child have to agree to the adoption in Texas?
If your child is 12 or older, yes. Tex. Fam. Code § 162.010 requires that child's consent, and we include the consent form in your packet.
Does child support end after a stepparent adoption in Texas?
Yes, the other parent's duty to pay support going forward ends when the adoption is final. Support that was already past due before the adoption depends on Texas law.
How do I get a new birth certificate after adopting in Texas?
After the judge signs the decree, you request an amended birth certificate from the Texas Vital Statistics Unit. Your packet includes the request and instructions, so you know what to send.
Go deeper on Texas adoption
Every guide is written from Texas law.
How do I adopt an adult in Texas?How old do you have to be to adopt in Texas?How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Texas?How much does adult adoption cost in Texas?How much does stepparent adoption cost in Texas?
All Texas adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in Texas?
Join the 3,478 Texas families we have helped. Call (855) 924-0450 and start your adoption today.
Start Your Texas Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST