Attorney
When a child’s biological parents are unable to care for them, the best solution isn’t always foster care or placement with strangers. In many cases, a family member steps forward—someone the child already knows and trusts. This is the heart of relative and kinship adoption, a process that keeps families together during difficult times.
At Navarrete & Schwartz, P.C., we guide clients in Midland through the legal steps required to adopt grandchildren, nieces, nephews, siblings, or other close relatives. If you’re considering kinship adoption in Texas, here’s what you need to know.
What Is Relative or Kinship Adoption?
Relative adoption (also known as kinship adoption) allows a close family member to legally adopt a child when the biological parents can no longer provide a safe, stable home. These adoptions often involve:
- Grandparents
- Aunts or uncles
- Adult siblings
- Cousins
- Stepparents
Unlike foster care or stranger adoptions, kinship adoptions prioritize continuity and stability by placing children with relatives who are already part of their lives. These placements can provide emotional comfort, familiarity, and a stronger sense of identity for the child.
Why Choose Kinship Adoption?
There are many reasons families in Midland and across Texas pursue kinship adoption:
- Keeping siblings together
- Avoiding placement in foster care
- Responding to parental incarceration, substance abuse, or abandonment
- Securing legal rights for a relative already raising the child
- Providing health insurance, school enrollment, or access to benefits
In many cases, the relative has already stepped into a caregiving role and simply needs the legal authority to continue protecting and supporting the child.
The Legal Process of Kinship Adoption in Texas
While kinship adoptions are often less adversarial than traditional adoptions, they still require a formal legal process. The key steps include:
Termination of Parental Rights
Before any adoption can occur, the biological parents’ rights must be terminated—voluntarily or through court proceedings. In some cases, the parent may consent. In others, the court may terminate rights based on abandonment, abuse, neglect, or endangerment.
Home Study and Background Checks
Even relatives must meet the legal standards of Texas to adopt. This often includes background checks, home visits, and assessments of the relative’s ability to provide a stable environment.
Filing the Adoption Petition
The relative must file a petition for adoption in the appropriate Texas family court. Documentation, notice to biological parents, and supporting evidence will all be required.
Final Adoption Hearing
Once all requirements are met, the court will hold a hearing to finalize the adoption. If approved, the child becomes the legal child of the adoptive relative—with all the same rights and responsibilities as a birth child.
At Navarrete & Schwartz, P.C., we guide Midland families through each step of the adoption process with clarity, compassion, and an unwavering focus on the child’s best interests.
Do I Need an Attorney for a Kinship Adoption?
Yes—even when everyone agrees, kinship adoptions in Texas can become complicated. Parental rights, involvement of child protective services, or unclear family dynamics may create delays or legal risks. An experienced family law attorney can:
- Help terminate parental rights properly
- Prepare and file all legal paperwork
- Represent you at hearings
- Ensure compliance with Texas adoption laws
- Protect against legal challenges from the biological parents
When your goal is to provide a safe, permanent home for a child you love, you don’t want paperwork or legal missteps to get in the way. At Navarrete & Schwartz, P.C., we make sure the process is as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Kinship Adoption and Texas Grandparent Rights
In many kinship adoptions, grandparents step in to raise their grandchildren. Texas law allows grandparents to seek custody or adoption if:
- The parents are incarcerated, deceased, or incapacitated
- The child has been abused, neglected, or abandoned
- It is in the child’s best interest to remain with the grandparent
If you’re a grandparent in Midland currently raising your grandchild—or planning to—our team can help you secure full parental rights through adoption, giving you the legal authority to make medical, educational, and financial decisions on their behalf.
Keeping Families Together Starts with a Call
At Navarrete & Schwartz, P.C., we believe family comes first. When circumstances threaten to separate children from their loved ones, kinship adoption offers a powerful way to protect what matters most. Our attorneys are proud to help families in Midland and West Texas provide children with safe, loving, and permanent homes.
If you’re caring for a relative’s child and want to explore adoption, contact us today. We’ll answer your questions, walk you through your legal options, and advocate for your family every step of the way.