If you and your spouse are unable to have a child of your own, you may have considered adoption. It has probably crossed your mind many times over the years. You may think that adoption is too expensive an option. Or, you fear that you and your family don’t qualify to adopt a baby since you might have filed for bankruptcy.
You’re not alone in feeling this way. A lot of people worry that their application for adoption would be denied. And, there is a chance that it would be. You’ll never know if you don’t try.
Texas does have certain requirements when it comes to adopting a child. Some of the basic requirements for any sort of adoption in Corpus Christi, Texas include:
- You must be at least 21 years old
- You must pass a criminal background check
- You must be financially stable and able to provide for a child
- If you’re married, you must have been married at least two (2) years
- You have to maintain a stable home that will pass a home study
Some people can pass all of these requirements. However, if you have a recent filed bankruptcy, you may worry that your adoption application will be denied. If this is the case, you should contact an experienced adoption attorney in Corpus Christi. They can help you with your application and work hard to get your adoption approved.
Why Do You Have to Pass a Background Check?
When the courts decide to let a couple adopt a baby, they have the best interests of the child in mind. This is more important than anything else. If they approve an adoption, it is forever. They can’t change their mind a few months down the road and take your child away. This is why they’re so careful when it comes to approving an adoption.
In order to adopt a child, you have to pass a criminal background check. The courts will not let someone adopt a child if they have a violent criminal background. However, they can even deny an adoption for crimes that don’t seem violent at all. For example, if you have a history of DUI, they aren’t going to trust you to care for a child. Or, you may have been convicted of domestic violence. The judge would probably not allow someone with a DV history to adopt a child.
If you do pass the criminal background check, you will still have to pass a financial and employment background check.
What Do the Financial and Employment Check Entail?
Before you’re allowed to adopt a child, the courts are going to require that you complete a financial and employment background check. You must prove that you’re able to care for a child financially.
The court will appoint a social study person to look into your background. They will look to see how long you’ve been at your job. If you have a history of bouncing from job to job, it will not help your case. Your Corpus Christi adoption lawyer can only do so much if you have an unstable employment background.
The court will also want to look at your financial background. They will look at a credit report. They’ll also want to see your tax returns. If it looks as if you can’t manage your own finances, the court isn’t going to trust you to care for a child.
If you have a recent bankruptcy -within the last several years – it could hurt your chances of adopting a child. Let your adoption attorney in Texas know upfront what your credit history looks like. This way, they won’t be blindsided when the social study report comes in.
If your adoption is denied because of your recent bankruptcy, you may want to consider waiting a few more years before trying to adopt again. The court will want to see that you have several years of clean and competent finances before they allow you to adopt a child.
Contact an Adoption Lawyer in Corpus Christi Today
If you’re considering adopting a child, you should contact an experienced adoption attorney in Corpus Christi, Texas at Eddington & Worley. They can review your financial records and credit history and let you know if they think it’ll be an issue. If you do have a recent bankruptcy, your attorney will let you know how it will impact your adoption application.
You do have to prove that you’re financially stable in order to adopt a child in Texas. The court wants to make sure you can care for a child before they make a decision that will affect the child for the rest of their life.
Call today and schedule your initial consultation with an experienced adoption attorney in Corpus Christi today.