Can I Choose Adoption in Texas Without the Birth Father’s Consent?

If you are experiencing an unexpected pregnancy, you may be feeling overwhelmed with questions. You might wonder whether or not adoption is right for you and your child or how your child’s father will react to the news. If this describes you, there is no need to worry. At Adoption Choices of Texas, we are here to help you no matter what concerns you may have. Our adoption counselors and caseworkers will work with you to create an adoption plan that works for everyone involved. As a birth mother in Texas, we understand that the adoption process can be confusing and difficult. If you are struggling to understand your rights in the adoption process or if you need the birth father’s consent, that is perfectly okay! Adoption Choices of Texas is here to help you throughout your adoption process, and we can find answers to any questions you may have.

If you need help with adoption now, you can call us at 945-444-0333, text us at 945-444-0333, or email us here.

Birth Mother Rights in a Texas Adoption

As a pregnant woman in Texas, you have the right to choose adoption at any stage of your pregnancy. You may want to consider adoption if you feel unprepared for becoming a mother or are not ready to commit to raising a child. Whatever your reasons are, you are free to pursue adoption at any time, even after your child is born. However, if you are looking to pursue adoption without the birth father’s consent, you may only do so if you are not married to the birth father or the birth father is absent.

You also have the right as the birth mother to determine many of the arrangements in your child’s adoption plan. This includes choosing your child’s adoptive family as well as the amount of contact you wish to remain between you and your child. While many birth mothers increasingly choose to pursue an open adoption, you may wish to keep your child’s adoption arrangement closed if you want to maintain a sense of privacy from the birth father. As the birth mother, you should carefully consider your own preferences to determine whether or not you wish to maintain a relationship with your child, the adoptive family, or even the birth father.

Birth Father Rights in a Texas Adoption

If you are a Texas birth mother in the adoption process, you should also be aware of the rights of your child’s birth father. According to the law in Texas, a man is only considered to be a child’s father if he is married to the mother during the term of her pregnancy. This means that if you are not married to the birth father, you may pursue an adoption without his consent. However, if you do so, the birth father will have the right to contest your child’s adoption, given that he can establish paternity.

While some birth fathers choose not to become involved in the adoption process in Texas, there are still many who take an active role in their child’s adoption. This includes making many of the important decisions alongside the birth mother, even if they are no longer in a relationship. In fact, most birth fathers report wanting to take more responsibility in their child’s adoption arrangement yet feel unsure of how to do so. If you are considering adoption in Texas without the birth father’s consent, you should carefully think about your own relationship with the birth father and whether you are on friendly terms or not. If the answer to this question is yes, you may want to consider the potential consequences of taking this step.

Will You Choose Adoption in Texas Without the Birth Father’s Consent?

As a pregnant woman in Texas considering adoption, we understand that you are likely feeling overwhelmed. However, at Adoption Choices of Texas, we are here to support you no matter what you choose. Our adoption counselors and caseworkers recognize that every adoption is different and unique, and we will work with you to find a solution to each challenge you face. We are here to help you create an adoption plan that works for everyone involved, even if it is without the birth father’s consent.

If you are a pregnant woman considering adoption without the birth father’s consent or have any other questions about the adoption process in Texas, please feel free to reach out to us any time. We are here to help you no matter which path you take.

As an expectant woman or birth parent, to learn more about adoption, contact Adoption Choices of Texas. You can call us at 945-444-0333, text us at 945-444-0333, or email us here. If you are hoping to adopt, please visit us here. We look forward to helping you through your adoption journey!

Meet the Author: Jennie Knuppel is a student at the University of Texas at Austin studying English Literature. She is currently enrolled in the English Honors Program, for which she is writing a thesis in comparative literature prior to graduating in the spring of 2022. Jennie has previously taken courses in literature and both creative and technical writing, and she spent four years working in her high school’s journalism department. 

Jennie is also currently working as a barista, and, in her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family and pets.