What Does Adoption Finalization Mean? 

By Elle Kerrigan

As a birth mother familiar with the adoption process, you may feel like there are many steps until your baby is officially with their family. But you’re doing a great job, having already completed the beginning steps! At Adoption Choices of Texas, we want to ensure you’re informed about the adoption finalization process. This is the final step in placing your child in their new home. It’s important that you have accurate information regarding this phase. We are a full-service adoption agency licensed by the state of Texas. Thanks to our talented team of specialists, we are amongst the top choices for adoption agencies in San Antonio. Each of our adoption specialists is well-informed on adoption finalization and happy to guide you in wrapping up placing your baby for adoption. 

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.

The Basics of Adoption Finalization

Simply put, adoption finalization refers to the last steps necessary in order to confirm the child is legally adopted. This phase includes some involvement with the court system and some paperwork. Like all states, there are specific adoption requirements in Texas that you must follow throughout the process. During this time, you must adhere to your state’s adoption laws. These can be confusing and stressful to work through. If you’re working with Adoption Choices of Texas, we will ensure your adoption follows the regulations. It’s common to have questions about state laws, but our specialists are knowledgeable and ready to help.

To begin, there must be consent to adopt or relinquishment of parental rights signed by the birth parents in order for the adoption to be finalized. This document states that the birth parents are in agreement with the adoption and giving up their custody. In Texas, birth mothers must wait 48 hours after their child is born to sign this relinquishment. If you have already created an adoption plan, you have likely already chosen your adoptive family and the type of adoption. In signing the consent form, you are simply saying that you agree to have this family take in your child. Relinquishing your parental rights does not mean you are giving up the right to ever see your child again. If you have chosen an open adoption, you are still able to have the previously agreed amount of contact with your child upon relinquishing your parental rights. 

Adoption in Finalization

Besides the consent to adopt form, a few more checks are necessary to ensure your adoption will be legally recognized. In Texas, a case worker must complete in-home visits after your child has been living with their adoptive family. This is to ensure that their needs are being met. The worker will make sure that the child is well-adjusted, taken care of, attending doctor’s visits, etc. The same individual will perform each in-home visit so they become familiar with the adopted child and their new family. This way, they can see how the child progresses. 

After the adoptive family is deemed to be a good fit for your child, there will be an adoption finalization hearing in court. This is usually a quick process for adoptive families wherein a judge looks over the legality of the adoption and confirms the child’s safety. This is the day that the child becomes a part of the adoptive family legally. It is the final step. If you are involved in an open adoption, you may even attend this as a birth mother if you wish. The adoption finalization hearing is an opportunity to realize that in “giving up your baby” for adoption, you were never giving up. Witnessing the joy you have given to both your child and their family through adoption is important in recognizing that you have provided new life. 

Finalizing Your Adoption With Adoption Choices of Texas

Approaching the end of the adoption process can be tiring, but ultimately this is an exciting time for you and the adoptive family. You are almost at the end of this journey that you began to provide the best life for your child. Adoption in Texas can be made much simpler by working with an agency like Adoption Choices of Texas. We have a large and caring team that provides adoption services throughout the entire state. Putting a child up for adoption does not have to be done alone. You should be proud of all that you have done so far. We hope that you look forward to finalizing your adoption. 

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!

Adoption Choices of Texas es la única agencia de adopción con servicios completamente en esapñol en el estado de Texas. Si está embarazada y necesita ayuda, llámenos o envíenos un mensaje de texto y uno de nuestros especialistas en adopción podrá ayudarlo. Podemos ayudarte con la adopcion de niños. Para obtener más información sobre el proceso de adopción como una mujer embarazada o una madre biológica, comuníquese con Adoption Choices of Texas. Para español llamar: 888-510-5029