There are certain requirements to adopt a child in Texas. While many families want to adopt, not all of them might be eligible: They must still meet the adoption requirements to qualify. Different states follow different rules.

Texas has set clear steps and guidelines for adoption. You must meet certain age, financial, and legal conditions before adopting. The state checks your background and home safety to ensure you are ready to raise a child.

Each city may have extra rules, so it is essential to review local information. If you’re in big cities like Dallas and Austin, you can find agencies to guide you through the process. Look for an adoption agency in Dallas or an adoption agency in Austin that can guide you through federal, state, and local laws pertaining to adoption.

By following the proper channels and working with experts, adopting in Texas might be in your future! Careful planning of each step can help you succeed — here’s what you need to know. 

Basic Eligibility Requirements to Adopt in Texas

Prospective adoptive parents must first meet specific eligibility standards. Eligibility for adoption in Texas includes age, marital status, and residency. In Texas, you must be at least 21 years old to adopt. 

Age Requirements to Adopt in Texas

To ensure prospective parents are genuinely ready to welcome a new family member, we require applicants to be at least 25 years old at Angel Adoption. Angel Adoption needs prospective parents to be 25 years old or older.

There is no maximum age limit throughout the United States, but age gap restrictions exist across states. Texas has no age gap restrictions but check with your adoption attorney, as each case is unique. 

While Texas has no standard established age gap rule for adoptions, other states do. For example, in California and Utah, adoptive parents must be adults and at least 10 years older than the adoptee, based on adoption requirements by state. Exceptions can be made here for kinship adoptions, like when a cousin takes in a younger relative.

While there are no age limit requirements to adopt a child in Texas, some families might be wondering, “How old is too old to adopt?” Some adoption agencies set an upper limit on how old parents can be to adopt a child.

Marital and Relationship Status: Texas Adoptions

Marital status is another factor to consider. Single-parent adoption may also be subject to certain eligibility requirements. One requirement is to show proof of family support through documentation (letters of recommendation from family, friends, and community leaders).

Some agencies require couples to be married for a certain number of years. In Texas, if you’re an unmarried couple living together, you must adopt as two single parents. If you have been divorced in the past, share those documents with your agency. Being previously divorced doesn’t impact your chances of adoption; however, divorce during adoption will. 

Finally, Texas doesn’t have strict residency requirements, but parents must be residents or have family connections to the state. No specific length of residency is needed. 

Out-of-state applicants must choose an agency with a contract with Texas to complete Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC) adoptions. The ICPC is a law that applies when a child is placed across state lines for adoption. In the context of Texas adoptions, it’s a required process if the adoptive parents live in a different state than where the child is born (or vice versa).

The Financial Requirements to Adopt in Texas

Adoptive parents must show they have the financial stability to support a child as part of Texas adoption qualifications. There is no minimum income to adopt a child in Texas, but other state, federal, and international laws can vary. 

For example, the guidelines set by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stipulate that an adoptive parent must have income equal to or higher than 125% of the federal poverty level for your household size.

Social workers investigate your income, stability, and type of employment through the adoption home study. The authorized person must assess your ability to support your adopted child(ren) financially. 

As part of the requirements to adopt a child in Texas, applicants must show a steady income that covers daily expenses and future child needs. Proof of income can come from pay stubs, tax returns, or bank statements. Self-employed individuals need to provide business records to verify earnings. 

Proving Financial Stability in Texas Adoptions

Financial documents help agencies understand your economic situation. Applicants must submit their most recent tax returns to demonstrate income history. Recent bank statements help show financial stability. The debt-to-income ratio (DTI) compares total monthly debt payments to gross monthly income. 

A lower DTI indicates financial strength, with a ratio under 36% considered ideal. To calculate DTI, divide total monthly debt by gross monthly income. For instance, if your monthly debt is $2,000 and your income is $6,000, your DTI is 33%.

Texas uses the Asset Verification System (AVS) — a digital tool used to automatically check your financial accounts — to confirm available financial resources. This system checks savings accounts, investments, and property ownership to determine financial readiness for adoption.

Establishing Proof of Insurance in Texas Adoptions

Health insurance must be in place before the adoption is finalized. Adopted children receive the same coverage as biological children, and those without private insurance can enroll in the Texas STAR Health program. Texas STAR Health is a Medicaid managed care program that covers low-income children, families, and pregnant women. 

Life insurance is also recommended to protect the child’s future. There are two types of life insurance — term and permanent life insurance. Term life insurance provides coverage for a set number of years and only pays out if you die during that time. Permanent life insurance lasts your whole life and builds cash value, but it costs more.

Some of these plans allow borrowing against the policy to help cover adoption expenses. Note that life insurance of any kind is not part of the requirements to adopt a child in Texas, but it can help create financial protection for families.

Texas Adoption Home Study Requirements 

The home study preparer must conduct at least one in-person interview and at least one home visit with the PAP, at least one interview with any adult member of the household (AMH), and, when possible, observe any children in the home.

Overview and assessment of a prospective family’s readiness to adopt by a licensed professional. The process has specific steps. Background checks, home inspections, interviews, and reference checks form part of the evaluation process. 

During the home study, a professional checks room sizes, safety features, and the overall environment to ensure the home is child-friendly. The study involves a series of interviews, including at least one in-person interview and a minimum of one home visit with the prospective adoptive parent. 

One interview must be conducted with any Adult Member of the Household (AMH), AKA anyone living in a residence who is 18 years of age or older, and any children in the home must be observed when possible.

Background checks and a detailed inspection of your home are recorded during visits and interviews. You must provide documentation during the study. Personal records, financial statements, and medical reports are non-negotiable. Pre-adoption training certificates and reference letters will likely also be needed to qualify for the Texas adoption process.

The timeline for the home study is three to six months for a thorough assessment. Note that if significant changes occur in your family situation (residence changes, employment, household members), an updated home study may be required. A home study is valid for six months for public agencies and valid for one year for private agencies. Some household changes may affect a home study’s length of validity. 

Training and Education Necessary to Adopt in Texas

Some adoption agencies require the training and education needed to fulfill the requirements to adopt a child in Texas. Families attend one or several group orientation sessions or adoption training sessions before completing a home study. 

Pre-adoption training and parenting classes can prepare families for all types of adoption, like international, domestic, or special needs. 

Pre-adoption education and training give future adoptive parents the knowledge and skills to handle the expectations of raising an adoptive child. By training, you’ll build essential knowledge, develop empathy and understanding for your child, and boost cultural sensitivity.

For example, you can take courses on understanding your child’s heritage. You can also take an “exploring adoption” course from the National Council for Adoption to earn a certificate and stay updated with today’s adoption information. At Angel Adoption, we offer a class for parents adopting special needs children.

Depending on the type of training, a course could last several hours to three days. Courses must be completed before the home study. Some agencies require continuing education after adoption, which may include renewing old training certificates or receiving new ones, such as CPR or first aid.

After finishing the classes, participants generally receive a certificate of proof. Keep this certificate safe as part of your documents to verify that you have completed the required training and finished in time for the home study.

Medical Requirements to Adopt in Texas 

Health checks are necessary to meet Texas adoption qualifications. You must have a full medical screening, including a physical exam and mental health evaluation. Adoption agencies consider your health when approving you. Doctors check your overall condition and ensure that you do not have any health issues that could interfere with caring for a child. 

Perfect health isn’t required: It’s more important that parents can meet the demands of caring for a child. Chronic conditions or past medical issues must be noted in the adoption process in Texas. Adoption and mental health are equally important as they show that you can handle the demands of childcare and have a stable home.

Regarding drug screenings, sometimes prospective parents are drug tested as part of your adoption medical requirements, but that depends on your adoption agency. Other evaluations include tuberculosis (TB) tests, especially for international adoption. Latent and active TB may require treatment before moving forward. Some children are also tested for TB, especially if adopted internationally, to prepare parents for the possible health conditions their child might have.

Having all your medical documentation in order during your evaluation period is vital to meeting the requirements to adopt a child in Texas. These might include recent health statement forms, physician letters, and vaccination records. A complete medical history review will determine whether you are fit to adopt.

Legal Requirements for Texas Adoptions

Legal reviews are an essential part of the Texas adoption process. Background checks look for any criminal records or past abuse incidents. Child abusers are not allowed to adopt and are disqualified for adoption. 

While a person can potentially adopt with a criminal record, they can be quickly disqualified if convicted of a crime listed in the regulation, like indecency with a child, for example.

During the background check, FBI fingerprinting, based on the Texas Department of Public Safety’s CR-62 form, accesses criminal records, either shared or hidden, to verify whether the provided information is accurate. 

Employment verification may also be part of the review to prove you’re honest about your financial status. These legal steps protect children’s well-being and ensure a safe family environment. All records must be authentic and current. An Angel Adoption-connected attorney could assist in reviewing your documents and guiding you through the process.

You will need to show your birth certificate, marriage license if you are married, divorce decrees if you were married before. Additionally, you must share proof of citizenship. 

Living Space Requirements for Adoptions in Texas

Your home must be a safe place for a child. Meeting living space guidelines is part of the requirements to adopt a child in Texas. 

Safety features like secure windows, working smoke detectors, and proper locks are necessary. An inspection will verify that your living space meets local standards. You must also prove home ownership or a stable lease. 

Then, a safety inspection confirms that hazards have been removed and the area is child-friendly. Local authorities may require additional checks; all documentation must be current to comply with local regulations.

FAQs About Requirements to Adopt in Texas

Here are some frequently asked questions about Texas adoptions and their answers below.

What should I expect during the adoption home study visit in Texas?

The point of the home study visit in Texas is to make sure your home is prepared for a child. It should be safe and clean, and you should be able to show working smoke detectors and be able to provide emergency plans in case of disaster. In some cases, the interviews may be conducted during the home study visit as well, which is something you can ask your case worker about ahead of time.

What will disqualify you from adopting a child in Texas?

A person may be disqualified from adopting in Texas for several reasons, primarily revolving around a child’s safety and well-being. 

These can include:

• Financial instability
• Criminal history (especially convictions related to child abuse, neglect, or violence)
• Previous substance abuse
• Certain mental health conditions
• A history of domestic violence or an unsafe home environment 

What is the waiting period for adoption in Texas?

The waiting period to adopt in Texas depends on each unique situation. Estimates range from nine to 18 months, but adoptions can happen in shorter or longer spans as well. Under Texas law, birth mothers must wait at least 48 hours after giving birth to sign the legal adoption papers. The final step is the six-month adoption waiting period before the placement is officially finalized.  

How do we ensure Texas adoption costs remain within our budget?

Many adoption agencies and service providers have strategies that they use to help keep the total cost of an adoption within a family’s budget. However, there are often adoption expenses that come up unexpectedly. 

Should certain circumstances arise, such as a birthmother’s situation exceeding a family’s budget, hopeful parents can decline the opportunity to minimize costs. However, many adoptive parents pursue these opportunities anyway, seeking out alternative means to offset the cost of adoption.

Will we be required to cover the birthmother’s medical expenses in Texas?

In most cases, the birthmother’s prenatal care, labor, and delivery are covered by their personal medical insurance or government-issued medical insurance. We work with each birthmother in Texas to ensure they have the appropriate medical coverage during this important time.

Texas Adoption Requirements: Step-by-Step

The requirements to adopt a child in Texas focus on eligibility in all phases of life. Financial, medical, and legal documentation must be provided during the home study process. Prospective adoptive parents must meet eligibility standards through education and training, home safety requirements, and the approval of a favorable home study report.

At Angel Adoption, we help families meet these adoption requirements through free resources and professional services, such as our adoption attorney. 

For more information on Dallas and Austin, look at our page on How to Adopt in Texas to get the process started.

Ready to add to your family? Contact Angel Adoption to get started.