[samIam7777]

Hello, My Question is I have been raising my Grandson since he was 2 Months old he will be 10 in 3 days. I want to adopt him with the Blessings from Both Parents my Daughter and her Husband, they agreed to sign what ever forms needed, however I can't afford an Attorney on Dissability PLEASE HELP.

[JudyKayTee]

This is a very big legal step with many pitfalls. You need an Attorney. Call Legal Aid, other similar groups, law schools in your area. You don't need/want this to explode in your face sometime in the future.

My concern is what the Court is going to think about your financial situation. You apparently have been caring for and supporting the child for some time. Can you continue to do so?

[samIam7777]

This is a very big legal step with many pitfalls. You need an Attorney. Call Legal Aid, other similar groups, law schools in your area. You don't need/want this to explode in your face sometime in the future.

My concern is what the Court is going to think about your financial situation. You apparently have been caring for and supporting the child for some time. Can you continue to do so?

Yes My Husband and I can and have been doing so,I don't see it blowing up in my face we"ve discuss this Every one agrees Grandson included if needed can have lots of people speak up for me including his Teachers,as well as his Parents. Please Help us,We live in Beaumont Tx. I tried legal service NOTHING!!

[JudyKayTee]

You don't need people to speak up for you. You need to guarantee that the adoption conforms totally to Texas law, that a parent can't come back in the future and try to overturn it. I know, it's family - but read AMHD. It happens.

Go to the Court, get the adoption papers and fill them out yourself. They are not all that complicated. I actually (I'm in NY) did a background check for a Texas adoption about 2 years ago.

[ScottGem]

Have you even researched the costs of an attorney? Since everyone is in agreement and the parents whereabouts are known, this should be a pretty cut and dried affair. So it should not be expensive. I would be surprised if it would cost more than $1500.

And the legal aspects of this make it imperative that the paperwork be submitted properly. If you still find you can't afford an attorney, try checking with local law schools. Many have clinics that will help people prepare paperwork for submission to the courts.

I'll also ask what do you think adoption will get you? If you already have legal custody or guardianship, then what more will an adoption give you. One thing it will do is confuse matters because his parents will now become his siblings instead.