[Alliecat27]

Hi everyone---any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

The biological father is deceased; I've paid about $250 to an online company to do the forms, but I'm not sure if they gave me the right things. I've gotten the following:

Petition for Adoption
Consent of Natural Mother
Affidavit TX Family Code 152.209
Final Decree of Adoption

What about the Interstate Compact? or the Affidavit of Status?

Anyone do a stepparent adoption yourself and know what forms you had to file? I'm just so afraid of going to the court and filing the wrong papers. The district clerk's office told me it would $706 to file!!! That's with or without termination (which I assume I won't need since we were never married and he's passed away). Help!!

[txgrl1200]

Since you were never married to the father you will need the Affidavit of Status. It says that no paternity has ever been established and you were never married to the father (or anyone else) at the time of conception or through the duration of your pregnancy. I have a copy of it if you'd like. The Affidavit of Interstate Compact has to be filed with the Original Petition, it should be listed as an Exhibit in the petition. By chance are you in Travis county? Just curious, I am and that's how much it is to file here. If you are, you can just pay the $506 to file, and pay the extra $200 for the home study when/if the judge orders one. I couldn't find anything in my county that said they require the Concent for Adoption by bio mom or the section 152.209 information. It's my understanding that the 152.209 form is used in divorces and cases where you have previously lived in another state.

[Alliecat27]

Thanks for the post, and yes I'm in Travis county too. I can't believe the filing fees---a lot more than I expected after hearing of other fees in other TX counties. I'm so frustrated with the company we paid to do our papers. RapidAdoption.com---it seems like they just sent whatever forms, with LOTS and LOTS of errors, and didn't customize it to my particular situation (never married, deceased father). Anyway, luckily I did draft my own Affidavit of Status and Interstate compact about a year ago at the law library (after a few hours of research!). Why do they make this so hard?? Are you finished with the process? If so how long did it take and what steps did you take? What forms did you use? Thanks so much!

[JennyYoung05]

Hello,

Can I please get the forms you are sending to everyone? My husband wants to adopt my daughter(his step-daughter) and I need to get her "sperm donor"(not really but thats all he's done for her) to sign the termination of rights form.... Your help is GREATLY appreciated!

Also, if anyone knows the procedure or fees for filing this in Ellis County, Texas, please let me know.

Jennifer