[mikentrisha]

I went filed the original petition and the biological fathers voluntary relinquueshment of parental rights yesterday....was i supposed to include the interstate compact when i filed? if so can i just go add it to the case? can i go ahead and call the court for a court date? I have raised my stepson for 8 of his 9 years and i am really excited about this......any help is appreciated......also in the packet i got from the law library i didnt see anything about fingerprints and backround check do i need to do this as well any help is appreciated

[mikentrisha]

ok maybe i am asking wrong but i am really wanting any help that may be out there in getting this finished.....i guess i need to know since my step son has lived with majority of his life 8 of his 9 years do i need to do home study? i read someplace it is up to the judge....next i would like to know do i need to do a backround check? the paperwork i got from the legal library did not say anything about this but i have read someplace that it is required? any help is appreciated and much needed as i want to help my son feel as part of the family and have the same name as me, my wife, his brother and sister i hate that he has a different last name and would love to have him enrolled by next school year by the last name that he goes by other then at school.......

[lisajonestx]

I am sorry I do not have an official answer regarding your question but on the posts from danamom here on the forum the compact should have been included. (she states this in her "instructions" file). Like I said I am not sure of this because my husband and I are just going to start trying to have him adopt my first son via a pro se step parent adoption. I have a question for you, if you dont mind, you stated in your first reply something about an pro se step parent adoption packet that you got from your local law library, how did you obtain the packet and all necessary paperwork. I have been to my county's law library only to have the woman sitting at the desk that she could not answer any of my questions regarding what forms I would need. She said she could only help me find info I specifically requested by name. Do the forms we need have numbers or anything and do they come with instructions on what is necessary. Do you just copy the forms straight out of the books??? As you can tell I am lost. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. I am in Brazoria County, TX. Thanks. Lisa

[mikentrisha]

well thanks for the response and i hope all goes well with your adoption....my wife went to the law library and found the information needed.....it does come with basic instructions but as you can tell by some people on here asking questions there instructions are not clear......i have now got started with the home study which runs anywhere from $400.00 - $1000.00 i also got my finger prints done now i need to track down the address to send them off too since the courthouse was no help and the shreiffs department was no help......once again good luck but all should be at the law library not the county clerk......not sure where your law library is located.....