Sometimes the easiest way to transfer property is through an affidavit of heirship. However, all of the heirs of the estate have to sign off on the paperwork. They all have to be willing to transfer the property to you or your adopted daughter as well. If there are any holdouts, you will not be... View More

First, it depends on the language in the deed. If you held the property as joint tenants with right of survivorship, you own 100% of the property without the need for probate. If you held the property as tenants in common, the laws of intestacy take over, and the biological daughter's adoption... View More

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answered on Mar 5, 2025

It depends. If your spouse left the house to only you in a will, no one other than you has a right to the house.

However if he left it in shares to multiple people under the will (including the child that he gave up for adoption), multiple people would have a right to it, including the... View More

To answer this question specifically, we'd have to know more. Specifically:

1) The deed to the house matters. If we could see that, we'd know if your husband's estate is even involved. In other words, if you're listed as "joint tenant with rights of... View More

The court may order termination of the parent-child relationship if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence:

(1) that the parent has:

(A) voluntarily left the child alone or in the possession of another not the parent and expressed an intent not to return;

(B)... View More

Not all lawyers handle appeals. You need to contact an attorney who practices in the area of civil appellate law and bring them a copy of the trial court order you want to appeal. There is a time limit from when the order was signed for you to appeal, so acting promptly is strongly recommended.... View More

Whoever has been appointed managing conservator of the children can consent, orally or in writing, for the children to live with you.

That consent will not, however, accomplish certain goals like enabling you to enroll the children in a public school, consent to medical treatment, consent... View More

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answered on May 13, 2024

It sounds like you need assistance obtaining a birth certificate, which is essential for various legal and personal matters. Since you were born in 1943 and arrived at Ellis Island, it is possible that your birth records are held in the country where you were born or in the archives related to... View More

While it is probably wrong for your aunt to withhold important documents like your social security card and birth certificate from you, I doubt law enforcement will deign to get involved. Simply request duplicates from the appropriate government office.

A person cannot lawfully divert mail... View More

Yes, you can. And it actually makes sense if you haven't gotten very far in the process yet in the original county. If the case is transferred, you will likely have to pay a new filing fee for the new county anyway. You will, however, have to pay again to issue citation and serve the... View More

Many family law attorneys handle adoption cases. Assuming your grandson's parents are dead, an adoption proceeding should be relatively simple. If either parent is still living, it becomes a little more complicated if the living parent(s) is agreeable to the adoption. If there is one or... View More

Yes, you should hire a Dallas probate attorney as soon as possible. At a minimum, a probate attorney could research the probate court's records and then make recommendations to you for how to proceed.

If your father had a valid last will and testament, it's possible he gave... View More

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answered on Jan 10, 2024

The adoptive parents will typically gain full legal parental rights, including decision-making authority for your husband. This encompasses various aspects of his life, such as education, medical care, and other important matters. After the adoption is finalized, your husband's legal... View More

In your circumstance, you would need to do a termination and adoption to terminate your aunt's parental rights and to establish the parent-child relationship (again) between you and your daughter. As long as your aunt is agreeable and CPS is no longer involved, this should be doable.

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answered on Sep 23, 2025

In Texas, the process your boyfriend would need to follow to adopt your son is called a “stepparent adoption,” even though you are not married. Because the biological father is unknown and there are no paternity rulings, the court will need to establish that his parental rights are either... View More

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answered on Sep 17, 2025

Since your resources are limited, you can start by looking for legal aid organizations in Texas that provide low-cost or free assistance for family law matters. Many nonprofits and county legal aid offices can help with child custody, terminating parental rights, and protection orders. You can... View More

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answered on Sep 16, 2025

In Texas, the process your partner would need to follow is called a step-parent adoption. Since you have legal custody and the child’s biological father is unknown, your partner can file a petition for adoption with the local probate court in the county where you live. The petition formally asks... View More

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answered on Sep 16, 2025

Since your son’s father is unknown and has not established any legal rights, the adoption process in Texas may be more straightforward, but it still requires going through the court. You and your boyfriend will need to file a petition for stepparent or second-parent adoption with your local... View More

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answered on Aug 28, 2025

Since you were adopted, your adoptive parent has full legal custody unless a court changes that arrangement. That means you cannot simply move in with your biological father without going through a legal process. Even though you are close to seventeen, the law still requires a court order for you... View More

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answered on Jul 28, 2025

What you're feeling is completely valid, and it's okay to want answers about where you come from. If you were adopted in Texas, there would be a legal record of that, but adoption files are typically sealed by the state. However, as an adult, you have the right to request certain records... View More