State of Texas Recognizes Jana's Adoption

Today we completed the adoption process in the State of Texas. We went before a judge and they have recognized the foreign judgment (adoption) and officially said that they recognize that Jana is ours. Only 1 final visit with a social worker and we are DONE!!!!

I wanted to write and help others who were going through this process and wanted to do so without a lawyer (pro se). This saved us a great deal of money and really was very easy.

First, call your county district clerk's office and find out how much it will cost to file a "Registration of Foreign Judgment" under the Family Division. In Galveston County, this cost us $227 and we had to have it in cash (no check, no credit card).

Then go to your county clerk's office with the filing fee and submit the following forms filled out.

EITHER the Petition for Registration of Foreign Order and Name Change in addition to the Affidavit when filing from this document (of course, fill it in to make it pertinent to you):

/Texas-readoption.pdf

OR

/valid_Petition.doc
/AFFIDAVIT_form.doc

Don't turn in any other papers or documents while filing.

Give the Clerk's office a few days and then start calling to either schedule a court day or to schedule to come in on the uncontested docket. You will have to figure out which your county clerk will require. We did the uncontested docket.

When you go in to court, bring:

-Xerox copies of all Chinese Paperwork & originals (the certified copies of adoption certificate, birth certificate, abandonment certificate)
-Xerox copy of the Certificate of Citizenship & original
-Xerox copy of the Social Security Card & original
-These forms filled out:
/valid_order_form.doc

Certificate of Adoption. * this is for Texas - others might need to find the one relevant to their state


After seeing the judge, give the District Clerk's office the Certificate of Adoption and the valid_order_form document (signed by the judge). They will take those and send away for the state Birth Certificate. This cost us a $62 check.

I hope that helps someone else get through this process easier. It really was simple, just overwhelming at first with not knowing the process. Now you know the process and you can easily do it on your own.

*I am not a lawyer. This was just our experience and how we had the State of Texas recognize our daughter's adoption, so that we could get her a Texas Birth Certificate.