Petitioners

• In a stepparent adoption in Texas, both the existing parent and the stepparent must petition to adopt the child together. This is because, under Texas law, married couples cannot adopt a child as individuals but must petition to adopt as a couple.
  
  

Consent

• If the child has a second legal or biological, but non-custodial, parent living, that parent must consent to the adoption. In Texas, a child over 12 years old must also consent to be adopted.
  
  

Responsibilities

• A stepparent adoption creates a relationship between a stepparent and a child that is legally identical to the relationship between a child and a biological parent. An adoptive stepparent has all the rights and responsibilities of any other parent.