Adoption We're In This Together

Austin Adoption Attorney

Assisting with Texas Grandparent Adoptions

At Andrae Law, PLLC, we are not typically involved with the adoptive family until the child has been placed with the family. At that point, we will draft and file a Petition for Adoption and request that a home study provider be appointed to conduct and complete the home study report to the Court. The last legal step in the process is assisting our client(s) in obtaining a new birth certificate for their child after the Court has signed the Order of Adoption. Every step of the way, our Austin adoption lawyers will be there to guide you and protect your rights.

When someone adopts a child, that individual or couple becomes the child’s legal parent(s). A legal adoption gives the adoptive family the same rights and responsibilities as a biological parent. There are several steps in the adoption process, from the placement in the adoptive family’s home to the appointment of a home study provider to the final adoption hearing.

Types of Adoption We Handle

At Andrae Law, PLLC we handle such adoptions as:

Adoption Legalities and Parental Rights in Texas

Before an adoption can take place, the rights of the biological parents must be terminated. Our team is experienced in handling both terminations of parental rights and adoptions and may be hired at either step in the process.

In some cases, we will file both a Petition for Termination and a Petition for Adoption simultaneously. Like the adoption process, there are several steps in a termination suit as well. Depending on the county, the Court may require that a Guardian ad Litem be appointed to represent the best interest of the child and investigate the reasons for the termination/adoption. If a biological parent has agreed to execute an Affidavit of Relinquishment, the termination process may be uncontested. If a biological parent has been absent from a child’s life for many years and cannot be located, the Court would require the appointment of an attorney ad Litem for the missing parent.

Why Choose Andrae Law, PLLC?

  • Committed to Giving Back
    Our firm is involved with giving back to the legal profession and the community.
  • Board Certified
    Amanda Andrae is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
  • Experienced Attorneys
    Our attorneys have over 40 years of combined legal experience.

Talk to an Austin Adoption Lawyer About Your Case

The circumstances surrounding adoption and termination vary greatly depending on the family. Our Austin adoption lawyers believe that every case is unique, and we provide customized services to meet the individual family’s needs.

Some families want to adopt a biological family member (such as a grandchild, niece or nephew), while other families may adopt from overseas, or from the Texas Department of Protective and Family Services (more commonly known as CPS or Child Protective Services). Whatever your situation, our family law firm has the knowledge-base to expedite this process.

In addition to representing our own clients in their adoption cases, attorney Amanda Andrae is an active proponent of adoption in the community, having served on the Austin Bar Committee for Austin Adoption Day for the past five years. Amanda and her ex-husband, Dave, have adopted a child, and have a large network of friends who have either been adopted or have adopted children of their own. Our firm has a commitment to forming loving families through the adoption process.

What Will Disqualify You From Adopting A Child In Texas?

While there are many qualifications that each prospective adoptive parent will have to meet in order to be eligible to adopt, this is all done in order to keep children safe and to make sure that children are going into homes that they will be more likely to thrive. Not all these qualifications have to do with safety, but rather many of them deal with the quality-of-life which children will have once they enter their forever home.

To learn more, call our offices at (512) 668-7133. We represent clients across Austin and the surrounding areas, including Williamson and Travis.

Contact Us Today!

A member of our team will be in touch shortly to confirm your contact details or address questions you may have.

  • Please enter your first name.
  • Please enter your last name.
  • Please enter your phone number.
    This isn't a valid phone number.
  • Please enter your email address.
    This isn't a valid email address.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please enter a message.
  • By submitting, you agree to be contacted about your request & other information using automated technology. Message frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Acceptable Use Policy
  • "Ethical, compassionate, dedicated attorney in an extremely complicated and difficult situation."
    Amanda Andrae is an ethical, compassionate, dedicated attorney who truly cares about what is important in family law, the best interest of the child. My situation was beyond complex and difficult with respect to the dyamics of all the involved parties, therapists, attorneys, witnesses, etc. Amanda did not falter in her ability to skillfully manage both the "people" side of things and the legal/ technical. She is honest and responsive, and truly went above and beyond to find ways to resolve an impossible situation. Amanda is also well respected by other attorneys, judges and therapists in Austin, which is important. In a situation where there were often no good answers, she did what she does best, which is think strategically, creatively, and always focus on what was best for my children and for me. If you want an ethical, compassionate, skilled family law attorney, I highly recommend Amanda Andrae.
    Anon
  • "Excellent & Trustworthy divorce attorney"
    Amanda and her team impressed me from the very get-go. If you want an attorney who is responsive, who will work as much within your budget as possible, and will keep you clearly informed throughout your legal journey - I recommend Amanda fully and without reservation. In my case, it was a relatively agreeable divorce situation with children, multiple properties and businesses involved. And as my divorce attorney, I could not have asked for better representation and sound advice. As with any divorce, I had some times of pretty high emotion and Amanda was kind, non-judgmental and very understanding to the challenges I was facing. And along the way, Amanda and I shared some great laughs which made the tough situation of divorce a bit easier. Are there things that Amanda's office could probably do better? Sure. But that's true of any attorney or any business practice. What she does best is what matters most - and that is ensuring her clients are protected, advised, and represented professionally with the highest ethical standards.
    Anon
  • "Knowledgeable and compassionate"
    Amanda is a very knowledgeable and compassionate attorney who expertly guides her clients to fair settlements and, when needed, to very good outcomes in the courtroom.
    Anon
  • "Perfect amount of understanding and empathy"
    Amanda and her team have exhibited the perfect amount of understanding and empathy balanced with sound legal guidance. Amanda was sensitive to my desires in implementing my divorce and setting up visitation for my ex-husband but didn't let me short myself by giving up more than I needed.
    Anon
  • "They were great with communication"
    I am very pleased with Andrae Law. I got divorced and had a child custody matter I needed help with and they handled it. They were very direct with what my options were. If I was confused about something they were very good about explaining the process and what had to be done. They were great with communication, via email and phone. I've had attorneys in the past that wouldn't return my call for up to a week, I was very happy that didn't happen with this firm. I feel I definitely got my money's worth. I highly recommend Amanda Andrae & Sally Pretorius with Andrae Law.
    Anon
  • "Deeply moved by your incredible generosity"

    Amanda, "Thank you" is insufficient, as I am deeply moved by your incredible generosity. Your support, along with Joan and Alex, has been beyond remarkable. I don't know how I would've gotten through this experience without all of you. You and Joan are just as much therapists as you are lawyers. You both fought for me and didn't let me back down when I was emotionally exhausted but you did so with respect and integrity. You provided me with the validation I needed when I doubted myself. I now carry this forward with me and the value of such is priceless. You turned one of the worst experiences of my life into one of my proudest. As a result of the dedication and unwavering support I received from you both, my family will forever be shaped for the better. In sincere gratitude, I wish you all the best.

    Anonymous
  • "Great family lawyer"
    I hired Amanda Andrae to help me with a child conservator issue. I had orders in place already regarding custody and child support but I needed to change them to sole conservatorship in order to take care of everything for my daughter in the complete absence of her father. I knew that changing orders was very difficult and would be even more so without being able to locate the father to serve him. I had also had a terrible experience with the lawyer who wrote the original orders and felt very uncomfortable undergoing the process again. I researched and chose Amanda and her firm carefully and I am so glad I did. Amanda figured out exactly what needed to be done, inspired confidence and calm in me, and took me through the long process with the exact end result I needed for my daughter's safety and best interests. The new orders are perfect, thoughtfully written to reflect our situation rather than boilerplate, and have already worked wonders. With them, I was able to get my daughter a passport and give her school authority to turn away her father if he tried to come pick her up. I feel immense peace of mind knowing my daughter is safe.
    Anon