Adoption is the legal process in which a person assumes responsibility for the health, safety, well-being, and financial support of another person—usually a child—and terminates the rights and responsibilities of the adopted person’s biological parent or parents.
In Texas, adoption is a legal process that creates a permanent parent-child relationship between the adoptive parent(s) and the adopted individual, typically a child. This process is governed by the Texas Family Code, which establishes the requirements and procedures for adoption. The rights and responsibilities of the biological or legal parents are terminated, either voluntarily or by court order, and are transferred to the adoptive parents. The adoptive parents then assume full legal responsibility for the child, including their health, safety, well-being, and financial support. The adoption process in Texas typically involves a home study, background checks, and may require the consent of the child if they are 12 years of age or older. The process concludes with a court hearing, where a judge finalizes the adoption, granting the adoptive parents all the legal rights and responsibilities of parenthood.