Adoption is a legal process in which an adult person assumes responsibility for the care and support of another person (usually a child) who is not the adoptive parent's biological child. The child's biological or birth parents generally must give up their parental rights to complete an adoption.
In Texas, adoption is a legal process governed by the Texas Family Code. This process allows an adult, who is not the biological parent of a child, to become the legal parent with all the rights and responsibilities that come with parenthood. The adoption process typically requires the termination of the biological parents' rights, either voluntarily through consent or involuntarily by court order if it is found to be in the best interest of the child. The adoptive parents must go through a series of steps including a home study, background checks, and potentially a waiting period. The process culminates in a legal proceeding where a judge finalizes the adoption, granting the adoptive parents full legal parental rights. In some cases, such as stepparent or relative adoptions, the process may be streamlined. It's important to note that Texas law also has provisions for adult adoptions.
