Texas's Laws on Living Expenses

Texas

1. • Legal and medical expenses in connection with the birth and pregnancy
2. • Adoptive counseling services
3. • Necessary pregnancy-related expenses paid by a child-placing agency, as permitted by department rules

Any payments not expressly permitted

A person who is not the parent, legal guardian, or a licensed child-placing agency may not receive payment for placing a child or serving as an intermediary between an adoptive and expectant parent.

Allowable Payments for Relinquishing Child Statute: Pen. § 25.08(a)(2) 

It is unlawful to offer or accept a thing of value for the delivery of a child to another or possession of the child by another for the purposes of adoption.

Allowable Fees Charged by Department/Agency Statute: Pen. § 25.08 

A licensed child-placing agency may charge a fee for services provided.

Accounting of Expenses Required by Court 

The statutes do not specifically require that an accounting be given to the court.

Schedule of Hearings
Citation: §§ 40-11-12.1; 40-11-12.2
A permanency hearing shall be held:

• Within 12 months of the child's placement in care; at least every 12 months thereafter
• Within 30 days after a finding that reasonable efforts to reunify are not required

• All parties
• The foster parents
• Any preadoptive parent or relative providing care for the child

• The appropriateness of the service plan
• What services have been offered
• Any further efforts that will promote the best interests of the child

• Return to the parent
• Adoption
• Legal guardianship
• Placement with a fit and willing relative
• Another planned permanent living arrangement

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

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