Q: A Mom wants me to adopt baby. Private or agency?
A: Private adoption is still allowed but is very strictly regulated to prevent intermediary placement by any person who is not the parent of the child or who is a licensed child adoption agency. So if the Mother approaches you directly and asks you to adopt her child, without a third party acting as an in-between and without a request to be paid, you may adopt. Note that you must strictly comply with the requirements of Ch. 162, Texas Family Code. An attorney may do the legal work as long as he or she has not arranged the placement of the child. This is something for which you most definitely will need to hire an attorney- do not attempt to do this on your own since there is criminal liability if not done correctly.
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