What are the legal rights of adopted children?

In Texas, adopted children have the same legal rights as any other child. This includes the right to receive child support, have their legal parents named on their birth certificates, and attend public schools. Adoptive parents must provide medical and educational needs of the adopted child, just as biological parents must. Adopted children are legally recognized as a part of the family, meaning they can inherit from their adoptive parents, and if the adoption is legally dissolved, they can no longer pursue legal claim on parental assets. Adopted children also have the right to access records regarding their adoption, such as adoption orders, consent orders, court records. In order to access these records, the child must be at least 18 years old. Adopted children are also given rights and protections under the law. They may be eligible for government benefits and services, such as health care, Medicaid, and Social Security, if they meet the criteria for eligibility. Adopted children must also be provided with the same healthcare, food, income, and services as their biological siblings, and they are protected under child abuse and neglect laws. In addition, adopted children have rights to information and relationship with their biological family. If a child is over the age of 12, they are entitled to receive non-identifying information about their biological family from the adoption agency. Once the child turns 18, they may request and receive identifying information about their biological family from the adoption agency.

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