Deciding to adopt a child is life-changing for both you and your future child. Your family grows in size, and you can learn from your new child’s background and life experiences. Many adoptive parents already have an “adoption plan” in their head when they decide to take this journey. They may have an idea of the preferred gender, race, or birth location of their new family member. However, it is still important to research the different types of adoption before deciding which one is best for you. In some cases, finances and convenience take priority, while in others, adopting from a particular culture may play a bigger role. Regardless, future parents should put their preconceived notions aside and explore every avenue available to them before committing to one type of adoption over another.

The Different Types of Adoption

Various types of adoption are available to those who wish to expand their family in this manner. Many people have a general understanding of the different types of adoption, but some may not recognize the different benefits that come with each one.

The easiest and most common way to file for an immigration visa is through family sponsorship. You may have heard of “green card weddings,” which refers to people who get married solely to become a legal resident of the United States. While cases like these do exist, this is far from the norm. Having a relative who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident can greatly increase your chances of being approved for a visa.

Two Categories of Visas

There are two types of family-based immigrant visas, and applicants who wish to use this way of securing citizenship must fall into one of these two groups. An unlimited number of Immediate Relative (IR) visas are available. An immigrant must be classified as an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen to qualify. These visa types include: 

If you are going through a divorce and have children from your marriage, child support payments from one party to the other are practically inevitable. Child support payments are usually required from the non-custodial parent, or the parent who does not "house" the child as frequently as his or her former spouse. However, even if the child’s living arrangements are split between each parent 50/50, the higher-earning parent will often still provide some form of child support payments to keep the child’s lifestyle consistent, regardless of the house in which he or she is residing. 

How Are Child Support Payments Calculated?

Most states, including Texas, utilize an equation to calculate the level of child support owed by the non-custodial parent. While this is neither the sole means used nor the final calculation done, it acts as a baseline for child support payment amounts. The calculation begins with determining the non-custodial parent's monthly resources. The individual’s yearly gross income will be divided by 12, then tax payments will be deducted from the amount. Next, the number of children eligible will be determined. Children will receive child support while they are under the age of 18 or until they graduate high school, whichever is later. The percentage of a parent's income allotted to children depends on how many children are eligible for support. The following are the percentages of monthly resources owed in child support based on the number of children involved in the court case:

Advanced medical directives allow a person to communicate his or her wishes about potential future medical treatments. These documents may be created along with a medical power of attorney, which designates a person to oversee medical decisions during times when someone is unable to do so on his or her own. Deciding to seek out an estate planning attorney and create advanced medical directives can seem unnecessary if a person is young and healthy; however, planning for the future is the best way to avoid unpredictable outcomes if things take a turn for the worse.

There are various types of advanced directives. Some people may choose to use just one of the options, while others may complete all of the available legal documents.  

During a divorce, some things inevitably change between parents and their children. The relationship itself is not always affected, but custody arrangements can strain some parent-child interactions. Custody schedules are created based on the child’s best interests. In many cases, both parents will have similar amounts of time with their child to try to preserve a sense of normalcy. For parents with more complicated relationships, supervised visits may be required of the non-custodial parent. 

When Is Supervised Visitation Appropriate?

In Texas, supervised visitation is required in situations where a parent poses a threat to the child. Any form of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from that parent warrants supervised visits. This can include abuse the parent inflicted on the child or on the other parent. Parents with substance abuse problems or uncontrollable mental illnesses can also endanger the child. Those parents who have neglected their child or who have been absent from the child's life may also be required to have supervised visitation.