Texas Order for Adoption Evaluation (TONE) is a legal process in the state of Texas that is used to evaluate the eligibility of an individual for adoption. TONE is required for any adoption that is not finalized through a court order. TONE is typically a two-step process that involves a home study and an adoption evaluation. The home study is a comprehensive review of the prospective adoptive family’s home and lifestyle. This part of the process includes a review of the family’s financial resources, an assessment of parenting skills, and a criminal background check. The adoption evaluation is a psychological assessment of the prospective adoptive parent and child. This part of the process involves interviews, psychological tests, and references. There are two types of Texas Order for Adoption Evaluation: expedited and standard. An expedited TONE is used when a family is adopting a child who is already known to them, such as a stepchild or a relative. A standard TONE is used when the family is adopting a child from a different location, such as an international adoption.