Section 162.014 - Attendance At Hearing Required(a) If the joint petitioners are husband and wife and it would be unduly difficult for one of the petitioners to appear at the hearing, the court may waive the attendance of that petitioner if the other spouse is present.(b) A child to be adopted who is 12 years of age or older shall attend the hearing. The court may waive this requirement in the best interest of the child.Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. 4/20/1995.