Introduction. Limiting parental authority by placing a child in a foster family causes, effects in terms of the separation of rights, and obligations, between foster parents and biological parents. Biological parents retain some parental rights in relation to the child. The lack of sufficiently uniform and precise legal regulations defining the scope of rights and obligations of both families may cause real difficulties in the proper fulfilment of parental roles, when there is no agreement between the families. Aim. The subject of considerations in this study is the issue of the legitimacy of limiting the scope of legal decisions of foster parents in matters of a child placed in a foster family. The purpose of the considerations is to indicate the non-uniformity of legal provisions in this area, as well as an attempt to answer the question of whether the legal limitations of the foster parent’s decision-making scope allow for effective protection of the welfare of a child placed in a foster family. It is important that the child is placed in a foster family, among other things, because the biological parents created a situation threatening to his well-being. Therefore, it seems justified to assume that, while maintaining the temporary nature of foster care, foster parents should have a wider range of decision-making powers over a child than is currently provided for by law. This problem is multifaceted, and due to the insufficient regulation of this issue in law, it may be difficult to exercise the rights jointly by biological parents and foster parents, especially if there is no agreement, and willingness, to cooperate between them. Methods. In the adopted methodology of work, theoretical-legal and dogmatic-legal methods were used as the basic research methods, based on the analysis of the substantive material and views of the representatives of the legal doctrine. The considerations were also based on the analysis of the literature and jurisprudence. A problematic analysis of the legal issue being the subject of the study was made. Conclusions. In the Polish legal system, the division of competences between foster parents and biological parents does not guarantee legal protection of the child’s best interests. The noticeable chaos in legal regulations is also not conducive to popularizing the idea of foster parenthood, which is so desirable at present. The postulate to make the applicable legal regulations more flexible, which should limit decision-making for biological parents rather than foster parents, as is the case in the current legal system, seems justified.