If you're considering adoption, one of the most important decisions you'll make is whether to conduct a closed or open adoption. In today's blog, we explore the significant differences between the two, so you make the right decision for your family in your adoption case.
To schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys, contact us online or via phone at (817) 497-8148.
What's an Open Adoption?
In an open adoption, the adoptee's biological parents frequently play an active role in both the adoption process and the child's life post-adoption. The biological parents may participate in screening prospective adoptive parents and have input on who ultimately adopts the child. Additionally, they'll often remain in contact with the adoptive parents and their child post-adoption and may speak with all the parties frequently.
Open adoptions are a great option for adoptive parents who want their children to be able to find their biological parents easily. It can also make certain aspects of adoption easier, such as asking adoptive parents for updated medical records if the child appears to develop a genetic condition later in life.
What's a Closed Adoption?
In a closed adoption, the biological and adoptive parents have no contact during or after the adoption. As a result, the adoptive child also frequently has no contact with their biological parents.
Although many foster care adoptions are effectively closed because the children in said adoptions are the wards of the state, true closed adoptions are most common in international adoption cases.
Closed adoptions can be beneficial in situations where a child's biological parents represent or represented a threat to them or the adoptive parents. Additionally, they may be preferable for adoptive parents who want to avoid maintaining contact with the child's biological parents for other reasons.
However, most children eventually have questions about their biological parents, and a closed adoption can make it more difficult for adoptive parents to answer those questions. It can also make it almost impossible to procure documents from the biological parents post-adoption.
Whether a closed or open adoption is best for you largely depends on the circumstances of your adoption case and your own personal preferences. To schedule a consultation with a lawyer who can help you find the best path forward in your case, contact us online or via phone at (817) 497-8148.