Adoption can be a difficult time for both adoptive and biological parents. There are a number of complex issues that arise during the process, particularly concerning the choice between closed and open adoption. Each of these types of adoption offers a unique set of advantages as well as potential shortcomings for interested parties. The following will review some of the most important things that parties interested in adoption should know about the open adoption method.

The Difference Between Open and Closed Adoption

Although the exact terms of an open adoption will change greatly depending on the parties involved, nearly all types of open adoption involve the adopted child maintaining connections with the birth parents, if the adopted child wants to do so. What changes between methods of open adoption is the level of interaction that exist between the adopted child, adoptive parents, and birth parents. Open adoption sometimes means that biological parents visit with the child on special occasions. Other times, open adoption results in long-distance contact through emails and pictures, but little in-person contact.

Open adoption stands in contrast to closed adoption in which there is no contact between adoptive and birth parents. Many children in these arrangements believe that their adoptive parents are the ones worth focusing on and that the biological parents have not contributed as much.

The Benefits of Open Adoption

While having an open adoption can seem intimidating, there are several benefits that can often be gained through this process, which include the following:

  • A child has a sense of identity. It is common for adopted children to ask questions about where they came from and who their parents are. Sometimes, this comes up due to health issues faced by the child. Open adoption provides children with the ability to know more about their biological family tree and plan for their future.
  • Birth families receive closure about where the child ends up. While adoptive families are often excited to bring a child home, frequently this also means that biological parents mourn the loss of the child. By having contacting with the child, biological parents are able to resolve their fears surrounding the difficult decision of placing a child up for adoption.
  • The adoptive family will receive confirmation that they made the best possible decision. Open adoptions allow adoptive parents to ask questions about the biological family. Fortunately, through visitation between adoptive parents, biological parents, and the child, everyone can receive confirmation that the best possible decision was made.
  • The child can remain connect to biological siblings. While it is not always the case, if a child has biological siblings, open adoption often lets the child maintain contact with his or her extended biological family.

Speak with an Experienced Adoption LawyerIf you have questions or concerns about the adoption process, you should not hesitate to speak with a knowledgeable adoption attorney. Contact Vayman & Teitelbaum P.C. to schedule an initial free consultation. We have helped numerous families navigate the adoption process and know what it takes to make sure that your adoption works best for everyone involved.