When some people hear about adoptions, they think of the closed adoption. That, however, isn’t the only type of adoption that is available in the United States. Some adoptions are open adoptions. There are very specific differences between these types of adoptions that might interest our Colorado readers.
What is an open adoption?
An open adoption is one in which the adoptive parents remain in contact with the birth parents. This type of adoption can vary greatly from one adoption to another. The contact can be done in almost any manner that makes both sets of parents comfortable. In some cases, they go through an agency to communicate. In others, the communication is open and more akin to a friendship. While this option might be preferable to many birth parents, it might not feel so ideal for adoptive parents.
What is a closed adoption?
A closed adoption is the type that is thought of when you think of decades ago. In closed adoptions, there is no communication between the birth parents and the adoptive parents. In most cases, the two sets of parents don’t know each other. The birth parents usually just turn the baby over to an agency. A representative of the agency picks a suitable match for the baby. The adoption then moves forward.
Which is more common?
Decades ago, closed adoptions were the most common. However, open adoptions are becoming increasingly common. Many birth parents are choosing open adoptions for their child so they can choose the adoptive family and keep track of the child’s growth. It is vital for birth parents and adoptive parents to only move forward with the type of adoption they feel comfortable with.
Source: FindLaw, “Open vs. Closed Adoption” accessed Mar. 19, 2015
