Open or Closed Adoption?

“Open Adoption”

 

Is a form of adoption in which the adoptive parents, and often the adopted child have contact directly with birth parents.  Family members have contact in ways that feel most comfortable to them.  This may include letters, emails, photos, telephone calls, or visits.  The amount of contact is usually based on an informal agreement, which may change over time.

 

“Closed Adoption”

 

Also known as “confidential” or “secret” adoption is where a child is adopted by another family and the details of the birth parents is kept private. Often the birth father is not recorded – even on the original birth certificate. This used to be a common type of adoption but now open adoption is more common.  Closed adoptions still exist today and the details are kept private stopping the birth child and birth parents from finding, or even knowing anything about each other.  This secrecy has been partially removed by the Adult Adoption Information Act, which provides a way in which birth parents can make contact with their children and by which adopted children can get their original birth certificates and make contact with their birth parents.