Which type of adoption is most common?

julie j

Hi BlueEyes,

Open adoption is a relatively new concept. Until about 20 years ago, ALL adoptions in the US were closed, no other options.

Today virtually all parents who are relinquishing their parental rights choose open adoption because they believe it will enable them to stay in contact with their child over the years, and they know that is best for them & their child. If closed were the only way, few if any would consider adoption at all. Most do not have a clear understanding that open adoption means nothing legally. By the time they understand that, it is usually too late. (All these facts do not go unnoticed by adoption agencies who profit handsomely from every infant adoption.)

Open adoption is actually only about arrangements that were agreed upon between all of the parents before the adoption was legalized. While some AP's do honor the agreements they made, most change the adoption to a closed one at some point after the adoption is finalized. It can be done for any reason at any time by the adopting parents while the relinquishing parents have no legal recourse.

By the way, regardless of whether any individual adoption is considered open or closed, if the adoption takes place in a state that does not have equal laws for adoptees, those records will still be permanently sealed from the adoptee! Only 6 states currently treat adoptees equally to non-adoptees.

While open adoptions are certainly better in theory than any closed adoptions, open adoption gives the false illusion that it will remain beneficial over the life of the child. It is obvious to see the potential for abuse in this system. Thanks for asking. Hope this info is helpful.

julie j
reunited adoptee

grapesgum

Open in the beginning. Very few mothers will agree to closed adoptions.

That said, open adoptions are not legally enforceable in most states in the US, so many adoptive parents look for any excuse to close the adoption. Some of them just disappear with the child. That happened to my daughter's best friend.

ladybmw1218

These terms are not very well defined, unfortunately...there're varying degrees of open.

There's semi-closed (actually called "open" by some agencies) where the first mom chooses the adoptive parents, they maybe meet once at the adoption agency office or are otherwise supervised, and maybe send pictures and letters once or twice a year. There is no direct contact information or last names exchanged and the agency acts as a go between for these communications

There's semi-open where they exchange addresses and names and maybe numbers and correspond on a schedule (once a quarter, twice a year or whatever).

There's open with no visits where communication is spontaneous rather than scheduled, but never face to face

There's open with communications and visits on a schedule, and usually in a "neutral" public place.

Then there's fully open, where the families treat each other like family or close friends, and visit, call, etc. spontaneously and in each others homes or go on vacations together and what have you. These often include grandparents and other extended family members

It seems to me the most common is some form of semi-closed or semi-open, though I may be wrong. Only a very few people appear to have extended family type relationships.

Jill_01

Open adoption, in my opinion, is the best for everyone involved.
I also think it's the most widely practiced.

But make sure you're choosing a family that really intends to follow thru with your requests. Many do not.

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