Choosing between open and closed adoption? Learn about both options
If you are considering making an adoption plan for your baby, one of the most important decisions you will make is choosing between open and closed adoption. Understanding both of these options, along with Texas adoption laws, empowers you to make the best choices for yourself and your child. Our modern-day private adoption agency is happy to answer your questions and provide information to help you decide how you’d like to move forward.
What is an open adoption?
In an open adoption, the baby’s parents and the adoptive family know each other’s identities. After the adoption, the adoptive parents become the child’s legal parents. But, as your baby’s mother, you can continue to play a role in your child’s life into the future, if you choose to.
The level and type of contact are decided by you as part of the adoption planning process. You can choose adoptive parents who agree to your preferences, setting the stage for cooperation among all parties as the child grows up. Options for contact can take many forms.
- Exchanging updates and photographs on a predetermined timetable
- Exchanging texts or messages through a private, shared online portal
- Phone or video calls
- Sending gifts for special occasions, such as birthdays or holidays
- Visiting with the adoptive family in person
Most arrangements handled by our private adoption agency are open adoptions. While it’s the most common choice, for some people choosing between open and closed adoption, a closed adoption feels like a better long-term solution.
What is a closed adoption?
A closed adoption is what many people remember when they think about adoptions of the past, when most adopted children grew up not knowing who gave them life. With this type of adoption, court records and the original birth certificate are sealed, so the parents’ identities are protected. Texas adoption laws ensure that these records stay confidential, unless they are unsealed by a court order. In a closed adoption, there is no ongoing communication between the baby’s parents and the adoptive family.
Is open adoption better for the child?
Many of us know someone who was adopted through closed adoption, then later decided to try to find their biological parents. Often, these adoptees grow up without answers about why they were placed for adoption, whether they have siblings, or what their family was like, which can lead to feelings of abandonment or rejection.
Research has shown that open adoption is better for a child’s mental health, as kids who know their origin stories have a better understanding of themselves and their personal histories. They understand that the decision was made by their parents out of love. They also tend to develop a stronger sense of identity and belonging in their family and in the world.
Open adoption also gives the adoptive family access to important information that can help the child thrive, such as medical records and family medical history.
Learn more before choosing between open and closed adoption
Our options counselors are happy to answer all of your questions, so that you can make informed decisions when choosing between open and closed adoption. Our role is to provide the facts and information about both options, and about Texas adoption laws, so that you can choose the path that feels most comfortable for you. To speak with an options counselor and learn more, contact our private adoption agency at (817) 799-6834.
