What Is Adoption?
Adoption is the legal transfer of parental rights from birth parents (or guardians) to adoptive parents. It is a permanent choice for everyone, not co-parenting.
Working with a reputable adoption specialist or agency guarantees your adoption is legal and that you have followed the adoption laws for your state.
A birth mother (and father, if available) should never pay for adoption services. It is illegal to pay someone in exchange for their baby.
Types of Adoption
When it comes to planning your adoption, you have three options. How much communication you want with the adoptive family and your child determines which adoption plan is right for you. Here are the three types to choose from:
Open Adoption
An open adoption plan is the most common type of adoption today. Open adoption allows women to be a part of their child’s life and interact with the adoptive parents.
The expectant mom chooses the adoptive family for her baby. The two parties exchange identifiable information such as full names, phone numbers, and even addresses. She decides what she’s comfortable with and how much contact she desires.
Certain agencies can even arrange contact before the baby is born to begin building a relationship.
Closed Adoption
If you wish to stay anonymous, choose a closed adoption plan. The agency or specialist you select determines the adoptive family for you.
You have no contact with one another, and all identifying information remains private. Sometimes birth parents choose a closed adoption to provide emotional closure, or safety for the child if the birth parents come from a toxic environment.
Semi-Open Adoption
This adoption plan provides contact between the birth parents and adoptive parents, but communication goes through an adoption professional. Everyone’s identifying information remains private.
The two parties can send cards, letters, and even emails through a third party. It provides the privacy of closed adoption, but you still receive information about your child.
Making Your Adoption Decision
If you want to learn more about adoption, schedule your no-cost appointment. We can provide more details and referrals to adoption specialists.
