What’s the Difference Between an Open and Closed Adoption?

Parents looking to put their children up for adoption—or looking to adopt a child—may decide to pursue open or closed adoption.

These two forms of adoption differ significantly. Learn the difference between the two and which one may be better for you.

Open vs. Closed Adoptions

In the past, nearly all adoptions in the United States were closed adoptions. In a closed adoption, there is no contact between the biological parents and the adoptive parents after the child is born.

Now, closed adoptions have become rarer in the U.S. However, they remain common in international adoptions.

In closed adoptions, the files are typically sealed and the child often does not know who their biological parents are before the age of 18. Even then, the amount of information that may be available to the child differs significantly from state to state.

Open adoptions, on the other hand, are much more common in the U.S. today. In this situation, the adoptive parents meet the biological parents, often before the child is born. They may stay in touch with the biological parents during the pregnancy, and before, during, and after the birth.

However, each adoption is different, and some couples may have more or less contact with the biological parents than others. It all depends on how comfortable each party is with the other. Most adoption agencies, however, encourage a healthy amount of openness between both parties.

Seeking an Adoption? We’re Here to Help

If you’d like to expand your family, our Michigan family law attorneys can help you through the adoption process. At Grewal Law PLLC, our team brings over a decade of experience in family law to your case and we can help you navigate the legal system to help you achieve an optimal outcome for your family.

Contact Grewal Law PLLC at (888) 211-5798 to schedule a free consultation.