Open Adoption

Open adoption is an adoption in which the child has the option to develop a one-on-one relationship with his or her birth family. The concept is not about the adoptive parents bestowing upon the birth parents the privilege of contact or even about the birth parents being available to provide information over the years. Open adoption is about direct contact between the birth family and the adopted child as well as the adoptive family.

Direct contact in the form of an open adoption can be in the form of letters, phone calls, and face to face visits. This type of contact between the child and his or her birth parents is essential if the people involved are going to be able to establish their own relationship. There is no way to call an adoption truly open if the child is not involved.

Open adoption and all that goes with it appears as another complication that they would rather not deal with to prospective adoptive parents. The best argument in favor of pursuing an open adoption with the child’s prospective family is that by knowing the family, the parents will be able to know their new baby better. The same will be true later in life for the adopted family.

Individuals who are placing their child up for adoption are frequently just as leery of the prospect of open adoption. Many of these couples or individuals feel that by continuing contact with the child, the child will be confused as to who he or she is and what is really going on in his or her life. Others feel that continuous contact will make it harder to move on in life.

Contact a San Jose Family Lawyer

For more information on open adoption and the adoption process in California, contact the San Jose family lawyers of the Law Office of Daniel Jensen at 408-296-4100.