Legal Definitions - open adoption

An open adoption is a type of adoption where the biological parents of a child are allowed to have some form of contact with the child and the adoptive parents. This is different from a closed adoption where there is no contact between the biological and adoptive families.

There are two types of open adoptions: fully open and semi-open. In a fully open adoption, the biological parents or even other biological family members can have direct contact with the adoptive family and child. This means that all parties know each other's identities and may even have continuous visitation between the biological and adoptive families. In a semi-open adoption, there is a mediator that messages or photos are passed through, allowing parties to maintain privacy and some level of anonymity.

It's important to note that even in a fully open adoption, the biological parents' rights are completely terminated once the adoption is finalized. This means that the adoptive parents gain full legal rights over their children.

For example, if a couple adopts a child through an open adoption, they may agree to send updates and pictures to the biological parents every year. In a fully open adoption, the biological parents may even visit the child and attend important events like birthdays and graduations. In a semi-open adoption, the adoptive parents may send updates and pictures through a mediator like an adoption agency.

Another example of an open adoption is when a single mother decides to place her child for adoption but wants to maintain some level of contact with the child. She may choose a family who is open to an open adoption and agree to regular updates and visits.

These examples illustrate how open adoptions allow for some level of contact between the biological and adoptive families, which can be beneficial for the child and all parties involved.