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Adoption is a wonderful way to share your love by welcoming a child into your family and giving them the care and affection they need. There are several possible ways to adopt a child, and two broad categories into which adoptions fall: open and closed. By understanding the benefits and challenges of both types of adoption, you can make an informed choice about which path is best for you and your family.
The Syracuse, NY family law firm of Carden Dotzler Hammond, PLLC is here to guide and assist you with each step of the adoption process, handling the legal questions and hurdles that arise along the way. Find out how our dedicated family lawyer can help.
How Does Open Adoption Work in New York?
With an open adoption, the birth parents and the adoptive parents know and communicate with one another. The two families may exchange phone calls, emails, photographs, and other information and details about one another as they walk through each stage of the adoption. The advantages for both sets of parents are mutual: the birth parents get to know how their child will be raised and grow, while the adoptive parents can learn more about the child’s family history and other factors.
The birth parents can have the chance to learn about the adoptive parents before making a definite commitment. They can evaluate whether the adoptive parents will match their values, traditions, interests, and any other relevant factors. However, open adoption is not co-parenting, and once the transition is complete the birth parents will have no say in how the child is raised.
There are both advantages and drawbacks to the open adoption process:
Advantages
- The birth parents can remain in the child’s life as they grow and develop
- The birth parents and the adoptive parents can establish and maintain contact with one another as they are comfortable
- If the child ever has a question about their family history, they can more readily find an answer
- If there’s an emergency or health condition in which family medical history or genetics are relevant, it is much easier to obtain this information
- The child will not have to undergo the legal process necessary to open their adoption records
Disadvantages
- If the birth parents desire anonymity, they will not have it with an open adoption
- Keeping the lines of communication open between the parents, and between the child and the birth parents, can be a painful reminder of a difficult decision
- There is much less emotional closure compared to a closed adoption
- Some sets of parents find that communication boundaries are difficult to maintain (e.g., as the adoptive parents, continued contact with the birth parents may become a nuisance)
What Is Closed Adoption in Syracuse, NY?
As the term suggests, closed adoption means that only a limited amount of information about the child and the parents has been exchanged. Unlike an open adoption, in which continued contact will likely persist, there is no expectation of this with a closed adoption. Critical identifying information such as the last names and contact information of both sets of parents is generally confidential and more difficult to obtain.
The advantages and disadvantages are essentially the reverse of open adoption:
Advantages
- The birth parents can have anonymity and privacy throughout the process
- Neither sets of parents will have to worry about continued communication among the parents or between the child and the birth parents
- The birth parents – and the adoptive parents – can experience closure
- There is no need to worry about communication boundaries and related issues
Disadvantages
- The birth parents will not get to remain in the child’s life or see the child grow with time
- The child will not be able to learn about their family history as easily
- Medical and related issues could be more difficult to address without knowing the child’s lineage
- If the child wants to open their adoption records, the process is more cumbersome
We Can Help You Decide Which Approach Is Best
At CDH Law, we know that there are numerous factors at work as you consider which adoption approach is right for you. Let us help you weigh the pros and cons of open and closed adoption so you can move forward with the peace of mind you deserve. Connect with our Syracuse, NY law office to begin your journey.