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Closed Adoption
Closed (or Confidential) Adoption Characteristics
- You request that the agency choose your child's adoptive family.
- You will not exchange any identifying information (full names and addresses).
- The adoptive family receives information about your medical history up to the point of placement. There is no planned, ongoing sharing of social and medical information after the adoption is finalized.
- There is no contact between you and the adoptive family, such as sharing of photos and letters, or visits.
- Access to finding you (by your child) is limited by law and must be by mutual agreement at the time the child is of legal age. The adult child must contact the state central adoption registry.
Advantages
Total confidentiality is legally provided for you and the adoptive parents.
Disadvantages
In this form of adoption, there is no ongoing exchange of information, other than a court-ordered exchange in the case of a medical emergency. As your child grows, he or she can have questions that remain unanswered. Confidential adoptions might make it difficult to get information that your child will want to know about you.
Bethany has found that many adoptive parents later express the desire that you reconsider your decision of no communication. The adoptive family and your child often want to meet you. Even in situations where you want your life to remain private, a semi-open arrangement is a choice to consider because it maintains confidentiality while still having some communication.
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