Confidential Adoption
Common Elements of Confidential Adoptions
- Birthparents request that the agency choose their child's adoptive family.
- Birth and adoptive parents do not disclose any identifying information (full names and addresses).
- The adoptive family receives information about the birthfamily's 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 the adoptive family and birthfamily, such as sharing of photos and letters, or visits.
- Access to finding a birthparent 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 adoptive parents and birthparents who desire this.
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 an adoptive child grows, he or she can have questions that remain unanswered. Confidential adoptions might make it difficult to gain needed information.
Bethany's current experience has been that many families who have accepted children through a confidential adoption at the birthparents' request later express the desire that the birthparents reconsider their decision regarding no communication. They and their child often want to meet the birthparents. Even in situations where birthparents have disabilities or want their lifestyles to remain private, a semi-open arrangement is an alternative to consider because it maintains confidentiality while providing limited communication.