Friday November 21st, 2008

Types of Adoption

Adoption Home

Adoptions may be open or traditional. You may choose the kind of adoption plan you want to make.

You have the right to decide what information to share between you, your baby and the adoptive family, by completing forms to release or not release information.

You may choose to release information, such as a physical description, your interests and talents, and medical history, but not your name, address, or phone number. You may choose the same restrictions concerning the information you want to know about the prospective adoptive parents.

You may decide to choose a more open adoption for yourself and your baby. There are many different levels of openness, including a one-time meeting, regular exchange of pictures and letters, and full exchange of identifying information and ongoing meetings.

Ohio law clearly states you have a right to set up an open adoption with the adoptive family. However, any open relationship, written or verbal, is strictly voluntary. Written agreements between birth parents and adoptive parents are "good faith" agreements meant to meet the best interests of the baby, and are not legally binding.

Open adoption arrangements are not shared parenting. The adoptive family holds all legal rights and responsibilities for the baby. The adoptive family and birth family may choose to temporarily or permanently change the type of contact they have if either family feels it is in the baby’s best interest.

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