open adoption

An open adoption is an arrangement in which biological parents have some form of contact with the child and the child’s adoptive parents . This is the most common adoption arrangement in contrast to closed adoptions, in which the biological and adoptive families have no contact and no personal information is shared.

Open adoptions can be fully open or semi-open. In fully open adoptions, biological parents or other biological family members have direct contact with the adoptive family and child. In this arrangement, all involved parties are aware of each other’s identities, and there may be ongoing visits between the biological and adoptive families. In a semi-open adoption, a mediator is assigned. The mediator passes messages or photos between parties, allowing them to maintain privacy and anonymity.

Once the adoption is finalized, the biological parent’s rights are completely terminated, even in a fully open adoption. In the case of adoption arrangements made before a child’s birth, an adoption is not finalized until the child is born. Until that point and for a period of time afterward, the arrangement can be revoked . This period varies from state to state. In New York , the period is 45 days for a private adoption.

At the point of finalization, adoptive parents gain full legal rights over their children.

[Last reviewed in October of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team ]

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