November is adoption awareness month.
Open adoption is when birth parents and adoptive parents maintain some level of contact after the adoption is finalized. Ohio permits open adoption, but it is not legally enforceable. An openness agreement is a gentleman’s agreement and is not binding. The terms are voluntary, meaning that either party can end communication at any time.
There are different levels of openness. Some families agree to send pictures and letters a few times a year. Other families agree to meet in person at specified times. Communication can be frequent or at set intervals.
The intention behind open adoption is to allow the adopted child to maintain some type of contact with his/her birth parents throughout their childhood, which can lead to a better sense of identity for the child.
By: Laurel G. Stein, Esq.
Comments