When going through an adoption in New York, it can be either open or closed. This largely relates to how much communication there will be with the birth parents after the adoption.
In an open adoption, there could be a significant amount of communication. The birth parent may even want to arrange times when they can come see the child and be involved in their life. The child may be told who their birth parents are, so they will always know that they are adopted. The two may exchange letters, text messages, email messages, phone calls and much more.
With a closed adoption, however, there is generally no contact between the birth parent and the child after the adoption happens. Many children grow up not even knowing who their birth parents are, so there is a much higher level of separation.
Which one is right for you?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on the specifics of the situation and the goals of those involved. Some parents prefer a closed adoption and simply want to move forward with their lives, while others prefer an open adoption. For instance, a very young parent may not be able to financially support raising a child, but may still want to be in contact with them and be a part of their life as they grow up.
One important thing to note is that, with either an open or closed adoption, the birth parent still typically has to surrender their parental rights. So even if they can talk with the child and have a relationship, they do not have a legal right to custody or decision-making ability in the child’s life moving forward.
Navigating an adoption can be a complicated process in either of these cases, so it is critical that all parties involved understand exactly what legal steps they will need to take.