Confusion with Private Placement Adoption.?

Question

I am going to be placing my family for adoption with a family in Ohio that knows my mom.

They are going through a lawyer and are doing a private placement. They are assuming it is the same thing as open adoption, but there is no link for that on the website they sent me, with the court they are working with there is information for Legal Placement which is what they are assuming is same as Open Adoption.

(http://www.mcohio.org/revize/montgomery/government/probate/adoption.html)

Does anyone know any more information about all this to less confuse me.

Answer 1

Private Placement isn't the same as open adoption.  Open adoption is based on how much contact the birth parents have with the child after the adoption.  This can range from frequent contact to none at all & many folks choose somewhere in between.

You should be able to contact the attorney or get one of your own.  Ask all your questions.  You should go into this fully informed so you can make the best decision for the child(ren) and you.

Answer 2

legal placement is just that. You are placing your children with another family to raise. Adoption is a whole different thing. In adoption, you would appear in court to have your parental rights terminated and the new family adopts. First they usually have to go thru classes, have homestudies done and be approved by the state to adopt.Open adoption is when the children know who their birth paernts are and maintain some sort of contact with them. But this arrangement is not legally binding.

Answer 3

I know all of these terms can be quite confusing, especially when you are making such an emotional decision. Private placement can refer to two different things. The first being that you are using a private agency rather than your county's social services department. This can help keep your kids out of the "system." It could also be that agency's way of referring to an adoption that is taking place between two private parties where the adoptive parents have been chosen by the birthparents prior to seeking assistance from an agency, this can also be called identified placement.

Now for the second part of your question......Open adoption has nothing to do with private placement. An open adoption or closed adoption has to do with the kind of relationship, contact or lack thereof that the birthparents will have with the children and adoptive family.

We used a private agency for both of our sons, we were chosen by each of their birthmother's to parent them. We have an open adoption with our oldest son's biological family and it's wonderful, he has bio. sisters that we want him to know. As for our second son, it's only semi-open. We have contact with the bio. grandmother, but his birthmom isn't ready to be a part of his life.

I hope this helps and God be with you in this process!

Answer 4

All adoptions are Legal Adoptions.  Do not just assume that your adoption will be an open adoption.  Make your wishes know for an "OPEN" adoption. Get it in writing!

An open adoption allows you and your children to gain information should, they need it in the future.

I made the mistake of taking someone's word for it, and my adoption was not "OPEN".

My son, who is now 26, wants desperately to find his biological mother.  I am in total support of helping him do this, but a closed adoption is making this very difficult.

When adopted children get older, many of them have a need to find out who they are, and where they came from.  An open adoption makes this process so much easier.

Just a final word to the wise.  The ball is in your court.  

You have the power to write the rules.  Speak up, and tell people what you want.

Remember that your children will one day be adults.  Give them the best gift you can possible give them at this time.  Give them the future opportunity to investigate their background when they become of age.  I wish I had not listened to others....I wish I had opted for an "OPEN" adoption.

Answer 5

Private adoptions and open adoptions are not the same thing.  They can be put together but you can have a closed adoption that is private also.  

You need to get an attorney yourself to make sure that you are not being taken advantage of and that your rights are protected also.  You might also be able to talk to a reputable adoption agency in your area that would be able to provide you with some resources or information.  Adoptions between states can get tricky with the additional paperwork required.  I would highly recommend obtaining someone to assist you to insure that whatever papers you sign are exactly what you "want" to sign.

Good luck to you.