What would happen if agencies and attorneys were not allowed to use or agree to the term, "open" adoption?

Question

Since it isn't enforceable and really isn't protected by any laws, I think that they need to take "open" adoption out of the equation. No woman should be under the impression that she has some type of legal recourse.

I am thinking that they need to tell all women adoptions are closed and that's it. What are your thoughts?

Answer 1

You know I have thought about that too. I often wonder what would have happened if I had the opportunity to have an opened adoption. I think that if I was told I was going to be involved in an open adoption and then the door was slammed on me I would have been in worse shape than I was with a closed adoption. I made a decision knowing full well that I was walking out of her life forever. Was it hard, yes. Would I have given anything for a picture, yes. Don't get me wrong, I think it's wonderful that people can be big enough and secure enough to do this, I just don't know how it would have worked out for me. I will never know, but find the stories about this happening most upsetting. Part of me thinks that adoptions should be looked at as being closed and if you get a secure set of aparents that are willing to see the importance of nparents in an adoptees life that's great, but being as I am a nmom I can see the devistation and heartache of watching your child grow from a disance and then a few years later poof gone. It was hard enough at birth, I have a very hard time imagining what that must have felt like after being allowed to bond, even a little bit.

Does this make sense to anyone? I am not against opened adoption, I think it's awsome. I can see both benifits and problems that would arise but over all I think it is a good thing. I just dont' know how much more pain I could have taken if I was one day cut out of my daughters life after being told I was going to be a part of it. It seems to me that would be worse than preparing yourself for the terms of a closed adoption, which was hard enough.

Answer 2

Abortions would skyrocket.

Answer 3

Yes, I think it is a lure and many women are mislead about 'open adoption'

There are some great adoptive parents who stand by their promises of open adoptions, but it is a sad fact that some will just use it as a lure to get a baby and shut out the bmom as soon as the ink is dried on the TPR

ETA  What would happen if agencies didn't use this lure?  I guess there would be less adoptions because most women don't want to be cut off from their offspring forever and never know what happened to them

Answer 4

the adoption rates would drop.

currently, most adoptions are "open." hence, it's clear that many f-moms want some sort of contact.  if adoption returned to the days of "breed, birth, be-gone!", more women would opt--IMO--to either parent or terminate.

Answer 5

I believe that Ohio has the first bill pending in house right now, that would legalize an open adoption contract.

I could be wrong.

I think there needs to be more awareness on this issue as well. Its misleading in a big big way.

Answer 6

But then they will have to find a different shiny penny to lure and coerce with...

Yeah close em all.

Answer 7

Excellent question with no clear answer.

Yes, i think "open" adoptions should be fully explained that they are NOT enforceable and guardianships offered as an option.  

I also agree that to really make the point that "open" adoptions are unenforceable, they should be told they're closed.

but by the same point, even closed adoptions really don't cut a woman from her offspring forever and ever . . .look at all the people on this site involved in reunion.

??Now What?? -- I could be completely wrong but don't a few states recognize open adoptions?  I know WI doesn't but i thought there was a baby's handful of states that did.