What Is a Closed Adoption?

Adoption offers families the opportunity to open their hearts to new additions. The adoption process, however, is legally challenging, and the matter of closed vs. open adoption is worthy of serious consideration. In a closed adoption in Tennessee, the biological and adoptive parents do not share identifying information.

Following finalization of the adoption, there is no planned communication between the two families. The trend across the country is toward open adoptions, but it’s a very personal decision that must be made in the context of your unique situation. Our experienced Murfreesboro adoption attorney at The Law Office of David L. Scott welcomes the opportunity to help you.

Closed Adoption in Murfreesboro

Closed adoptions in Tennessee offer considerable anonymity, and there are far fewer potential connections between the birth parents and the adoptive parents. Direct contact between the two sets of parents is usually forbidden. And any information that is shared following finalization of the adoption is facilitated solely through the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) or the involved adoption agency.

Information that Is Not Identifying

Adoptive parents are generally provided with basic background information regarding their adoptive child’s biological parents, including factors like the following:

• Physical descriptions
• Ethnicity
• Education
• The circumstances of the adoption

Health Background

During the adoption process, the adoptive parents typically receive the medical histories, regarding both physical and mental health of the biological parents. This helps to ensure that they have adequate access to relevant information regarding their child’s medical needs moving forward.

When the Adoptive Child turns 18

Once adoptees turn 18, they can request access to certain adoption records. The birth parents, however, have the right to implement a contact veto if they choose to close all lines of communication and maintain complete anonymity.

Open Adoption

Open adoptions in Tennessee build in a degree of communication between the adoptive and birth parents. The level of contact allowed, however, can range significantly from merely exchanging letters and photos all the way to calling or even visiting one another.

The Pros and Cons of Closed Adoption

Adoption is a significant transition for any family, and there isn’t a right answer when it comes to whether open or closed is the way to go.

Pros

Those parents who choose closed adoption tend to appreciate the clear boundaries established, which can help clarify the path forward. There are also fewer unknown variables to contend with, which includes contact with the birth parents that can potentially interfere with the newly formed family’s ability to bond and flourish.

Cons

In a closed adoption, the adoptive parents are likely to have less comprehensive medical information about the birth family, which can lead to complications. It can also be far more challenging to introduce the adoptive child to their cultural history. Finally, knowing very little about one’s birth parents can amplify the impact of relinquishment trauma for the adopted child.

Reach Out to Our Experienced Murfreesboro Adoption Lawyer for the Help You’re Looking For

David Scott is our compassionate Murfreesboro adoption attorney at The Law Office of David L. Scott, and he dedicates his impressive practice to helping clients like you successfully navigate the challenging adoption process. Learn more about everything we can do to help you by contacting us online or giving our firm a call at 615-896-7656 today.