| Most people are aware of what the process of | | | | form of letters and photographs, or there can |
| adoption entails because it has become rather | | | | be actual physical contact. |
| commonplace in our society. Adoption is | | | | |
| where a child is legally placed with | | | | A semi-open adoption is where the birth |
| guardians or parents (or perhaps a single | | | | parents may have contact with the adoptive |
| parent) other than the birth mother or | | | | parents before the birth of the child, either |
| father. Once an adoption is finalized, any | | | | once or several times. After the birth there |
| and all parental rights are turned over to | | | | is no more contact. A semi-open adoption may |
| the adoptive parents and there is no legal | | | | remain as is or it can evolve into either |
| difference between adoptive parents and | | | | open or closed. |
| natural birth parents. Types of adoption are | | | | |
| typically categorized by effect; that is, a | | | | A closed adoption is where only the medical |
| closed versus an open adoption. | | | | and historical information of the biological |
| | | | parents is given to the adoptive family. |
| When an adopted person has access to his or | | | | Typically, the birth and adoptive parents do |
| her adoption file and original records, it is | | | | not know each others identities. The record |
| referred to as an open adoption. The term is | | | | of the birth parents is kept sealed, and |
| also used to describe any contact there may | | | | often the name of the biological father is |
| be between the adoptive family, the birth | | | | not recorded, even on the original birth |
| parents, and the adopted child. The level of | | | | certificate. A closed adoption is usually |
| openness can vary greatly in such contact | | | | only effective in the adoption of infants; |
| depending on each individual relationship. | | | | the adoption of an older child who already |
| There can be mediated contact between the | | | | knows his or her birth mother and father |
| biological parents and the child through the | | | | cannot be kept closed. |