If you’re considering adoption for your baby in Louisiana, you may want to stay connected to your child. Open adoption allows you to maintain a relationship even after placement. Louisiana law recognizes how important these relationships are and provides real protections to give you peace of mind.

You deserve honest answers about what's possible and what's protected by law. This article covers how open adoption agreements are enforced in Louisiana, what happens if adoptive parents don't honor the agreement and how American Adoptions can help you create a plan.

Need more information? Fill out our form or call 1-800-ADOPTION to speak with one of our adoption specialists.

Are Open Adoptions Legally Enforceable in Louisiana?

Yes, Louisiana is one of the states that legally enforces open adoption through what's called a post-adoption contact agreement. These open adoption agreements can hold up in court in Louisiana when they're properly filed and approved by a judge.

Here's how it works: Before the adoption is finalized, you and the adoptive family can create a written agreement that outlines what contact will look like after the adoption. The agreement must be officially submitted to the judge within 10 days of when the adoptive family files their paperwork to adopt (though the court may allow more time if there's a good reason).

The court will review the agreement to make sure it serves the child's best interests. Louisiana law generally presumes that an agreement reached by all parties is in the child's best interests. If the court agrees, the post-adoption contact agreement becomes part of the official adoption judgment.

Your Post-Adoption Contact Agreement: What to Know

A post-adoption contact agreement is a written plan that describes how you'll stay connected with your child after adoption. Think of it as a roadmap that everyone agrees to follow — one that acknowledges your importance in your child's story while respecting the adoptive family's role as parents.

These agreements can include:

• Photos

• Letters

• Videos

• Texts

• Phone calls

• Video chats

• Social media

• In-person visits

• And more

Before you finalize the agreement, you'll have the chance to talk with a counselor or lawyer about what it means and make sure you understand that any disagreements about contact won't affect the adoption itself. The agreement must state that everyone is signing willingly.

Even though these agreements are enforceable, you can't enforce an open adoption if the adoptive family stops contact by regaining custody. The rights that birth parents have in an open adoption allow you to ask the court to require the family to honor the agreement, but the adoption itself always remains permanent.

What Happens if Adoptive Parents Don’t Follow the Open Adoption Plan?

If the adoptive parents don't honor the post-adoption contact agreement, Louisiana law does provide recourse. Here's what the process looks like:

The reality is that most adoptive families who agree to open adoption want to honor that commitment. American Adoptions works specifically with families who are open to contact, which helps reduce conflict down the road.

Finding an Adoptive Family Who Values Openness

When you work with American Adoptions, you'll have access to hundreds of waiting family profiles. Each profile shares details about the family's life, their home, their values and their openness to contact.

As you review profiles, consider these questions:

• Do they express genuine enthusiasm about staying connected?

• Do they seem like people you could talk to openly and honestly?

• Will your child grow up in an environment that feels right to you?

Once you've found a family you're interested in, you'll have the opportunity to speak with them. This is your chance to ask questions, share your hopes for contact and confirm if that’s the right family for your baby.

How American Adoptions Supports Your Open Adoption Plan

At American Adoptions, we only work with families who embrace openness. We require all of our waiting families to be open to some degree of contact and willing to have an in-person visit within the first five years of the child's life. This means when you're choosing a family, you know they're already committed to staying connected.

Your adoption specialist will help you create a plan that reflects your wishes. You can decide what level of contact feels right, and we’ll facilitate honest conversations with the adoptive family you choose for your child. When you’re ready to create a post-adoption contact agreement, we’ll make sure it reflects what you’ve discussed.

We also provide counseling and support to help you process the emotions that come with this decision. Our adoption specialists stay connected with you throughout your journey and remain available long after placement.

The Benefits of Open Adoption for Birth Parents and Their Children

Open adoption offers meaningful benefits for both you and your child:

• You get to see your child thriving. You don't have to wonder how they're doing — you get to know they're loved and growing up in the life you hoped for them.

• Openness helps with healing. You can watch milestones, celebrate birthdays and remain part of your child's story. You don’t have to say goodbye.

• Your child has access to their story. Open adoption supports healthy identity development. They don't have to wonder where they came from or why they were placed for adoption.

• You can answer questions directly. As your child grows, you can share family medical history and help them understand that adoption was about love, not being unwanted.

Of course, openness looks different for every family. Some birth mothers want frequent visits, while others prefer occasional updates. What matters is finding the level of contact that feels healthy and sustainable for everyone involved.

Real Open Adoption Stories From Birth Mothers

Randi

Randi was 20 years old when she placed her daughter for adoption, living in a small Nebraska town and working to save money for her future. She worried about what it would feel like to watch someone else parent her child.

She chose Matthew and Katheryn, a couple on the West Coast who had already adopted a biracial daughter. They stayed in close contact throughout her pregnancy with weekly phone calls, and when they visited Randi at seven months, she knew she'd made the right choice.

Now, Randi stays connected through emails, texts, monthly phone calls and a blog that Katheryn maintains showing Juniper's milestones.

Read more of Randi’s story.

Angelica

At 20 years old and already parenting two young boys, Angelica struggled with the decision to place her baby girl for adoption. After reviewing every waiting family profile, she connected with Keith and Jenn, a Rhode Island couple who had overcome significant challenges of their own.

Keith and Jenn traveled to Texas for the birth, and all three parents bonded over caring for baby Kaylin in the hospital. Today, Angelica looks forward to yearly visits and knows she can call them anytime.

Read more of Angelica’s story.

Take the Next Step: Connect With American Adoptions Today

Louisiana law makes post-adoption contact agreements legally enforceable, giving you confidence that the promises made today can be honored tomorrow.

At American Adoptions, we've helped thousands of expectant parents create adoption plans that honor their wishes, protect their interests and lead to beautiful, open relationships with their children. Fill out our form or call 1-800-ADOPTION to connect with an adoption specialist today.

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