With an Open Adoption, Do You Have to Pay?
Adoption never has to mean goodbye. Rather, think of it as “see you later.”
Through open adoption, you can stay in touch with your child and the adoptive family for years to come. You can watch your baby grow up and celebrate every milestone along the way. Even when you terminate your parental rights, you can still remain an important, loving and supportive figure throughout your child’s life.
On top of this, open adoption will always be free for you. To get more free information now about open adoption, contact us online today. If you have any questions, like the five FAQs listed below, then we will always be here to help.
1. With an Open Adoption, Do You Have to Pay?
As a birth mother, you don’t pay for any part of the adoption process. By choosing open adoption, you can have a relationship with your child without paying a dime. Also, open adoption means you decide how much contact you’re comfortable with.
2. How Does Open Adoption Work?
Open adoption for birth mothers is the standard for modern adoptions. Open adoption is when you and the adoptive family exchange identifying and contact information. By choosing open adoption, you can stay in contact with your child for years to come.
For instance, you can maintain communication with your child and the family through:
- Text messages
- Phone calls
- Zoom or Skype
- Or whatever you feel comfortable with
Birth mother Caitlin chose an open adoption with our agency, and she found adoptive parents who were perfect for her baby. Now, she considers them her extended family.
“I was never sad about what had happened or anything like that,” Caitlin says. “He gets this family who can take care of him and do everything I couldn’t. I had a purpose for him, and it was meant to be.”
3. What Are the Effects of Open Adoption on a Birth Mother?
There are plenty of advantages of open adoption. When closed adoptions reigned supreme, this led to many adoptees experiencing identity crises. In an open adoption, though, your child will grow up celebrating their adoption story. And they will build a bond with you, too.
The effects of open adoption on a birth mother are almost always positive. That’s because you’re in full control of the adoption journey from start to finish. Still, you’re never obligated to pursue open adoption. We guarantee that we’ll never push you toward a choice that you’re uncomfortable with.
Angelica, a birth mother who chose open adoption with our agency, forged a meaningful bond with her child’s adoptive family, Jen and Keith.
“She was no longer mine, but I knew in my heart that everything would be OK,” Angelica said. “Seeing how happy she made them and their family and seeing how happy their family was just reassured me that I had made the right decision. I don’t ever want anything to stand in her way, and I know she has two people that she can look up to.”
4. Is Open Adoption the Same Thing As Co-Parenting?
No, open adoption is not the same thing as co-parenting. Terminating your parental rights is a required step that comes at the end of your adoption journey. In other words, you can still watch all your child’s milestones firsthand, even if your legal custody has been terminated.
Remember, the amount of contact you’re comfortable with is ultimately up to you. Just like with everything else in your adoption journey, you are in full control. We will always abide by your needs and preferences.
To learn more about the open adoption process, contact us online at any time.
5. How Do I Start the Open Adoption Journey?
Although no two adoption journeys are exactly alike, you can expect to follow these five general steps:
- Step 1: Contact us online and meet your birth parent specialist.
- Step 2: Make an adoption plan with our guidance and support.
- Step 3: Choose the perfect adoptive family for your baby.
- Step 4: Get to know the family and build a relationship.
- Step 5: Complete the placement and stay in touch for years to come.
By choosing open adoption, you’ll watch your baby grow up into the loving person you always knew they would become. Celebrating milestones and forging a meaningful bond can make open adoption special for everyone involved.
Whenever you’re ready to start your open adoption journey, we’re here to help. Fill out our online contact form to get more free information now. We’re looking forward to hearing from you soon!
Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.
