Are Open Adoptions Legally Enforceable in Rhode Island?
You can receive legally protected contact with your baby after adoption in Rhode Island.
When you work with American Adoptions, you'll get support creating an open adoption agreement that respects your wishes and gives you peace of mind about staying connected to your child—backed by state law.
Schedule a consultation today to learn how we can help you create a legally protected open adoption plan.
If you're considering adoption for your baby in Rhode Island, you probably have questions about what happens after placement. Can you stay in touch? Will you receive photos?
Most importantly—if you make an agreement with adoptive parents, will it actually be honored? We're here to walk you through Rhode Island's open adoption laws and show you how American Adoptions can help you create the meaningful connection you want with your child.
Are Open Adoptions Legally Enforceable in Rhode Island?
Yes, open adoptions are legally enforceable in Rhode Island.
According to Rhode Island law, post adoption contact agreements can be approved by the family court and enforced if both parties agree to the terms and the court determines the agreement serves the child's best interests.
Rhode Island allows birth parents and adoptive parents to voluntarily enter into written post adoption contact agreements that outline ongoing communication or contact after adoption is finalized.
These agreements must be filed with and approved by the court, and once incorporated into the adoption decree, they become legally binding.
If you create a plan for ongoing contact—whether through letters, photos, phone calls, or visits—you have legal recourse if the agreed-upon contact doesn't happen.
The court can enforce the terms of your agreement, giving you peace of mind that your relationship with your child won't simply disappear after placement.
Create the Perfect Plan for Staying Connected After Adoption
A post adoption contact agreement is a written document that details exactly what kind of relationship you'll have with your child and their adoptive family after adoption is complete. It's a clear, specific plan that everyone agrees to and the court approves.
Each post adoption contact agreement is customized to fit your specific wishes.
Some birth mothers want frequent updates and regular visits. Others prefer occasional photo exchanges and annual meetups. What matters is creating a plan that feels comfortable for you, the adoptive parents, and your child.
What Happens If an Open Adoption Agreement Is Broken?
Because Rhode Island law makes post adoption contact agreements legally enforceable, you have options if the agreed-upon contact doesn't happen as planned. You can petition the family court that approved your agreement to enforce its terms.
Rhode Island typically requires that parties attempt mediation first. Most of the time, when contact isn't happening as planned, it's not intentional—life gets complicated, and sometimes people just need help getting back on track.
If mediation doesn't resolve the issue and the court determines that enforcing the agreement is in your child's best interests, they can order compliance.
While the court can enforce contact, they cannot revoke the adoption itself. Your child's stability remains secure, but your right to the relationship is also protected.
Match with Families Who Are Excited About Ongoing Contact
Choosing adoptive parents for your baby is one of the most important decisions you'll make. When you're hoping for an open adoption, you're looking for people who will welcome you into their extended family and honor your ongoing role.
At American Adoptions, every waiting family creates a detailed profile that includes their openness to ongoing contact.
You'll see families who are excited about open adoption and genuinely want you to be part of their child's life. The families truly committed to open adoption trust will communicate that clearly.
Once you've identified families you're interested in, American Adoptions facilitates communication so you can get to know each other.
You might exchange emails first, then move to phone calls, and potentially meet in person. These conversations give you a chance to discuss your hopes directly and gauge whether this family's vision aligns with yours.
The Role of American Adoptions in Your Open Adoption Journey
American Adoptions doesn't just help you create a post adoption contact agreement and step away. We're with you throughout your entire journey, providing support, guidance, and advocacy.
Many expectant mothers aren't sure what open adoption means or how it works in Rhode Island specifically. We explain your options, share what we've seen work well, and help you envision what kind of ongoing contact would feel right.
All the families in our program have been carefully screened. In fact, American Adoptions asks all our adoptive families to be open to ongoing contact and an in-person visit within the first five years of the child's life.
You won't waste time considering families who aren't truly committed to open adoption.
Open Adoption Isn't About Staying Involved — It's About Your Child's Well-Being
Research on open adoption consistently shows benefits for birth parents, adoptive parents, and most importantly, adopted children.
For birth parents, open adoption offers the chance to see that your child is happy, healthy, and thriving. Instead of spending years wondering, you get to know. You receive photos, updates about achievements, and the reassurance that comes from seeing firsthand that you made the right decision.
Many birth mothers appreciate being able to answer their child's questions directly as they grow up.
Your child can know you personally, see that you love them, and understand that your decision came from deep love.
For adopted children, the benefits are perhaps most significant. Children in open adoptions tend to have higher self-esteem and fewer questions about their origins. They grow up knowing they were loved by two families.
The fact that open adoptions are legally enforceable in Rhode Island adds another layer of benefit: everyone can enter these relationships with confidence.
Real Stories: Open Adoption from a Birth Mother's Perspective
Randi's story shows how powerful open adoption can be.
When facing an unplanned pregnancy at 20 years old, she wanted an adoptive family that would welcome ongoing contact.
"There's a lot of things about adoption that people don't know," Randi explained. "There's the standards that you give your baby up and then you go away. And it doesn't have to be like that."
Randi chose Matthew and Katheryn in large part because of their openness to ongoing contact. "When we got matched with them, it was like an instant connection," Randi says.
One meaningful aspect of their open adoption is a blog that Katheryn maintains with photos and updates.
When asked about advice for other women, Randi emphasizes open adoption's importance: "I just have this feeling that every baby is going to wonder when they get older who their birth mother is and why they weren't involved and why they didn't care. So I just didn't want Juniper to ever think that."
Start Your Open Adoption Journey with American Adoptions
Understanding that open adoptions are legally enforceable in Rhode Island is just the beginning. The real opportunity is using that legal protection to create a meaningful, lasting relationship with your child.
At American Adoptions, we've helped countless Rhode Island birth mothers create open adoptions that work. We understand the local laws, we know how to structure post adoption contact agreements that are both legally sound and emotionally fulfilling, and we're committed to matching you with adoptive families who share your vision.
With the right support and the protection of Rhode Island's enforceable open adoption laws, you can make an adoption plan that honors your love for your child and maintains the relationship that matters to you.
Speak with a specialist at American Adoptions today—imagine knowing exactly what your relationship with your baby will look like after adoption, and having the law on your side to protect it.
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