Open Adoption in Massachusetts: A Guide

Open adoption offers birth mothers the opportunity to maintain a connection with their child and the adoptive family. In Massachusetts, open adoption is becoming an increasingly common choice, allowing for varying levels of communication—whether that’s occasional updates, scheduled visits, or something more flexible. Like any adoption path, it is important to understand what open adoption truly involves so you can make the decision that feels right for you.

If you are considering placing your baby for adoption in Massachusetts, knowing your rights and options is essential. Open adoption is not a one-size-fits-all arrangement. It is tailored to fit the needs and comfort levels of everyone involved, especially yours. Discover how open adoption works in Massachusetts, what you can expect during the process, and how to find the right support to guide you every step of the way.

Whether you are still weighing your options or have already decided that adoption is the best path forward, understanding the Massachusetts open adoption process can help you feel more confident, informed, and in control.

What is Open Adoption?

There is no single definition of open adoption. To each person, open adoption can mean something different. Just as no two people are alike, no two adoption plans are the same. At Adoptions With Love, expectant/birth mothers can design the type of adoption plan that works for them and meets their unique needs and desires.

For many expectant/birth moms, open adoption in Massachusetts typically involves:

• Choosing the adoptive family for their baby
• Communicating directly with the adoptive family, and – if desired – meeting them prior to the baby’s arrival
• Maintaining a relationship with the baby’s adoptive family throughout the years

In choosing an open adoption, you are also opening the door to many other positive decisions in the adoption process. Many expectant/birth mothers who have an established relationship with their child’s adoptive parents choose to include them in the baby’s big arrival. For example, you may wish to have them in the delivery room at the hospital. Of course, this will depend on your comfort level. You can decide whether you want time alone with the baby, or if you would like the adoptive parents to be there with you. Every detail may be planned prior to the baby’s birth. If you are making your adoption plan from your hospital bed or after your baby’s birth, that is okay, too. It is never too late to make an adoption plan.

As an open adoption agency in Massachusetts, every hopeful adoptive family at Adoptions With Love agrees to having at least a semi-open adoption. This means they are open to contact with the birth mother, whether sending letters and pictures or having meetings mediated by the adoption agency. A semi-open adoption means you have contact with the adoptive family, but that contact may not be direct.

In an open adoption, the birth mother is in the driver’s seat. YOU get to carve the path and create a plan that works best for you and your baby. YOU get to choose what type of contact you would like to have, and how much you would like to stay in touch. Openness may evolve over time. You may choose to connect with the family via video call, text messages, Skype or shared photo account. There are also more traditional ways of communicating with your child’s adoptive family, such as snail mail, email, phone calls, or in-person visits.

At Adoptions With Love, your social worker can help you negotiate the type of adoption plan you want. The plans are put into legal and binding contracts, with room for renegotiation throughout your child’s life.

Why People Are Choosing Open Adoption in Massachusetts

Adoption is never an easy decision, and it is not for everyone, but it may be right for you now. If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, and you are not ready, or able, to raise a child, adoption may be the best path forward. Open adoption in Massachusetts offers many benefits for expectant/birth mothers. Some of these benefits include:

• Having the right to choose your child’s adoptive family
• Staying connected with the adoptive family throughout your child’s life
• Building a meaningful relationship with your child as they grow, while having the freedom to pursue your personal and professional goals
• Receiving the support and resources you need throughout the adoption journey, including financial assistance, free counseling, and free legal services

How Does Massachusetts Open Adoption Work?

Open adoption in Massachusetts looks different for each person, it means there is ongoing communication between birth and adoptive families. This extends well beyond the paperwork filed in family court. With an open adoption agreement, there is no final “goodbye” between mother and child. You can continue to see your child grow and progress over the years, without raising a child you are not prepared – or able – to provide for now.

Your adoption agency can walk you through the Massachusetts open adoption process. You can choose the form and frequency of communication, and every detail is outlined in the open adoption plan. Both parties – adoptive parents and birth parents – sign this agreement and it is upheld just as any other legal document would be upheld by law. It is important to note, however, that the open adoption plan may be tweaked over the years. This can help accommodate the changing needs of a growing child as well as the evolving relationships between everyone involved in the adoption triad.

What is an Open Adoption Agreement?

An open adoption agreement is a plan that details every aspect of the open adoption plan. If you choose, for example, monthly email updates from your child’s adoptive family, then that will be expressed in the open adoption agreement. The plan will outline:

• Form of communication – e.g., emails, texts, phone calls, in-person reunions, etc.
• Frequency – i.e., monthly, quarterly, once-a-year, etc.

Learn More About Open Adoption in MA

There is no right or wrong choice when it comes to making a Massachusetts adoption plan. Your adoption agency can help guide you, but the choices are yours to make. The open adoption plan should make you feel comfortable with – and confident in – your choice.

Are Open Adoptions in Massachusetts Enforceable?

As you consider an open adoption plan in Massachusetts, you may be wondering how this works from a legal standpoint. How can you ensure that everyone follows the plan? As noted above, a licensed adoption agency in Massachusetts (like AWL) can create legal, binding contracts for your post-adoption plan.

Post-adoption contract agreements (PACAs) are legal in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As with any other legally binding contract, PACAs (also called open adoption agreements) can be legally enforced if one party fails to uphold their end of the agreement. If you desire an open adoption, this may bring you peace of mind.

However, know that PACAs are usually just a formality, set up “just in case” something happens. Typically, both birth and adoptive families in open adoptions are happy to interact, without agency supervision. Adoptive families are aware that maintaining a positive relationship with their child’s biological family is important for the child’s well-being.

Adoptions With Love counsels both birth and adoptive families on the importance of respecting one another by upholding their written adoption agreements. If either party loses touch, we can help maintain communication for the first 18 years of a child’s life. We also keep photos and updates on the child’s progress on file, should anyone wish to check in or even reunite down the road.

Benefits of Open Adoption in Massachusetts

Peace of Mind

Open adoption has many benefits for everyone involved. Many birth parents say that it gives them peace of mind, as they can see first-hand how their child is doing and growing over the years. You can rest assured that your child is safe and well loved thanks to the Home Study process, and the fact that you have chosen and got to know this family before making your decision.

Staying Connected While Your Child Grows

Adoptive parents often enjoy sharing updates, photos, and memories with their child’s birth family. Open contact also gives them their own set of benefits – such as access to answers about their child’s background and family history. With open adoption, there is no “goodbye forever.” You can see your child grow over the years and build relationships with them along the way.

Positive Benefits for Your Child

Children in open adoptions experience many benefits as well. It helps promote a positive sense of self and identity, as they can grow up knowing their biological family. They can also grow up understanding their adoption story and their birth mother’s choice. Additionally, studies show that children who meet their birth mothers in person have the highest level of satisfaction or happiness in their adoption arrangements.

Closed Adoption

An alternative to open adoption is closed adoption. This means there is no contact between birth and adoptive families. While most adoptions today are open, choosing a closed adoption may offer its own benefits. If you wish to remain anonymous and uphold your privacy throughout – and after – the adoption process, you may like the idea of a closed adoption. If you choose a closed adoption, but decide to open the adoption later, that is okay, too. Adoptions With Love keeps photos and letters on file, in case a birth mother decides to open the adoption later.

Preparing for a Massachusetts Open Adoption

Steps to Begin the Adoption Process

The adoption process begins with choosing your adoption agency. Your Massachusetts adoption agency should be an organization you can trust. Search for a reputable, well-reviewed agency that can offer you supportive services – at no cost – and treat you with the respect, dignity, and compassion you deserve.

Once you have chosen your open adoption agency in Massachusetts, you can begin to consider the adoptive family and the details of your open adoption plan.

Choosing a Massachusetts Adoption Agency

This is an important decision because you will be working with this agency throughout the adoption process. While some agencies may look great on paper – offering supportive services and care – it is important to contact this professional to get a feel for how you will be treated.

• Can they offer you one-on-one support?
• How frequently are they available to you?
• Will your concerns and wishes be heard – and respected?

These are just a few examples of what to consider when searching for an adoption agency.

Evaluating Prospective Adoptive Parents

Your adoption agency will give you access to the adoptive family profiles of those who are prepared – and ready – to raise a child. These profiles include photos, letters, and stories about the couple or individual. Some questions you may ask yourself when trying to decide on the adoptive family for your child include:

• Does this family live in a good area for raising children?
• Are there other children in the home? Will there be siblings for my child in the future?
• What is this family’s lifestyle like? Do they travel often? Are they close with relatives?
• What are their values? What are their religious views (if this is important to you)?
• Will this family give my child a happy life full of opportunities and positive experiences?

You can speak with – or meet – any prospective adoptive family before making your decision. Your adoption agency can help arrange this meeting and be present to help you feel comfortable if you wish.

Post-Adoption Communication

While finalizing the adoption may feel like an ending, it is only the beginning. The next chapter of your life will begin, and with it a new relationship to build. With an open adoption in Massachusetts, you should feel encouraged to deepen your relationship with your child’s adoptive family. You can maintain contact through your chosen methods and the frequency of your open adoption agreement. Depending on your relationship with the adoptive family and their openness to communication, you may soon find that you wish to increase communication further.

Some birth families begin with their normal forms of communication but later move on to pursue in-person reunions. Your adoption agency can serve as a great facilitator for these changes over the years. Continuing to build a deep, meaningful relationship with your child’s adoptive family is incredibly valuable. You share the love of the same child. This love can solidify your bond for years to come.