What Does Adoption Finalization Mean?

By Katherine Doherty

Facing an unplanned pregnancy and want to know more about placing your child for adoption? If you’re looking for more information about Houston’s adoption process, you’ve come to the right place. Adoption Choices of Texas has compiled steps for you to take when giving your child up for adoption. We know this is an overwhelming time for you, and you may be feeling a wide range of emotions. Whatever you’re feeling, we are here to help make this process as smooth as possible for you and your child. 

Keep reading if you want to learn more about the steps to take for the adoption process and the finalization! 

What Is the Texas Adoption Process?

Below are some steps you have to take to finalize your adoption. This includes choosing an agency, an adoptive family, and what kind of communication you want to have with your child post-placement. 

Choosing an Adoptive Family

As the birth mother, you are in complete control of the adoption process, which means controlling what kind of family your child will go to post-placement. So naturally, you will want a family you know will provide a loving and welcoming environment for your child and someone you will trust who will take care of them. 

Here are some questions you can consider when choosing an adoptive family:

• Does the family share the same kind of background (such as cultural, ethnic, or racial) or different? Which one do you prefer?
• Similar beliefs, morals, or values? Do they have upbringing techniques you would trust?
• Do you want them in the same town, county, or country?
• What role do you want religion to play a part in your child’s life? 
• Would they provide a loving, welcoming, and stable home environment that would benefit your child? Do they have a steady source of income?

Choosing the Type of Adoption

If you want to place your child for adoption, then the first step you have to consider is what kind of communication you want in the future. This can be hard for birth mothers to imagine, significantly if your desires change years later. There are three types to choose from: open, semi-open, and closed. Each plan determines the kind of communication you want with your child and their adoptive parents.  

Open Adoption

This plan can be exceptional because it allows you to have accessible communication between you and your child and their adoptive parents. Everyone’s identity is shared as well as contact information. Communication looks different for everyone, but this can take the form of personal emails, letters, photos, phone calls, and virtual or in-person visits. Choosing this option means getting to know your child and their adoptive parents and being able to have a relationship with them. 

Semi-Open Adoption

There is still some form of communication in a semi-open plan, but it is limited. This is typically managed through an adoption agency so that an adoption specialist will work contact between you and your child’s adoptive parents. Many birth mothers like this because it allows for boundaries and a sense of privacy. 

Closed Adoption

For many birth mothers, communication with their child post-placement is painful. They want a sense of closure and to be able to get back to their pre-pregnancy life. Unfortunately, this means that no information is shared between you and your child’s adoptive parents, so you will not be able to communicate with either of them in the future. 

Every adoption story looks different, and we fully support any choice you make because you know what is best for your child and yourself. 

What Are The Steps in Adoption Finalization?

Finalization has to do with the transfer of legal custody to your child’s adoptive parents. This is when the court will come in to take care of the legalities and that your child will go to a loving home. We are here to help make this process go by smoothly, and our adoption specialists can help you understand the legal process.

Here are some steps that happen in court to ensure finalization:

• You are sworn in with the adoptive family. This is done before starting the legalities.
• The judge will review the adoption, such as the details, the home life your child will go to, and what the process has looked like so far.
• The adoptive parents are interviewed and questioned about their parenting, their intentions with adoption, and what their home life will look like.
• You and the adoptive parents will sign the adoption decree, which ensures the finalization of the adoption process. 

Adoption Finalization With Adoption Choices of Texas 

We want you to know that you are not a bad mom or person for choosing adoption. At the end of the day, we know you want what is best for your child, and we know how brave you are to take this step. 

During this process, you will want to have the support and guidance of an adoption agency. At Adoption Choices of Texas, we can provide you with various services like financial help, choosing an adoptive family, transportation help, or housing assistance. This can be scary, so it’s essential to have a helping hand to make this process less of a financial or emotional burden.  

Remember that we are here for you, with full support and no judgment. Here’s a quick look at what adoption finalization looks like. Afterward, we can provide you with services for counseling for you after post-placement. At Adoption Choices of Texas, we are here to help you in any way, whether through our blog posts or by assisting you during your adoption journey.