What is the Closed Adoption Process in Texas?

Women who find themselves unexpectedly pregnant have a nine-month journey of decisions. One of the most important decisions that a prospective birth mother will make during her pregnancy is whether she is willing to place her baby for adoption and what type of adoption she will pursue. There are three main types of adoption available: closed, semi-open, and open adoptions.

The most common type of adoption throughout history has been a closed adoption. While closed adoptions have become less and less desirable as society’s outlook on adoption and unexpected pregnancies has shifted—  a closed adoption is still a valid option for prospective birth mothers today. If you are a prospective birth mother, you may be thinking, what is a closed adoption,and could it be the right option for me? Well, this post, along with other resources from Adoption Choices of Texas, can give you all the information you need.

What is a Closed Adoption?

The basic principles of a closed adoption are fairly straightforward to understand. In a closed adoption, birth mothers and adoptive families do not have contact after an adoption is finalized. Birth mothers will also have no contact with their child after they have given birth. This means that no identifying information is shared between the two parties. Identifying information that may not be shared could include:

• First names
• Last names
• Addresses
• Phone numbers
• Photographs

While this type of adoption may seem as if you would have no control over the adoption, it is the complete opposite. You have the option of what if any information about yourself you want to be shared with the adoptive parents of your child. You could share non-identifying information about yourself, such as your medical history, ethnicity, and any physical characteristics that your child could inherit.

Choosing the Adoptive Family

Just like all pregnancies are different, all adoptions are different. This includes closed adoptions. Closed adoptions may seem linear, and that there is not much room for you to make decisions, but that is not the case. You have complete control regardless of whatever type of adoption you choose!

One way you could control your adoption process is by choosing the adoptive parents for your child. Many birth mothers are a part of this vital process. Even if you are pursuing a closed adoption and want to have a sense of privacy from the adoptive family, you can still be involved during the selection process. You may not have any direct contact with the adoptive parents, but you can make the final decision in what family your child will be placed in.

Prospective birth mothers can also have detailed discussions with their adoption team about what they want to see in prospective adoptive parents. This could include specific things for your adoption team to look for, such as:

• Religion
• Financial situation
• Future Plans
• Sexuality
• Life goals
• Extended family
• Good support system

Who is a Closed Adoption For?

While a closed adoption is no longer considered the norm for potential birth mothers to choose, it is still a valid and good option for many birth mothers. And it could be the best option for you and your life situation.

A closed adoption gives pregnant women and children not just privacy but safety, more importantly.

Not one birth mothers’ life is the same, and this includes their life circumstances. Many women who find themselves unexpectedly pregnant may not be in a safe, secure, and supportive environment for them to consider having an open or semi-open adoption.  Choosing to have a closed adoption may be the safest option for not just the prospective birth mother but their child as well.

What is the Closed Adoption Process in Texas, and Is It Right For You?

If you are considering placing your child for adoption, the idea of choosing what adoption type is the best option for you may seem like a daunting task. You may be thinking, will I make the right choice?It is important to remember that there is no right or wrong choice when picking an adoption type—your decision about what adoption type is right for you and your baby.

A closed adoption may be the best decision for you. Whatever you decide, you will have the full support of your adoption team at Adoption Choices of Texas. They will be there with you through this sometimes difficult and emotional journey, no matter what you choose!

As an expectant woman or birth parent, to learn more about adoption, contact Adoption Choices of Texas. You can call us at 945-444-0333, text us at 945-444-0333, or email us here. If you are hoping to adopt, please visit us here. We look forward to helping you through your adoption journey!

Meet the Author: Sarah Henderson can best be described as someone with an eclectic taste in all things related to literacy and writing. She can be found reading a wide array of subjects from true crime novels to the next young adult fantasy series. Because of her love of literature, it has been Sarah’s dream to become a novelist herself. 

After graduating from college in 2019, Sarah has been spending her time planning, researching and writing for her first novel. When she isn’t reading or writing her novel, you can find Sarah out for her early morning run, hiking a three-plus mile hike or cooking her favorite vegan meal. She presently lives in Indianapolis, IN and is waiting for the next chapter of her life to begin!