Understanding the state’s adoption system is essential if you are considering putting your child up for adoption or adopting a child in Missouri. For example, you may have heard of the terms open and closed adoption and wondered how they might apply to your situation. Simply put, these terms refer to the level of contact between the birth family and the adoptive family after the process is complete.
What Is a Closed Adoption?
In a closed adoption, there is no contact between the birth and adoptive families after the adoption is finalized. The families have no way of contacting each other and may not even know each other’s last names.
This differs from an open adoption, where the families have ways to contact each other and may even stay in regular contact throughout the child’s life. There are also semi-open/closed adoptions that involve an intermediary for communication between the families. This can provide a way for the families to get in touch when necessary while respecting their privacy.
Are Missouri Adoptions Open or Closed?
Closed adoptions used to be the norm in Missouri. However, open adoptions have become more common recently. This is in part because the state recognizes the benefits of open communication between birth and adoptive families for the child and birth parents alike.
Adopted children who have no way of contacting their birth parents may develop a feeling of not understanding who they are or where they come from. Parents who give their children up for adoption and have no way to see them again may suffer from separation anxiety even though they made what they believe is the best decision for their child.
Today, adoptions in Missouri can be open, closed, or somewhere in between, depending on the birth mother’s wishes.
The Adoption Process in Missouri
Some of the key steps in Missouri’s adoption process are:
- Eligibility Requirements ‒ The adoptive parents must meet the eligibility requirements, which include being at least 21 years old, passing a background check, being in good health, and having a stable income.
- Termination of Parental Rights ‒ The birth parents must terminate their parental rights. A father can do this at any point, but a mother must wait 48 hours. If a father is not named on the child’s birth certificate, they have 15 days to register with Missouri’s Putative Father Registry to be notified about a pending adoption.
- Home Assessment ‒ The adoptive parents must complete a home assessment to determine whether their home is safe for the child.
- Placement and Finalization ‒ After the initial placement hearing, the child must live with their adoptive family for at least six months before the adoption is finalized.
Contact Our St. Louis County Family Law Attorneys
Whether you are a parent considering giving your child up for adoption or a family seeking to adopt a child, contact Grant, Miller & Smith, LLC, to speak with an experienced family law attorney about your options. During your consultation, our lawyers will review the pros and cons of the different types of adoption in Missouri and help you determine which is best for you and your child.