closed adoption
Confidential family formation
A closed adoption is an adoption in which the birth parents and adoptive parents have no contact and identifying information remains sealed.
The adopted child typically has no access to records about their biological family.
This was standard practice through most of the twentieth century, though open adoptions have become more common: She didn't learn she was from a closed adoption until she was thirty.
Legally restricted official documents
- confidentialityQuality of protecting secrets
- family secretsConcealed household truths
- no contactAbsence of communication
- untraceableImpossible to follow back
Cannot be undone
- permanentFixed without end
- bindingLegally or morally required
- court-orderedRequired by judicial ruling
- finalizedMade permanent and complete
consent · legal custody · child welfare · petition · relinquishment · legal guardian · birth certificate · home study
Preventing harm or loss
- welfareComfort and prosperity
- shelteringProtecting from elements
- nurtureSupport growth and development
- careAttentive regard for others
stability · new beginning · fresh start · identity protection · emotional safety
sealed records
Legally restricted official documents
- confidentialityQuality of protecting secrets
- family secretsConcealed household truths
- no contactAbsence of communication
irrevocable
Cannot be undone
- permanentFixed without end
- bindingLegally or morally required
- court-orderedRequired by judicial ruling
finalized · consent · legal custody · child welfare · petition · relinquishment · legal guardian · birth certificate · home study · waiting period
safeguarding
Preventing harm or loss
- welfareComfort and prosperity
- shelteringProtecting from elements
- nurtureSupport growth and development
care · stability · new beginning · fresh start · identity protection · emotional safety
- adoptionbirth parents, birth parent, birth mother, home study
- child welfarechild protection, child welfare, foster care, child services, foster home
- rainbow familiesrainbow families, rainbow family, same-sex parents, two dads, two moms
- ICWAtribal courts, tribal membership, tribal nations, native children, indigenous children
closed adoptionopen adoption
Placement preserving birth family contact
family reunification · reunification · foster care · guardianship · kinship care
close, closed, closer, closest, closely, closeness, closing, closure, closable