Types Explained
Types of Adoption: Open, Semi-Open, Closed, and Private
Domestic infant adoption has become increasingly open in recent decades. This guide covers the four main types of adoption, how they differ, and how to decide which is right for you. If you're an expectant mother starting from the beginning, our guide to giving your baby up for adoption walks through the whole decision.
What “Type” Really Means: Openness
The four types of adoption differ in exactly one dimension: how much contact continues between the birth family and the adoptive family after placement — from regular visits at one end to sealed records at the other. Everything else about a safe, legal, well-supported adoption stays the same.
And openness isn't a switch, it's a dial. Most families land somewhere in the middle, and the level of contact is written into the adoption plan the birth mother chooses.
Open Adoption
Ongoing contact between birth family and adoptive family, letters, photos, phone calls, or visits. Most common today.
Learn more about Open Adoption →Semi-Open Adoption
Mediated contact through the agency. Typically letters and photos; usually no direct contact.
Learn more about Semi-Open Adoption →Closed Adoption
No ongoing contact after placement. A decision that can be revisited later if all parties agree.
Learn more about Closed Adoption →Private (Independent) Adoption
Attorney-facilitated placement without full-service agency support. Different from agency adoption.
Learn more about Private (Independent) Adoption →The Openness Spectrum at a Glance
| Type | Contact | Identifying info shared | Who facilitates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Direct — letters, photos, calls, visits | Yes | The families, with agency support |
| Semi-open | Mediated — letters and photos | Usually not | The agency |
| Closed | None after placement | No | — (records sealed) |
| Private | Whatever the parties arrange | Varies | An attorney |
How to Choose the Right Type
There is no single “best” type of adoption. What's right for you depends on your comfort level with ongoing contact, the preferences of the birth parents or the adoptive family, and the approach your state's laws support.
Our counselors work with you to shape the type of adoption that fits your situation, and we revisit it as the relationship develops over time.
Not Sure Which Type Is Right for You?
Most families arrive here with questions, not answers, and that is a good place to start. A free, confidential conversation is the best way to think it through, without pressure or judgment.
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Adoption Types FAQ
Which type of adoption is most common today?+
Open and semi-open adoptions are the most common in the U.S. today. Fully closed adoptions have become less common as research has shown benefits to some ongoing contact.
Can I change the type of adoption after placement?+
Post-adoption contact agreements are enforceable in some states (including Utah). Some families later open or close their adoption by mutual agreement with the agency's mediation.
Is one type better than another?+
No. The right type of adoption depends on what birth parents and adoptive families both want. Our counselors help shape the arrangement that fits your situation.
What's the difference between agency and private adoption?+
Agency adoption is coordinated by a licensed non-profit providing counseling, matching, legal, medical, and post-placement support. Private (independent) adoption is typically attorney-facilitated without those full-service supports.
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