[KIC1975]

I posted this on another group I'm part of, but I thought there might be some interest here too.

This is really interesting (especially for anyone who is adopting from
WA or lives in WA)...
If you live in WA (and I think if you live outside of WA but are
adopting a baby born in WA) you can do both TPR and finalize in WA.
Which means that we get to use the 48 hr TPR time frame instead of
California's 30 day TPR! How cool is that!

Also, WA has a way to legalize the amount of openness in an adoption.
You can file a paper with the court in WA defining what will occur
with the adoption (letters once a year on the birth date, pictures
twice a year etc). Up until now I didn't know that you could have a
legally binding open adoption. Our attorney said that it is a really
good tool to use with family/birth fathers that don't support the
adoption because they are afraid that there will be no contact after
the placement.

Also, a new medical test...Sometime this summer hospitals should be
able to start testing the umbilical cord for any substance used during
pregnancy. So you can know for sure if alcohol/drugs were used anytime
during the pregnancy not just at birth. The cost for the test is
estimated to be $300-$500.

Just though y'all might be interested.

[minibus]

Kristin,

I'm curious as to where you got the information about TPR? I haven't heard this before and (obviously) it would be an interesting piece of information for me to have.

Michelle

[BrandyHagz]

Agreeing to an open adoption is agreeing to a relationship. It makes me sad to see that some people see this as a tool to getting an infant.

Open adoption agreements (legally binding in 14 states) are not a ‘tool’ – they are contracts put in place to protect those involved from unethical and morally objectionable actions of the other parties.

I would encourage anyone who is hoping to adopt not to use open adoption as a ‘tool’ to get what you want – but rather, an instrument in building a healthy and flourishing relationship with the biological family of the child you have been entrusted to become the parents of.

[Oceans]

Open Adoptions are legally binding in many states to varying degrees so one should always do their homework.

Also, your attorney needs to be reminded that OA should NEVER be used as a way to compel anyone's consent to adoption - not family members and especially not efathers/mothers.

[minibus]

I have to say that I don't think that's what the OP meant. I think she meant it as a way to reassure the expectant parent that she means to follow through on the adoption. I think that many people would be reassured to hear that's it's a legal contract, rather than just a good faith agreement, even though both are made in good faith.

[KIC1975]

Michelle,
I got the info directly from our attorney. Plus heard back from another adoptive family that did an adoption in WA from CA.

As far as using open adoption as a "tool". I'm sorry if what I said was unclear. I in no way see it as a coersion tool. I think of it as a reasurance for birth parents.

I have heard too many birth parents say that they either would have released their baby if they could have had a legally binding agreement, or that they wish years later that they had had a legally binding agreement because the letters and/or pictures quit coming.

Kristin

[minibus]

Kristin - Thanks for the info! That's something to keep in mind, for sure!

[powderpiggy]

We live in WA, DS was born in OR, and we completed the adoption in WA. Basically we were told we had the choice to adopt in WA or OR. So basically a similar situation to the folks in CA adopting in WA. Only choosing the state the child was born in. The legally binding OA agreement is most definitely true. There are parts of it that I don't like (i.e. I don't want DS wondering if we visit because we want to or we have to....but I think our attitudes will be able to tell him that). The legally binding OA can be a benefit to both parties. Our agreement outlined the minimum number of visits. It does assure a potential bmom that she will get at least that number of visits (could be more if both parties want). It also assures the potential aparents of their limits on visits too...Many OA agreements are verbal. Over time (months or years), aparents and bparents memory of what was promised may differ. It can prevent a lot of misunderstandings.