Cooperative adoption statutes allow ongoing contact between adopted children and their birth parents after finalization of an adoption. Under these statutes, birth parents relinquish parental rights but maintain certain post-adoption contractual rights that may include the exchange of letters and photos, phone calls at specified times such as holidays or birthdays, and face-to-face contacts. Cooperative adoption may provide an opportunity for parents who may realize that they cannot raise their children but who view total relinquishment of their rights as an unacceptable abandonment.

The following states have some type of cooperative adoption statute:

California
Indiana
Minnesota
Nebraska
New Mexico
Oregon
Washington

A bill is now pending in:

New York

openness in adoption

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POLICY AND PRACTICE

openness in adoption | cooperative adoption statutes