Prior to the adoption, the birth parent(s) may provide input about the kind of family they would like for their child. In some situations the birth parent(s) select an adoptive family.

The values, lifestyle, education, religion, cultural heritage and other characteristics which are important to the birth parents are considered carefully when choosing the child’s adoptive parents.

Relationships with adopted children and birth parents

Recently there has been a move to create more openness between adopting families and birth families. The degree of openness a child needs, a birth parent wants, or an adopting family can accept, is carefully considered early in the adoption process. It could range from a photo and a letter to face to face contact between birth families and children.

There are two options available to maintain these relationships. The court has the option of making a contact order with significant people in a child’s life. A child can still be adopted with this order in place. Another option available to ensure a child maintains contact with significant people in his/her life is with a contact agreement between adoptive parents and birth families.