Definition of a Closed Adoption

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A closed adoption is the most traditional type of adoption, but closed adoptions are declining in popularity since the advent of open adoptions.

In a closed adoption, the adoptive family is chosen by the adoption agency or attorny. The birth family and the adoptive family do not share any identifying information about themselves and do not communicate with each other, either before or after the placement of the child. The adoptive family will, however, receive non-identifying health and other background information about the child and the birth family before placement occurs.

The adoption files will be sealed after the adoption and are not typically made available to the adopted child.