Open Adoption in Indiana: Will I Get to See My Child Grow Up?

By: Grant Kirsh

When women first think about how to give up a baby for adoption, many of them carry an old, painful picture in their minds: handing over a baby and never knowing what happened to them. Never seeing them again. Never knowing if they are okay.

We want to replace that picture with the truth. Adoption today, for most birth mothers in Indiana, looks nothing like that. Most adoptions now are open, which means you can stay connected to your child as they grow up.

At Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C., we have been guiding Indiana birth mothers through open adoption for nearly 50 years. We are a family-run law firm right here in Indiana, and we encourage open adoption because we have seen how much it helps everyone, especially the child.

What Is Open Adoption?

Open adoption means there is ongoing contact between you and the adoptive family after your baby is placed. What that contact looks like is up to you and the family to agree on. It might include:

Photos and updates sent to you regularly, so you can watch your child grow. Letters or emails between you and the family. Video calls, especially around birthdays and holidays. In-person visits, which can range from occasional to regular.

There is no single version of open adoption. It is shaped around what feels right for you and the family you choose.

Will I Really Get to See My Child Grow Up?

Yes. At Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C., all of our adoptive families commit to providing letters and photos for at least 18 years at minimum. That is a promise built into how we do adoptions. So you will see your child grow up, year after year.

Many families offer much more than the minimum. Visits. Video calls. Regular updates. Birthday cards. If staying closely connected is important to you, we will help you find a family whose wishes match yours.

What Is Semi-Open Adoption?

In a semi-open adoption, contact happens through a third party, such as our office, instead of directly between you and the family. You might receive photos and updates without exchanging personal contact information. This is less common, but it is available if it is what you want. It offers reassurance that your child is safe and loved while keeping some privacy.

What If I Want a Closed Adoption?

Closed adoption, where there is no contact after placement, is still an option. And here is something important about how we do things at Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C.: closed adoption is the birth mother’s choice, not the adoptive family’s. If you want ongoing contact, no adoptive family we work with can take that away from you. The choice belongs to you.

A Note on Post-Adoption Contact Agreements

Indiana Code 31-19-16-2 allows for written post-adoption contact agreements, but only for children who are 12 months or older when adopted, not for newborns. For newborn adoption, the ongoing contact is built on the good faith and commitment of both parties rather than legal enforcement. That is exactly why choosing the right family, one you trust, matters so much. And it is why all of our families make that 18-year commitment to letters and photos.

Open Adoption Helps With Healing

Many birth mothers tell us that being able to see their child growing up, happy and loved, brings them real peace over time. Grief and love can exist together. Watching your child thrive in a wonderful family can help you hold both. Seeing those updates and seeing your child thrive is what provides you with the peace of mind that you made the right decision and you chose the right family.

Whether you are in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, Carmel, Fishers, Bloomington, Hammond, Gary, Muncie, Lafayette, Terre Haute, Kokomo, Anderson, or Greenwood, we are here to help you build an adoption that lets you stay connected.

Our services are 100% free to you.

Call or text us at 800-333-5736. Visit us at IndianaAdoption.com. Everything is free and confidential.

About the Author
Grant Kirsh is a second-generation adoption attorney and owner of Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C., a family law firm in Indianapolis, Indiana that has been serving Indiana families since 1981. Grant graduated from Indiana University McKinney School of Law in 2013 and has personally handled nearly 3,000 foster care adoptions and his law firm has handled over 5,000 private newborn adoptions. He practices all forms of domestic adoption, with a deep personal commitment to expectant mothers considering adoption in Indiana and Indiana’s foster care system and the families and children it serves.