Open, Semi-Open, or Closed Adoption in Indiana – What Is the Difference and Which Is Right for You?

By: Grant Kirsh

When you start looking into giving up your baby for adoption or placing your baby for adoption in Indiana, one of the first things you will come across is a choice between open adoption, semi-open adoption, and closed adoption. These terms get thrown around a lot — but what do they actually mean for you and your child, day to day?

At Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C., we have been helping Indiana birth mothers understand these options for over 40 years. We are a family-run law firm based right here in Indiana, and we believe you deserve a clear, honest explanation of each type of adoption so you can make the choice that is truly right for you.

Open Adoption

Open adoption means there is direct, ongoing contact between you and the adoptive family after your baby is placed with them. What that looks like is different for every family. It is agreed on before placement and shaped by what both you and the family are comfortable with.

Open adoption might include:

• Regular photos and updates — monthly, every few months, or around milestones
• Letters or emails exchanged directly between you and the family
• In-person visits — occasional or more frequent, depending on what you both agree to
• Video calls, especially around birthdays or holidays

Open adoption has become the most common type of private newborn adoption in Indiana. Adoptive families who choose open adoption typically value their relationship with the birth mother. They understand that she is part of their child’s story — and they want to honor that.

Semi-Open Adoption

In a semi-open adoption, there is contact — but it goes through a third party rather than directly between you and the family. Often, this means an online portal. You might receive photos and updates without exchanging personal contact information with the family.

Semi-open adoption is a good fit for birth mothers who want to know their child is safe and loved, but want more privacy or structure around communication. There is nothing wrong with choosing semi-open adoption. It works well for many families across Indiana.

Closed Adoption

In a closed adoption, there is no contact after placement and identifying information is kept confidential. This used to be the standard in Indiana and across the country. Today, it is rare.

Closed adoption is still a valid legal option, and some birth mothers genuinely prefer it. But it is no longer the default. At Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C., whether to have a closed adoption is the birth mother’s choice — not the adoptive family’s. If closed adoption feels right to you for personal or safety reasons, we will never pressure you otherwise. Your comfort and your peace of mind matter.

How Do You Decide Which Type Is Right for You?

Here are some questions to sit with:

• How important is it to me to see photos or updates as my child grows up?
• Am I comfortable with the adoptive family knowing who I am?
• Do I want an ongoing relationship with the family over time, or would I prefer more distance?
• What do I think my child will want to know about me someday?

You do not need to have all the answers right now. These are conversations that happen over time, with support. At Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C., we help you think through each option carefully before you make any decisions.

Are Contact Arrangements Legally Binding in Indiana?

For newborn adoptions in Indiana, post-adoption contact arrangements are not legally enforceable. This is why choosing a family you genuinely trust — a family whose values and commitment to the relationship match yours — is so important. A contact arrangement is only as strong as the people behind it.

In our experience, families who commit to open or semi-open adoption with sincerity almost always follow through — because they genuinely value their relationship with the birth mother and understand that she is part of their child’s story.

We Help Birth Mothers Make Informed Choices

Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C. has been guiding Indiana birth mothers through decisions like this one since 1981. We are not a national company. We are a family firm that is truly local — with deep roots in Indiana communities from Indianapolis and Carmel to Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, Terre Haute, Bloomington, and every community in between.

When you call us, you talk to people who are actually here — people who have spent decades walking alongside birth mothers and adoptive families across this state.

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.