How can my attorney help with post-placement contact between adoptive parents and the birth parent(s?)
Post-placement contact between the adoptive and birth parent(s) varies from none to periodic letters and photographs exchanged through your adoption agency to more open agreements involving phone calls and scheduled visitations. Your attorney can help you understand these options and, if appropriate, draft an applicable agreement or review with you any agreement proposed to you by your adoption agency. The Massachusetts adoption statute was amended, effective July 1, 1999, to provide a mechanism for court-approved post-placement contact agreements (see M.G.L. c 210, 6C, D and E). Post-placement contact agreements may still be made without court approval but their enforceability is less certain.