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Adoptive and Birth Parents Communication and Contact Agreement

This agreement is made on the __ day of __________, 20__, between ___________________ [parent’s name], the birth parent who is consenting to the adoption of the child named__ _______________________ [child’s name], a ________________ [male/female] child born on _______________________ [date of birth], and the adoptive parents named _______________________ [Wife] and _______________________ [Husband].

WHEREAS _______________________ [name of mother] is the birth mother and_______________________ [name of father] is the birth father of the child named _______________________ [child’s name] born on _______________________ [date of birth]; and

WHEREAS the minor child has been in the home of the adoptive parents since _______________________ [date child began living with adoptive parents]; and

WHEREAS the adoptive parents plan to adopt the child as soon as possible; and

WHEREAS the birth parent wishes to continue to have contact with the adoptive parents and the child after the adoption is finalized; and

WHEREAS all parties agree that such contact is in the best interests of the minor child;

NOW THEREFORE, THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

1.            All parties to this agreement that the law views adoption as the irrevocable severance of all parental rights of the birth parent with respect to the adopted child. All parties to this agreement understand that legally adopted children are the children of the adoptive parents as if born to them.

2.            All parties to this agreement are committed to a relationship that is in the child’s best interest now and in the future.

3.            All parties to this agreement agree that this contact agreement will be part of the written order finalizing an adoption and understand that failure to comply with the communication or contact agreement will never be a reason for a court to rescind the adoption.

4.            All parties to this agreement understand that any differences about this agreement, or any changes needed because of new circumstances, will have to be settled directly by the parties or resolved in family court.

a.            Current Contact Information: Until the minor child reaches the age of 18, the parties shall provide current addresses and phone numbers to each other and shall update this information as it changes. Current contact information is as follows:

b.            Photographs and Letters for Birth Parents: The adoptive parents agree to provide the birth parents with letters and photos when the child is ages ________________________. After the child reaches age ________________, the adoptive parents agree to provide photos and letters ________________ times each year until the child reaches age ________________. After the child reaches age ________________, the adoptive parents agree to provide photos and letters______________________ times each year until the child reaches age ________________. They will include a collection of snapshots from throughout the year and posed portraits, such as school photos. The photos will include some of the child with family and other people in the child’s life, and some of the child alone.

c.            Photographs and Letters for the Child: The birth parents agree to provide letters and photographs of the parent to the adoptive parents for the child. The birth parents would also like to reserve the right to provide the adoptive parents with occasional gifts for the child.

d.            Face-to-Face Meetings Between Parents: The birth parents and the adoptive parents want to have ongoing visitation with each other. The visitation will take place at a mutually agreed upon location. The parties agree to visit ________________ times during the next ________________________ [period of time]. Visitation will continue until the point at which it becomes confusing for the child or uncomfortable for the parties.

e.            Future Face-to-Face Contact With Child: The adoptive parents agree to arrange for the child to meet his/her birth parents at an appropriate age and time, if the child so desires. The birth parents and adoptive parents are open to discussing visitation between the birth parent and child.

f.            Notification of Death or Serious Illness to Birth Parents: The adoptive parents agree to notify the birth parents of the death or serious illness of either of them or the child as soon as it is reasonably possible to do so.

g.            Notification of Death or Serious Illness to Adoptive Parents: The birth parents agree to notify the birth parent of the death or serious illness of as soon as it is reasonably possible to do so.

5.            The above terms and conditions of communication and contact constitute the entire agreement between the parties concerning the birth parent’s rights to communicate or contact after the adoption is finalized.

Dated: ___________________

___________________ [Signature of birth parent – sign only in front of notary public

___________________

Parent [name of birth parent]

Dated: ___________________

___________________ [Signature of birth parent – sign only in front of notary public

___________________

Parent [name of birth parent]

Dated: ___________________

___________________ [Signature of adoptive parent – sign only in front of notary public]

___________________

Parent [name of stepparent]

On this ________ day of _________ , 20____ ,

before me personally appeared the persons described

herein who executed the foregoing communication

and contact agreement.

________________________________________________________

________Notary Public