One form of open adoption that we do not talk about too often is interfamily adoptions. Interfamily adoptions, also known as relative adoptions, involved direct biological relatives of the child adopting the child. The family member who adopted and is raising the child could be birthmother’s sister and her husband, an aunt and uncle, or even her parents.

In many states, relative adoptions are treated less formally than non relative adoptions. Sometimes they require a shortened home study or none at all if they meet that particular state’s definition of “relative.” States determine the definition of relative by the degree of relatedness. In most cases, parents, siblings, aunts, and uncles, all meet the requirements of a relative. Cousins and other family members not meeting the state definition of a relative would have to pursue the adoption as a non relative adoption. Remember adoption laws vary by each state so it’s important to check your states laws.

As with any adoption situation, there are pros and cons to relative adoptions. Relative adoptions provide the adopted child the ability to stay within his or her birth family. In some cases, relative adoptions could also provide the birthparent and child more opportunities to see each other at family gatherings. But interfamily adoptions can complicate family dynamics and relationships. For example, if your parents adopted your child, that child is your birth child and your adopted sibling. It can put a strain on the pre-existing family bonds and could complicate things for future children coming into the family as well.

Although the child is staying with in the family and a birthmother could possibly have more opportunities to see the child, it doesn’t change the fact that she will experience the grief and loss that a birthmother who places with an unrelated person would experience.

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Resources:
Relative Adoption Information