We do not have a “cast in stone” answer for this one. We have only had it happen where one of the parents died after the consummation of the adoption.

In those cases, the surviving parent has contacted the agency and asked us to contact the birth family, or the surviving parent contacted the birth family directly.

Once a child’s adoption is completed, he/she is a member of the adoptive family with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. To loose the parents that have nurtured him on a daily basis and to loose his extended family at the same time could be devastating.

In cases where there is no extended family that is a part of the child’s life, the agency might be considered responsible for making a plan for the child. If this happens, the agency would contact the birth family (if that is the desire of the birth family) and a placement in the birth family would be considered.