Do adopted children have the right to know their parents?

[Skillet]

Well, what do you think? Do adopted children have the right to know who their biological parents are, or are there circumstances not? Should it be the adopted parents choice to tell? Discuss.

 

[Nebulous]

My cousin is adopted. He is like 15 and still doesnt know he is adopted yet. I dont think they are going to tell him until he is an adult if they decide to. His real parents were low lives anyways and he never met them. As soon as he was born, the doctors took the baby out and brought him straight to my aunts arms. The real mother never even seen him.



If someone gives up their rights to be a parent then they shouldn't expect to have any. If the child wants to meet their real parents then thats totally on them. Assuming they even know they are adopted in the 1st place.

 

[phatuis]

The children have a right to, but the parents dont.

 

[Corleone]

A parent is not a title given to you just because the baby has half your chromosomes, it is a responsibility given to a person who is going to be there for the child & will care for them. It should be up to the parents = people who raised & provided for the child. However, I see nothing wrong with letting them know, as long as they are old enough to understand.

 

[Nebulous]

I think its better to let them know once they are an adult.

Depending on the child, it can have negative repercussions.

 

[Madyy]

I think they need to know, but not when they're little kids. Maybe teenage to adult years, probably.



My biological dad gave up his rights to me and the 2 oldest of my younger brothers when I was about 3. When my mom got married soon after that, my dad adopted me and my 2 brothers. I was about 10 or 11 when my mom told me and my mom told my 2 brothers last year or the year before that. The third of my 5 brothers found out about 2 months ago (not related to my biological dad at all). In the summer, my mom called him and let the three of us talk to him and stuff. It was really weird, but I liked it. The three of us also have him as friends on Facebook.

Anyway, I do think the kids have the right to know, but they should be older.

 

[Princess]

Kids have the right to know, but birth parents also have the right to not have anything to do with their children. It's sort of a double edged sword. And most of the time kids (little kids) aren't able to handle that.

 

[Skillet]

So I just read adopted kids in some countries don't have the legal right to find out their biological parents until they are 18, regardless if they want to or not. Is this fair to 16 and 17 year olds? Are people a few years younger really not able to comprehend who their biological parents are?



I know what I think, but let's hear from you.

 

[Angel]

The child has a right to know their biological parents if THEY (the child) want to know them. The biological parents gave up the right to know about the child. But, if the child wants to know...then why shouldn't they have that right.



They should also know they are adopted from the start. Hiding it from them will make it seem that they are a dirty secret and will just make them wonder. Why do people thing that the child will NEVER find out! They will find out at some point in their lives and chances are they will be really upset that they were never told.



Oh boy... I could really go on with them, but I best keep some thoughts to myself.

 

[xneseyx]

I think that the child has the right to know from the day he/she is capable of understanding that they are adopted. My father was adopted, and he knew about his birth parents. Him and both his sisters all luckily went to the same adoptive parents, but they all knew that they were adopted. So was my uncle. It is the child's decision though as to whether or not they want to get to know their birth parents. My father and his sisters decided that they didn't want to speak to their real parents. My uncle eventually found his birth mother, and that was his own decision. It depends on what the child decides when they become an adult.