Sealed birth records (usually for so-called closed adoption, in which the birthparents' identity is usually anonymous)

"This totally ignores the experience of individuals adopted in closed adoptions who have suffered because of that," Ms. Sullivan said.

When we did closed adoptions, it was because of the stigma of illegitimacy.

A closed adoption is an adoption in which the parties involved do not know the identities of each other.

For much of this period, adoption had two key features: the application of "clean break theory", and the framework of "closed adoption".

Sealed or closed birth records are generally associated with closed adoption.

In cases of closed adoptions there's not a lot the adoptive parents can say.

Then there are couples who pay sums approaching $100,000 for a closed adoption of a white newborn.

Those who experienced the greatest portion of positive thoughts were those who had open, rather than closed or time-limited mediated adoptions.

She knew how difficult it was to open a closed adoption.