Sealed records often contain an original birth certificate.
Birth records are often sealed after an adoption to maintain the adoption's confidentiality and anonymity for both the birth parents and adoptive families, according to the University of Oregon's Adoption History Project. Up until 1945, most birth records remained accessible to adoptive families and children, though after World War II, birth record laws changed to prevent adopted persons from finding their records. As of 2010, most states have laws in place to help adopted children find and open their sealed adoption records, though certain requirements must be met before the documents are issued.
Instructions
1. Determine where the adoption took place. Each state has its own laws and requirements regarding sealed adoption records. Talk to your adoption agency or adoptive parents to determine the state where the adoption took place. Some states require more information, such as the courthouse, county or city where the adoption took place before records will be released.
2. Locate the state's Department of Vital Records. Birth certificates and adoption records are considered vital records, notes the Child Welfare Information Gateway website, and are typically maintained through each state's Department of Vital Records. The department typically has a procedure in place for sealed adoption records or is able to put you in contact with a local department that can be of assistance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains a database of contact information for all 50 state's Vital Records Departments.
3. Ensure all requirements are met before requesting records. Birth records are often released only to adopted children or birth parents, notes the Child Welfare Information Gateway, though in 36 states birth siblings may also request information. Some states require that an adopted person be over the age of 18 or 21 before requesting information and others allow adoptive parents to request information on their child's behalf. Four states require counseling for the adopted child before records are released.
4. Request records. Each state has its own procedures for record requests. The Child Welfare Information Gateway provides a summary of all 50 state's laws regarding adoption records access that explains where records can be found and who may request sealed birth records. In most states requests are only granted if the other party has consented to the release, though the Child Welfare Information Gateway notes that eight states release records unless a nondisclosure request has been received.
Tags: adoption records, Child Welfare, Child Welfare Information, Information Gateway, Welfare Information, Welfare Information Gateway, adoption took