Adoptee Rights Law Center
Legal representation and advocacy for adopted people
Identity. Truth. Equality.
I represent adopted people to secure what is rightfully theirs.
Citizenship
Intercountry adoptees in the United States must often secure, prove, or find a path to US citizenship.
Birth Records
Most US-born adopted people are denied the right to obtain their own records, including their own original birth certificates.
In the News
Issues that are in the news right now, with resources and answers.
It’s Nuts.
Tens of thousands of intercountry adoptees in the United States are not US citizens–-even though they were adopted as children by US citizens.
The Problem
Current US immigration law denies automatic citizenship to intercountry adoptees if they were too old to qualify for citizenship on February 27, 2001.
The Fix
The Adoptee Citizenship Act, introduced in Congress each year since 2015, would eliminate this discriminatory loophole in the law.
Original Birth Certificates
OUR RECORD, OUR Right
Fifteen states affirm the inherent right of all adult adopted people to request and obtain their own original birth certificates (OBC). The remaining 36 states and the District of Columbia restrict that right in some way, often leaving no rights available to the adoptee other than to seek a court order for its release.
Wisconsin. The original birth record is only available by court order or through successful completion of a complex and lengthy "adoption records search" process, which depends upon consent or death of the parties to release any records or information. For these reasons, it is considered a "Restricted State." Read more.
US OBC Rights 2024
Wisconsin. The original birth record is only available by court order or through successful completion of a complex and lengthy "adoption records search" process, which depends upon consent or death of the parties to release any records or information. For these reasons, it is considered a "Restricted State." Read more.
By the Numbers
Fifteen states have affirmed or restored an adopted person’s right to obtain a copy of their own original birth certificate without any discriminatory conditions, other than following the procedures for requesting a vital record. Minnesota became be the fifteenth state on July 1, 2024.
Nineteen states discriminatorily restrict an adult adopted person in obtaining a copy of their own original birth certificate, typically by dividing adoptees into two unequal piles: the haves and the have nots.
Seventeen states restrict the right of an adopted person to obtain a copy of their own original birth certificate, except through a court order or, in some states, written consent or death of birthparents listed on the record.
State Law and Policy
Choose a state for which you need information—and what you may be looking for. Then press Go.
Adoptee Rights Legislation
In my role as the Executive Director of Adoptees United, I track and analyze adoptee rights legislation, whether state or federal, good or bad, pending or dead.
2024 Legislation
State legislative map. Hovering over a state provides a brief description of legislation activity in that state. Clicking on a state refers you to Adoptees United and the analysis of bills active in that state.
Keeping Up
Updates and thoughts on adoptee rights work and advocacy
Press
Full coverage as well as listed publications and presentations are available here.