Overview
Original Birth Certificates. Washington is a Compromised State. While an adult adopted person’s own original birth record is available by request to the state Department of Health, its release is subject to birthparent disclosure vetoes and denials. Disclosure vetoes and denials, however, expire on the death of the birth parent.
Court Records. Identifying information and adoption court records are sealed and only available by court order upon good cause shown. While confidential intermediaries may review court records and identifying information, they are not authorized to obtain copies of the records for release to the adopted person.
Descendant Rights. Descendants of Washington-born adopted people have no specific rights to request the adoptee’s original birth record or obtain identifying information about the adopted person, except potentially through the state’s confidential intermediary (CI) program. A court order would be required to release any information other than what may be obtained through the CI process.
Confidential Intermediary Program. State courts in Washington oversee a confidential intermediary program that allows for the court appointment of a confidential intermediary, who can then review confidential court and other records in order to search for and potentially find birthparents, adoptees, and other relatives. Most confidential intermediaries charge a fee for their services.
Adult Adoption. Washington law provides for the adoption of adults. Any person may be adopted “regardless of his or her age or residence,” and any person “who is legally competent and who is eighteen years of age or older may be an adoptive parent.”
Washington Law: Vital Records and Original Birth Certificates
Relevant parts of Washington vital records law. The entire Washington vital records statute is available here.
RCW 70.58A.110. Live birth of child of unknown parentage—Reporting and registration requirements
(1) When a child is found for whom no record of live birth is known to be on file, within ten calendar days of the child being found, a report of a live birth must be filed with the department in a manner prescribed by the state registrar.
(2) If the child is identified at a later date and another live birth record is found, the state registrar shall void the record registered under subsection (1) of this section.
(3) This section cannot be used when the report of live birth is considered a delayed registration under RCW 70.58A.120 or an unattended live birth under RCW 70.58A.100(5).
RCW 70.58A.400 Adoption—Amendment of birth record or registration of birth—Sealing of original birth record.
(1) The state registrar shall amend the birth record of a child born in state to reflect an adoption decree received from a Washington state court of competent jurisdiction upon receipt of:
(a) An application to register an adoption;
(b) A certified copy of the adoption decree entered pursuant to chapter 26.33 RCW; and
(c) Applicable fees established under this chapter and by rule.
(2) The state registrar shall amend the live birth record of a child born in state to reflect an adoption report from any other state or territory of the United States, and the District of Columbia, upon receipt of:
(a) A certified copy of an adoption report, or an application to register an adoption and a certified copy of the adoption decree; and
(b) Applicable fees established under this chapter and by rule.
(3) The state registrar shall register the birth of a child born outside the United States and its territories and adopted after January 1, 1985, in a Washington state court of competent jurisdiction upon receipt of:
(a) An application to register an adoption;
(b) A certified copy of a decree of adoption entered pursuant to chapter 26.33 RCW; and
(c) Applicable fees established under this chapter and by rule.
(4) The state registrar shall register the birth of a child born outside the United States and its territories and adopted before January 1, 1985, in a Washington state court of competent jurisdiction upon receipt of:
(a) An application to register an adoption;
(b) A certified copy of a decree of adoption entered pursuant to chapter 26.33 RCW;
(c) Documentary evidence as to the child’s birthdate and birthplace provided by:
(i) The original birth certification;
(ii) A certified copy, extract, or translation of the original birth certification; or
(iii) A certified copy of another document essentially equivalent to the original birth certification including, but not limited to, the records of the United States citizenship and immigration services or the United States department of state; and
(d) Applicable fees established under this chapter and by rule.
(5) The state registrar shall retain and seal the original birth record including the adoption report, certified copy of the adoption decree, and other documentary evidence filed pursuant to chapter 26.33 RCW. The sealed record is not subject to public inspection or copying pursuant to chapter 42.56 RCW and may be released only as allowed by RCW 26.33.345.
Washington Law: Adoption Records and Birth Records
Relevant parts of Washington adoption law related to court records, confidential intermediaries, and birth records. The entire Washington adoption statute is available here.
RCW 26.33.330. Records sealed—Inspection—Fee
(1) All records of any proceeding under this chapter shall be sealed and shall not be thereafter open to inspection by any person except upon order of the court for good cause shown, or except by using the procedure described in RCW 26.33.343. In determining whether good cause exists, the court shall consider any certified statement on file with the department of health as provided in RCW 26.33.347.
(2) The state registrar of vital statistics may charge a reasonable fee for the review of any of its sealed records.
RCW 26.33.340. Department, agency, and court files confidential—Limited disclosure of information
Department, agency, and court files regarding an adoption shall be confidential except that reasonably available nonidentifying information may be disclosed upon the written request for the information from the adoptive parent, the adoptee, or the birth parent. If the adoption facilitator refuses to disclose nonidentifying information, the individual may petition the superior court. Identifying information may also be disclosed through the procedure described in RCW 26.33.343.
RCW 26.33.343. Search for birth parent or adopted child—Confidential intermediary
(1) An adopted person over the age of twenty-one years, or under twenty-one with the permission of the adoptive parent, or a birth parent or member of the birth parent’s family after the adoptee has reached the age of twenty-one may petition the court to appoint a confidential intermediary. A petition under this section shall state whether a certified statement is on file with the department of health as provided for in RCW 26.33.347 and shall also state the intent of the adoptee as set forth in any such statement. The intermediary shall search for and discreetly contact the birth parent or adopted person, or if they are not alive or cannot be located within one year, the intermediary may attempt to locate members of the birth parent or adopted person’s family. These family members shall be limited to the natural grandparents of the adult adoptee, a brother or sister of a natural parent, or the child of a natural parent. The court, for good cause shown, may allow a relative more distant in degree to petition for disclosure.
(2)(a) Confidential intermediaries appointed under this section shall complete training provided by a licensed adoption service or another court-approved entity and file an oath of confidentiality and a certificate of completion of training with the superior court of every county in which they serve as intermediaries. The court may dismiss an intermediary if the intermediary engages in conduct which violates professional or ethical standards.
(b) The confidential intermediary shall sign a statement of confidentiality substantially as follows:
I, . . . . . ., signing under penalty of contempt of court, state: “As a condition of appointment as a confidential intermediary, I affirm that, when adoption records are opened to me:
I will not disclose to the petitioner, directly or indirectly, any identifying information in the records without further order from the court.
I will conduct a diligent search for the person being sought and make a discreet and confidential inquiry as to whether that person will consent to being put in contact with the petitioner, and I will report back to the court the results of my search and inquiry.
If the person sought consents to be put in contact with the petitioner, I will attempt to obtain a dated, written consent from the person, and attach the original of the consent to my report to the court. If the person sought does not consent to the disclosure of his or her identity, I shall report the refusal of consent to the court.
I will not make any charge or accept any compensation for my services except as approved by the court, or as reimbursement from the petitioner for actual expenses incurred in conducting the search. These expenses will be listed in my report to the court.
I recognize that unauthorized release of confidential information may subject me to civil liability under state law, and subjects me to being found in contempt of court.”
/s/ date
(c) The confidential intermediary shall be entitled to reimbursement from the petitioner for actual expenses in conducting the search. The court may authorize a reasonable fee in addition to these expenses.
(3) If the confidential intermediary is unable to locate the person being sought within one year, the confidential intermediary shall make a recommendation to the court as to whether or not a further search is warranted, and the reasons for this recommendation.
(4) In the case of a petition filed on behalf of a natural parent or other blood relative of the adoptee, written consent of any living adoptive parent shall be obtained prior to contact with the adoptee if the adoptee:
(a) Is less than twenty-five years of age and is residing with the adoptive parent; or
(b) Is less than twenty-five years of age and is a dependent of the adoptive parent.
(5) If the confidential intermediary locates the person being sought, a discreet and confidential inquiry shall be made as to whether or not that person will consent to having his or her present identity disclosed to the petitioner. The identity of the petitioner shall not be disclosed to the party being sought. If the party being sought consents to the disclosure of his or her identity, the confidential intermediary shall obtain the consent in writing and shall include the original of the consent in the report filed with the court. If the party being sought refuses disclosure of his or her identity, the confidential intermediary shall report the refusal to the court and shall refrain from further and subsequent inquiry without judicial approval.
(6)(a) If the confidential intermediary obtains from the person being sought written consent for disclosure of his or her identity to the petitioner, the court may then order that the name and other identifying information of that person be released to the petitioner.
(b) If the person being sought is deceased, the court may order disclosure of the identity of the deceased to the petitioner.
(c) If the confidential intermediary is unable to contact the person being sought within one year, the court may order that the search be continued for a specified time or be terminated.
RCW 26.33.345. Search for birth parent or adopted child—Limited release of information—Noncertified copies of original birth certificate—Contact preference form
(1) The department of social and health services, adoption agencies, and independent adoption facilitators shall release the name and location of the court where a relinquishment of parental rights or finalization of an adoption took place to an adult adoptee, a birth parent of an adult adoptee, an adoptive parent, a birth or adoptive grandparent of an adult adoptee, or an adult sibling of an adult adoptee, or the legal guardian of any of these.
(2) The department of health shall make available a noncertified copy of the original birth certificate of a child to the child’s birth parents upon request.
(3)(a) For adoptions finalized after October 1, 1993, the department of health shall provide a noncertified copy of the original birth certificate to an adoptee eighteen years of age or older upon request, unless the birth parent has filed an affidavit of nondisclosure before July 28, 2013, or a contact preference form that indicates he or she does not want the original birth certificate released: PROVIDED, That the affidavit of nondisclosure, the contact preference form, or both have not expired.
(b) For adoptions finalized on or before October 1, 1993, the department of health may not provide a noncertified copy of the original birth certificate to the adoptee until after June 30, 2014. After June 30, 2014, the department of health shall provide a noncertified copy of the original birth certificate to an adoptee eighteen years of age or older upon request, unless the birth parent has filed a contact preference form that indicates he or she does not want the original birth certificate released: PROVIDED, That the contact preference form has not expired.
(c) An affidavit of nondisclosure expires upon the death of the birth parent.
(4)(a) Regardless of whether a birth parent has filed an affidavit of nondisclosure or when the adoption was finalized, a birth parent may at any time complete a contact preference form stating his or her preference about personal contact with the adoptee, which, if available, must accompany an original birth certificate provided to an adoptee under subsection (3) of this section.
(b) The contact preference form must include the following options:
(i) I would like to be contacted. I give the department of health consent to provide the adoptee with a noncertified copy of his or her original birth certificate;
(ii) I would like to be contacted only through a confidential intermediary as described in RCW 26.33.343. I give the department of health consent to provide the adoptee with a noncertified copy of his or her original birth certificate;
(iii) I prefer not to be contacted and have completed the birth parent updated medical history form. I give the department of health consent to provide the adoptee with a noncertified copy of his or her original birth certificate; and
(iv) I prefer not to be contacted and have completed the birth parent updated medical history form. I do not want a noncertified copy of the original birth certificate released to the adoptee.
(c) If the birth parent indicates he or she prefers not to be contacted, personally identifying information on the contact preference form must be kept confidential and may not be released.
(d) Nothing in this section precludes a birth parent from subsequently filing another contact preference form to rescind the previous contact preference form and state a different preference.
(e) A contact preference form expires upon the death of the birth parent.
(5) If a birth parent files a contact preference form, the birth parent must also file an updated medical history form with the department of health. Upon request of the adoptee, the department of health must provide the adoptee with the updated medical history form filed by the adoptee’s birth parent.
(6) Both a completed contact preference form and birth parent updated medical history form are confidential and must be placed in the adoptee’s sealed file.
(7) If a birth parent files a contact preference form within six months after the first time an adoptee requests a copy of his or her original birth certificate as provided in subsection (3) of this section, the department of health must forward the contact preference form and the birth parent updated medical history form to the address of the adoptee.
(8) The department of health may charge a fee not to exceed twenty dollars for providing a noncertified copy of a birth certificate to an adoptee.
(9) The department of health must create the contact preference form and an updated medical history form. The contact preference form must provide a method to ensure personally identifying information can be kept confidential. The updated medical history form may not require the birth parent to disclose any identifying information about the birth parent.
(10) If the department of health does not provide an adoptee with a noncertified copy of the original birth certificate because a valid affidavit of nondisclosure or contact preference form has been filed, the adoptee may request, no more than once per year, that the department of health attempt to determine if the birth parent is deceased. Upon request of the adoptee, the department of health must make a reasonable effort to search public records that are accessible and already available to the department of health to determine if the birth parent is deceased. The department of health may charge the adoptee a reasonable fee to cover the cost of conducting a search.
RCW 26.33.347. Consent or refusal to release adoptee’s identifying information—Desire to be contacted—Certified statement.
(1) An adopted person over the age of eighteen may file with the department of health a certified statement declaring any one or more of the following:
(a) The adoptee refuses to consent to the release of any identifying information to a biological parent, biological sibling, or other biological relative and does not wish to be contacted by a confidential intermediary except in the case of a medical emergency as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction;
(b) The adoptee consents to the release of any identifying information to a confidential intermediary appointed under RCW 26.33.343, a biological parent, biological sibling, or other biological relative;
(c) The adoptee desires to be contacted by his or her biological parents, biological siblings, other biological relatives, or a confidential intermediary appointed under RCW 26.33.343;
(d) The current name, address, and telephone number of the adoptee who desires to be contacted.
(2) The certified statement shall be filed with the department of health and placed with the adoptee’s original birth certificate if the adoptee was born in this state, or in a separate registry file for reference purposes if the adoptee was born in another state or outside of the United States. When the statement includes a request for confidentiality or a refusal to consent to the disclosure of identifying information, a prominent notice stating substantially the following shall also be placed at the front of the file: “AT THE REQUEST OF THE ADOPTEE, ALL RECORDS AND IDENTIFYING INFORMATION RELATING TO THIS ADOPTION SHALL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL AND SHALL NOT BE DISCLOSED OR RELEASED WITHOUT A COURT ORDER SO DIRECTING.”
(3) An adopted person who files a certified statement under subsection (1) of this section may subsequently file another certified statement requesting to rescind or amend the prior certified statement.
RCW 26.33.380. Family and social history report required—Identity of birth parents confidential
(1) Every person, firm, society, association, corporation, or state agency receiving, securing a home for, or otherwise caring for a minor child shall transmit to the prospective adopting parent prior to placement and shall make available to all persons with whom a child has been placed by adoption, a family background and child and family social history report, which includes a chronological history of the circumstances surrounding the adoptive placement and any available psychiatric reports, psychological reports, court reports pertaining to dependency or custody, or school reports. Such reports or information shall not reveal the identity of the birth parents of the child but shall contain reasonably available nonidentifying information.
(2) Entities and persons obligated to provide information under this section shall make reasonable efforts to locate records and information concerning the child’s family background and social history. The entities or persons providing the information have no duty, beyond providing the information, to explain or interpret the records or information regarding the child’s mental or physical health.
Washington Law: Adoption Generally
Relevant parts of Washington adoption law. The entire Washington adoption statute is available here.
RCW 26.33.020. Definitions
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
(1) “Adoptee” means a person who is to be adopted or who has been adopted.
(2) “Adoptive parent” means the person or persons who seek to adopt or have adopted an adoptee.
(3) “Agency” means any public or private association, corporation, or individual licensed or certified by the department as a child-placing agency under chapter 74.15 RCW or as an adoption agency.
(4) “Alleged genetic parent” has the same meaning as defined in RCW 26.26A.010.
(5) “Birth parent” means the woman who gave birth to the child or alleged genetic parent of the child, including a presumed parent under chapter 26.26A RCW, whether or not any such person’s parent-child relationship has been terminated by a court of competent jurisdiction. “Birth parent” does not include a woman who gave birth to the child or alleged genetic parent of the child, including a presumed parent under chapter 26.26A RCW, if the parent-child relationship was terminated because of an act for which the person was found guilty under chapter 9A.42 or 9A.44 RCW.
(6) “Child” means a person under eighteen years of age.
(7) “Court” means the superior court.
(8) “Department” means the department of children, youth, and families.
(9) “Guardian ad litem” means a person, not related to a party to the action, appointed by the court to represent the best interests of a party who is under a legal disability.
(10) “Individual approved by the court” or “qualified salaried court employee” means a person who has a master’s degree in social work or a related field and one year of experience in social work, or a bachelor’s degree and two years of experience in social work, and includes a person not having such qualifications only if the court makes specific findings of fact that are entered of record establishing that the person has reasonably equivalent experience.
(11) “Legal guardian” means the department, an agency, or a person, other than a parent or stepparent, appointed by the court to promote the child’s general welfare, with the authority and duty to make decisions affecting the child’s development.
(12) “Nonidentifying information” includes, but is not limited to, the following information about the birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptee:
(a) Age in years at the time of adoption;
(b) Heritage, including nationality, ethnic background, and race;
(c) Education, including number of years of school completed at the time of adoption, but not name or location of school;
(d) General physical appearance, including height, weight, color of hair, eyes, and skin, or other information of a similar nature;
(e) Religion;
(f) Occupation, but not specific titles or places of employment;
(g) Talents, hobbies, and special interests;
(h) Circumstances leading to the adoption;
(i) Medical and genetic history of birth parents;
(j) First names;
(k) Other children of birth parents by age, sex, and medical history;
(l) Extended family of birth parents by age, sex, and medical history;
(m) The fact of the death, and age and cause, if known;
(n) Photographs;
(o) Name of agency or individual that facilitated the adoption.
(13) “Parent” has the same meaning as defined in RCW 26.26A.010.
(14) “Relinquish or relinquishment” means the voluntary surrender of custody of a child to the department, an agency, or prospective adoptive parents.
RCW 26.33.140. Who may adopt or be adopted
(1) Any person may be adopted, regardless of his or her age or residence.
(2) Any person who is legally competent and who is eighteen years of age or older may be an adoptive parent.
RCW 26.33.160. Consent to adoption—When revocable—Procedure
(1) Except as otherwise provided in RCW 26.33.170, consent to an adoption shall be required of the following if applicable:
(a) The adoptee, if fourteen years of age or older;
(b) The parents and any *alleged father of an adoptee under eighteen years of age;
(c) An agency or the department to whom the adoptee has been relinquished pursuant to RCW 26.33.080; and
(d) The legal guardian of the adoptee.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4)(h) of this section, consent to adoption is revocable by the consenting party at any time before the consent is approved by the court. The revocation may be made in either of the following ways:
(a) Written revocation may be delivered or mailed to the clerk of the court before approval; or
(b) Written revocation may be delivered or mailed to the clerk of the court after approval, but only if it is delivered or mailed within forty-eight hours after a prior notice of revocation that was given within forty-eight hours after the birth of the child. The prior notice of revocation shall be given to the agency or person who sought the consent and may be either oral or written.
(3) Except as provided in subsections (2)(b) and (4)(h) of this section and in this subsection, a consent to adoption may not be revoked after it has been approved by the court. Within one year after approval, a consent may be revoked for fraud or duress practiced by the person, department, or agency requesting the consent, or for lack of mental competency on the part of the person giving the consent at the time the consent was given. A written consent to adoption may not be revoked more than one year after it is approved by the court.
(4) Except as provided in (h) of this subsection, the written consent to adoption shall be signed under penalty of perjury and shall state that:
(a) It is given subject to approval of the court;
(b) It has no force or effect until approved by the court;
(c) The birth parent is or is not of Native American or Alaska native ancestry;
(d) The consent will not be presented to the court until forty-eight hours after it is signed or forty-eight hours after the birth of the child, whichever occurs later;
(e) It is revocable by the consenting party at any time before its approval by the court. It may be revoked in either of the following ways:
(i) Written revocation may be delivered or mailed to the clerk of the court before approval of the consent by the court; or
(ii) Written revocation may be delivered or mailed to the clerk of the court after approval, but only if it is delivered or mailed within forty-eight hours after a prior notice of revocation that was given within forty-eight hours after the birth of the child. The prior notice of revocation shall be given to the agency or person who sought the consent and may be either oral or written;
(f) The address of the clerk of court where the consent will be presented is included;
(g) Except as provided in (h) of this subsection, after it has been approved by the court, the consent is not revocable except for fraud or duress practiced by the person, department, or agency requesting the consent or for lack of mental competency on the part of the person giving the consent at the time the consent was given. A written consent to adoption may not be revoked more than one year after it is approved by the court;
(h) In the case of a consent to an adoption of an Indian child, no consent shall be valid unless the consent is executed in writing more than ten days after the birth of the child and unless the consent is recorded before a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1913(a). Consent may be withdrawn for any reason at any time prior to the entry of the final decree of adoption. Consent may be withdrawn for fraud or duress within two years of the entry of the final decree of adoption. Revocation of the consent prior to a final decree of adoption, may be delivered or mailed to the clerk of the court or made orally to the court which shall certify such revocation. Revocation of the consent is effective if received by the clerk of the court prior to the entry of the final decree of adoption or made orally to the court at any time prior to the entry of the final decree of adoption. Upon withdrawal of consent, the court shall return the child to the parent unless the child has been taken into custody pursuant to RCW 13.34.050 or 26.44.050, placed in shelter care pursuant to RCW 13.34.060, or placed in foster care pursuant to RCW 13.34.130; and
(i) The following statement has been read before signing the consent:
I understand that my decision to relinquish the child is an extremely important one, that the legal effect of this relinquishment will be to take from me all legal rights and obligations with respect to the child, and that an order permanently terminating all of my parental rights to the child will be entered. I also understand that there are social services and counseling services available in the community, and that there may be financial assistance available through state and local governmental agencies.
(5) A written consent to adoption which meets all the requirements of this chapter but which does not name or otherwise identify the adopting parent is valid if it contains a statement that it is voluntarily executed without disclosure of the name or other identification of the adopting parent.
(6) There must be a witness to the consent of the parent or alleged genetic parent. The witness must be at least eighteen years of age and selected by the parent or alleged genetic parent. The consent document shall contain a statement identifying by name, address, and relationship the witness selected by the parent or *alleged father.
RCW 26.33.170. Consent to adoption—When not required.
(1) An agency’s, the department’s, or a legal guardian’s consent to adoption may be dispensed with if the court determines by clear, cogent and convincing evidence that the proposed adoption is in the best interests of the adoptee.
(2) An alleged genetic parent’s, birth parent’s, or parent’s consent to adoption shall be dispensed with if the court finds that the proposed adoption is in the best interests of the adoptee and:
(a) The alleged genetic parent, birth parent, or parent has been found guilty of rape under chapter 9A.44 RCW or incest under RCW 9A.64.020, where the adoptee was the victim of the rape or incest; or
(b) The alleged genetic parent, birth parent, or parent has been found guilty of rape under chapter 9A.44 RCW or incest under RCW 9A.64.020, or has been found by clear and convincing evidence to have committed a sexual assault, where the other parent of the adoptee was the victim of the rape, incest, or sexual assault and the adoptee was conceived as a result of the rape, incest, or sexual assault, unless the parent who is the victim indicates by affidavit or sworn testimony that consent to adoption by the person who committed the rape, incest, or sexual assault should occur.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to eliminate the notice provisions of this chapter.
Relevant Washington Law: Birth Siblings
RCW 26.33.420. Postadoption contact between siblings—Intent—Findings.
The legislature finds that the importance of children’s relationships with their siblings is well recognized in law and science. The bonds between siblings are often irreplaceable, leading some experts to believe that sibling relationships can be longer lasting and more influential than any other over a person’s lifetime. For children who have been removed from home due to abuse or neglect, these bonds are often much stronger because siblings have learned early the importance of depending on one another and cooperating in order to cope with their common problems. The legislature further finds that when children are in the foster care system they typically have some degree of contact or visitation with their siblings even when they are not living together. The legislature finds, however, that when one or more of the siblings is adopted from foster care, these relationships may be severed completely if an open adoption agreement fails to attend to the needs of the siblings for continuing postadoption contact. The legislature intends to promote a greater focus, in permanency planning and adoption proceedings, on the interests of siblings separated by adoptive placements and to encourage the inclusion in adoption agreements of provisions to support ongoing postadoption contact between siblings.
RCW 26.33.430. Postadoption contact between siblings—Duty of court.
The court, in reviewing and approving an agreement under RCW 26.33.295 for the adoption of a child from foster care, shall encourage the adoptive parents, birth parents, foster parents, kinship caregivers, and the department or other supervising agency to seriously consider the long-term benefits to the child adoptee and siblings of the child adoptee of providing for and facilitating continuing postadoption contact between siblings. To the extent feasible, and when in the best interests of the child adoptee and siblings of the child adoptee, contact between the siblings should be frequent and of a similar nature as that which existed prior to the adoption. If the child adoptee or known siblings of the child adoptee are represented by an attorney or guardian ad litem in a proceeding under this chapter or in any other child custody proceeding, the court shall inquire of each attorney and guardian ad litem regarding the potential benefits of continuing contact between the siblings and the potential detriments of severing contact.
RCW 26.33.360. Petition by natural parent to set aside adoption—Costs—Time limit
(1) If a natural parent unsuccessfully petitions to have an adoption set aside, the court shall award costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, to the adoptive parent.
(2) If a natural parent successfully petitions to have an adoption set aside, the natural parent shall be liable to the adoptive parent for both the actual expenditures and the value of services rendered by the adoptive parents in caring for the child.
(3) A natural parent who has executed a written consent to adoption shall not bring an action to set aside an adoption more than one year after the date the court approved the written consent.
What does the Health Dpt do if the adoptive parent doesn’t require a confidential intermediary for contact? Does the health dpt. attempt to contact the adoptee with information given by the adoptive parent or do they wait for the adoptee to request it?
Jane, the WA Dept of Health does not make contact between adoptees and their birth families. They do hold a health questionnaire for the adoptee if the adoptee ever asks for it, but this is completely voluntary. The adoptive parents would not be contacted unless there are extenuating circumstances while the adoptee is under the age of 21. You may be confusing adoptive parents with birth/biological parents. The birth parent (usually the mother, the father only if he was on the OBC) can register with the Dept of Health with a contact preference form. They are required to also complete and health questionnaire at that time.
My birth father was adopted in the state of Washington, how do I go about finding his birth certificate and potentially finding relatives.
Hello. I represent WARM – Washington Adoption Reunion Movement. We are court-approved Confidential Intermediaries who do just what you are asking about. We have been reuniting families since 1976. See our website for more information.
I recently learned my grandmother gave a child up for adoption in 1946. She passed away in 2013. Is there a way I, as her descendant, could request a copy of the OBC for the adopted child?
Brandt, I work for WARM (see website). No one but the adoptee themselves can request their OBC, but with a court order we could request it on your behalf. If your aim is to find/reunite with the adoptee (your uncle or aunt) we act as court-approved intermediaries. The court will not approve of the release of the OBC without written consent of contact unless the adoptee is deceased.
https://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/VitalRecords/Adoptions/OriginalPreAdoptionBirthCertificate
WA OBC
We adopted out two boys here in CA. Their siblings were adopted in CA as well, but then their adopted parents moved to WA and refused to allow the children to have contact. They were supposed to have regular weekly contact and monthly visits.
What can be done in WA to allow the kids to have contact with their siblings? We only learned where they were after many years of trying to find out where they went.