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Adoptee Citizenship: Call to Action

ACTION NEEDED: Contact your U.S. Senators and ask them to support US citizenship for all intercountry adoptees in the United States. This action is ongoing.

IT HAS BEEN

8014

days since Congress failed to secure US citizenship for all adopted people brought to the United States.

Background. Two identical bills are pending in the U.S. Congress: HR1593 and S967—as well as an amendment to a larger bill that will also provide US citizenship to thousands of intercountry adoptees. These provisions would amend U.S. immigration law to repeal a loophole that has operated to deny automatic U.S. citizenship to thousands of intercountry adoptees who were adopted by U.S. citizen parents, some more than sixty years ago. While most people presume that children adopted by U.S. citizen parents receive automatic U.S. citizenship at the time of the adoption, this has not been the reality for thousands of intercountry adoptees. Many are now adults and do not have U.S. citizenship—and some have been deported. These provisions aim to fix the the issues that intercountry adoptees have today in trying to secure U.S. citizenship.

Actions: Contact Your Senators | Tweet to Your Senators

We need your help to convince your Senators to support important and life-saving legislation. Read on to learn how to contact them and what to say.

FAQ. If you need a more thorough breakdown of the issue and where we are today, I’ve got updates and a FAQ here.


Contact Your Senators Today

How to Contact Your Senators and What to Say. If you don’t know who your US Senator is, simply type the name of your state into the Search box below and the senators for your state will pop up. Please call their offices and indicate that you support fixing US citizenship for intercountry adoptees who remain without it. Explain the reasons why fixing this is overdue and why it is important to you. Finally, ask that the senator support including intercountry adoptee citizenship provisions in the Congressional negotiation of the Bipartisan Innovation Act.

If you don’t want to call, click on the Go link next to the senator’s contact information below and you should receive a contact form that the senator’s office uses. Use that form to enter your name and contact information and your opinion on the ACA and why it is important to you as a constituent that it be enacted. Make sure you ask the senator’s office to support the bill and to let you know the senator’s position on the bill.

U.S. Senator Contact Information

Note: Senators in bold with an * next to their names are current co-sponsors of the ACA. If that is one of your senators, you can contact them and thank them for their support while also requesting information on the current status of negotiations.

NameStatePartyPhoneContact
Richard C. ShelbyAlabamaR(202) 224-5744Go
Tommy TubervilleAlabamaR(202) 224-4124Go
Lisa Murkowski*AlaskaR(202) 224-6665Go
Dan SullivanAlaskaR(202) 224-3004Go
Kyrsten SinemaArizonaD(202) 224-4521Go
Mark KellyArizonaD(202) 224-2235Go
John BoozmanArkansasR(202) 224-4843Go
Tom CottonArkansasR(202) 224-2353Go
Dianne Feinstein*CaliforniaD(202) 224-3841Go
Alex PadillaCaliforniaD(202) 224-3553Go
Michael F. BennetColoradoD(202) 224-5852Go
John W. HickenlooperColoradoD(202) 224-5941Go
Richard BlumenthalConnecticutD(202) 224-2823Go
Christopher MurphyConnecticutD(202) 224-4041Go
Thomas R. CarperDelawareD(202) 224-2441Go
Christopher A. CoonsDelawareD(202) 224-5042Go
Marco RubioFloridaR(202) 224-3041Go
Rick ScottFloridaR(202) 224-5274Go
Jon OssoffGeorgiaD(202) 224-3521Go
Raphael G. WarnockGeorgiaD(202) 224-3643Go
Mazie K. Hirono*HawaiiD(202) 224-6361Go
Brian SchatzHawaiiD(202) 224-3934Go
James E. RischIdahoR(202) 224-2752Go
Mike CrapoIdahoR(202) 224-6142Go
Richard J. DurbinIllinoisD(202) 224-2152Go
Tammy Duckworth*IllinoisD(202) 224-2854Go
Todd YoungIndianaR(202) 224-5623Go
Mike Braun*IndianaR(202) 224-4814Go
Chuck GrassleyIowaR(202) 224-3744Go
Joni Ernst*IowaR(202) 224-3254Go
Jerry MoranKansasR(202) 224-6521Go
Roger MarshallKansasR(202) 224-4774Go
Mitch McConnellKentuckyR(202) 224-2541Go
Rand PaulKentuckyR(202) 224-4343Go
Bill CassidyLouisianaR(202) 224-5824Go
John KennedyLouisianaR(202) 224-4623Go
Susan M. Collins*MaineR(202) 224-2523Go
Angus S. King, Jr.MaineI(202) 224-5344Go
Benjamin L. CardinMarylandD(202) 224-4524Go
Chris Van HollenMarylandD(202) 224-4654Go
Edward J. MarkeyMassachusettsD(202) 224-2742Go
Elizabeth Warren*MassachusettsD(202) 224-4543Go
Debbie StabenowMichiganD(202) 224-4822Go
Gary C. PetersMichiganD(202) 224-6221Go
Amy Klobuchar*MinnesotaD(202) 224-3244Go
Tina SmithMinnesotaD(202) 224-5641Go
Roger F. Wicker*MississippiR(202) 224-6253Go
Cindy Hyde-SmithMississippiR(202) 224-5054Go
Roy Blunt*MissouriR(202) 224-5721Go
Josh HawleyMissouriR(202) 224-6154Go
Jon TesterMontanaD(202) 224-2644Go
Steve DainesMontanaR(202) 224-2651Go
Deb FischerNebraskaR(202) 224-6551Go
Ben SasseNebraskaR(202) 224-4224Go
Catherine Cortez MastoNevadaD(202) 224-3542Go
Jacky RosenNevadaD(202) 224-6244Go
Jeanne ShaheenNew HampshireD(202) 224-2841Go
Margaret Wood HassanNew HampshireD(202) 224-3324Go
Bob MenendezNew JerseyD(202) 224-4744Go
Cory A. BookerNew JerseyD(202) 224-3224Go
Martin HeinrichNew MexicoD(202) 224-5521Go
Ben Ray LujánNew MexicoD(202) 224-6621Go
Kirsten E. GillibrandNew YorkD(202) 224-4451Go
Charles E. SchumerNew YorkD(202) 224-6542Go
Richard BurrNorth CarolinaR(202) 224-3154Go
Thom TillisNorth CarolinaR(202) 224-6342Go
John HoevenNorth DakotaR(202) 224-2551Go
Kevin CramerNorth DakotaR(202) 224-2043Go
Sherrod BrownOhioD(202) 224-2315Go
Rob PortmanOhioR(202) 224-3353Go
James M. InhofeOklahomaR(202) 224-4721Go
James LankfordOklahomaR(202) 224-5754Go
Jeff MerkleyOregonD(202) 224-3753Go
Ron WydenOregonD(202) 224-5244Go
Robert P. Casey, Jr.PennsylvaniaD(202) 224-6324Go
Patrick J. ToomeyPennsylvaniaR(202) 224-4254Go
Sheldon WhitehouseRhode IslandD(202) 224-2921Go
Jack ReedRhode IslandD(202) 224-4642Go
Lindsey GrahamSouth CarolinaR(202) 224-5972Go
Tim ScottSouth CarolinaR(202) 224-6121Go
John ThuneSouth DakotaR(202) 224-2321Go
Mike RoundsSouth DakotaR(202) 224-5842Go
Marsha BlackburnTennesseeR(202) 224-3344Go
Bill HagertyTennesseeR(202) 224-4944Go
John CornynTexasR(202) 224-2934Go
Ted CruzTexasR(202) 224-5922Go
Mike LeeUtahR(202) 224-5444Go
Mitt RomneyUtahR(202) 224-5251Go
Bernie SandersVermontI(202) 224-5141Go
Patrick J. LeahyVermontD(202) 224-4242Go
Mark R. WarnerVirginiaD(202) 224-2023Go
Tim KaineVirginiaD(202) 224-4024Go
Maria CantwellWashingtonD(202) 224-3441Go
Patty MurrayWashingtonD(202) 224-2621Go
Joe Manchin, IIIWest VirginiaD(202) 224-3954Go
Shelley Moore CapitoWest VirginiaR(202) 224-6472Go
Tammy Baldwin*WisconsinD(202) 224-5653Go
Ron JohnsonWisconsinR(202) 224-5323Go
John BarrassoWyomingR(202) 224-6441Go
Cynthia M. LummisWyomingR(202) 224-3424Go

Bonus Action: Share/Tweet to Your Senators

Look for your Senators below (they are sorted alphabetically by state) and copy and paste the suggested tweet for each of your senators into your Twitter feed. The tweets are targeted for each state and senator, and the end result should look like this. Note: suggested tweets are modified depending on whether the Senator already sponsors or supports citizenship provisions or not.

Screenshot of Twitter post asking Tina Smith to support fixing US citizenship for intercountry adoptees to the United States. The tweet says "Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Minnesota do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?"

Thank you, Senator Murkowski (@LisaMurkowski), for your leadership in working to fix the loophole in federal law that denies US citizenship to adopted people in the United States. Please keep up the good work. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Alaska do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Sullivan (@SenDanSullivan), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Alabama do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Shelby (@SenShelby), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Alabama do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Tuberville (@SenTuberville), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Arkansas do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Boozman (@JohnBoozman), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Arkansas do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Cotton (@SenTomCotton), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Arizona do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Sinema (@SenatorSinema), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Arizona do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Kelly (@SenMarkKelly), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Thank you, Senator Feinstein (@SenFeinstein),for your leadership in working to fix the loophole in federal law that denies US citizenship to adopted people in the United States. Please keep up the good work. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in California do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Padilla (@SenAlexPadilla), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Colorado do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Bennet (@SenatorBennet), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Colorado do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Hickenlooper (@SenatorHick), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Connecticut do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Connecticut do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Murphy (@senmurphyoffice), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Delaware do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Carper (@SenatorCarper), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Delaware do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Coons (@ChrisCoons), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Florida do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Rubio (@SenRubioPress), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Florida do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Scott (@SenRickScott), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Georgia do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Ossoff (@SenOssoff), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Georgia do not have U.S. citizenship today yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Warnock (@SenatorWarnock), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Thank you, Senator Hirono (@MazieHirono), for your leadership in working to fix the loophole in federal law that denies US citizenship to adopted people in the United States. Please keep up the good work. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Hawaii do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Schatz (@SenBrianSchatz), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Note: Senator Chuck Grassley is a staunch opponent to U.S. citizenship for all intercountry adoptees in the United States. He has been excluded from this action.


Thank you, Senator Ernst (@SenJoniErnst), for your leadership in working to fix the loophole in federal law that denies US citizenship to adopted people in the United States. Please keep up the good work. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Idaho do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Risch (@SenatorRisch), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Idaho do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Crapo (@MikeCrapo), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Illinois do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Durbin (@SenatorDurbin), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Thank you, Senator Duckworth (@SenDuckworth), for your leadership in working to fix the loophole in federal law that denies US citizenship to adopted people in the United States. Please keep up the good work. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Indiana do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Young (@SenToddYoung), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Thank you, Senator Braun (@SenatorBraun), for your leadership in working to fix the loophole in federal law that denies US citizenship to adopted people in the United States. Please keep up the good work. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Kansas do not have U.S. citizenship today yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Moran (@JerryMoran), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Kansas do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Marshall (@SenatorMarshall), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Kentucky do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator McConnell (@McConnellPress), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Kentucky do not have U.S. citizenship today yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Paul (@RandPaul), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Louisiana do not have U.S. citizenship today yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Cassidy (@SenBillCassidy), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Louisiana do not have U.S. citizenship today yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Kennedy (@SenJohnKennedy), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Massachusetts do not have U.S. citizenship today yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Markey (@SenMarkey), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Thank you, Senator Warren (@SenWarren), for your leadership in working to fix the loophole in federal law that denies US citizenship to adopted people in the United States. Please keep up the good work. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Maryland do not have U.S. citizenship today yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Cardin (@SenatorCardin), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Maryland do not have U.S. citizenship today yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Thank you, Senator Collins (@SenatorCollins), for your leadership in working to fix the loophole in federal law that denies US citizenship to adopted people in the United States. Please keep up the good work. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Maine do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator King (@SenAngusKing), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Michigan do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Stabenow (@SenStabenow), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Michigan do not have U.S. citizenship today yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Peters (@SenGaryPeters), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Thank you, Senator Klobuchar (@SenAmyKlobuchar), for your leadership in working to fix the loophole in federal law that denies US citizenship to adopted people in the United States. Please keep up the good work. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Minnesota do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Smith (@SenTinaSmith), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Thank you, Senator Blunt (@RoyBlunt), for your leadership in working to fix the loophole in federal law that denies US citizenship to adopted people in the United States. Please keep up the good work. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in Missouri do not have U.S. citizenship today yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Hawley (@SenHawleyPress), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Thank you, Senator Wicker (@SenatorWicker), for your leadership in working to fix the loophole in federal law that denies US citizenship to adopted people in the United States. Please keep up the good work. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Mississippi do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Hyde-Smith (@SenHydeSmith), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Montana do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Tester (@SenatorTester), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Montana do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Daines (@SteveDaines), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in North Carolina do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Burr (@SenatorBurr), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in North Carolina do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Tillis (@senthomtillis), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in North Dakota do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Hoeven (@SenJohnHoeven), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in North Dakota do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Cramer (@SenKevinCramer), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Nebraska do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Fischer (@SenatorFischer), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Nebraska do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Sasse (@SenSasse), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in New Hampshire do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Shaheen (@SenatorShaheen), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in New Hampshire do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Hassan (@Senatorhassan), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in New Jersey do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Menendez (@SenatorMenendez), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in New Jersey do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Booker (@SenBooker), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in New Mexico do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Heinrich (@MartinHeinrich), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in New Mexico do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Lujan (@SenatorLujan), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Nevada do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Cortez Masto (@sencortezmasto), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Nevada do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Rosen (@SenJackyRosen), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in New York do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Gillibrand (@GillibrandNY), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in New York do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Schumer (@SenSchumer), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Ohio do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Brown (@SenSherrodBrown), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Ohio do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Portman (@SenRobPortman), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Oklahoma do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Inhofe (@InhofePress), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Oklahoma do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Lankford (@SenatorLankford), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Oregon do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Oregon do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Wyden (@RonWyden), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Pennsylvania do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Casey, Jr. (@SenBobCasey), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Pennsylvania do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Toomey (@SenToomey), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Rhode Island do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Rhode Island do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Reed (@SenJackReed), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in South Carolina do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Graham (@GrahamBlog), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in South Carolina do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Scott (@SenatorTimScott), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in South Dakota do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Thune (@SenJohnThune), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in South Dakota do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Rounds (@SenatorRounds), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Tennessee do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Tennessee do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Hagerty (@SenatorHagerty), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Texas do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Cornyn (@JohnCornyn), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Texas do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Cruz (@SenTedCruz), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Utah do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Lee (@SenMikeLee), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Utah do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Romney (@SenatorRomney), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Virginia do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Warner (@MarkWarner), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Virginia do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Kaine (@), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Vermont do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Sanders (@SenSanders), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Vermont do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Leahy (@SenatorLeahy), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Washington do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Cantwell (@SenatorCantwell), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Washington do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Murray (@PattyMurray), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Thank you, Senator Baldwin (@SenatorBaldwin),for your leadership in working to fix the loophole in federal law that denies US citizenship to adopted people in the United States. Please keep up the good work. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Wisconsin do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Johnson (@SenRonJohnson), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Many intercountry adoptees in West Virginia do not have U.S. citizenship today yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. That makes zero sense.

Senator Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in West Virginia do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Capito (@SenCapito), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Wyoming do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Barrasso (@SenJohnBarrasso), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/


Adopted people are being deported and many intercountry adoptees in Wyoming do not have U.S. citizenship today. Yet they were adopted as children by U.S. citizen parents. Wha?

Senator Lummis (@SenLummis), let’s fix this today. https://adopteerightslaw.com/faq-adoptee-citizenship-act-2021/

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Adoptee Rights Law Center

The Adoptee Rights Law Center PLLC is an adoptee-driven law firm founded by Gregory Luce, a Minnesota lawyer who was also born and adopted in the District of Columbia.

Contact Me

Legal representation limited to issues involving Minnesota law and federal immigration law.

Latest Posts

  • Indiana SB345: A Recipe for Corruption
  • New Massachusetts Law: FAQ
  • Louisiana’s Equal Rights Law: FAQ
  • Tennessee Dumps Its Contact Veto
  • Idaho’s Discriminatory Law: A FAQ

Contact Info

Adoptee Rights Law Center PLLC
PO Box 19561
Minneapolis Minnesota 55419
T: (612) 221-3947
E: [email protected]

Legal representation limited to issues involving Minnesota law and federal immigration law.

The OBC: Maps

Alabama. Adult adoptees have the unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates, beginning at age 19. Read more.
Alaska. Adult adoptees have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their original birth certificates, beginning at age 18. Read More.
Arizona. Arizona implemented a "donut hole" provision in a new law, which became effective on January 1, 2022. It allows only some adoptees to request the OBC--- based on their date of birth---but denies the right to obtain the OBC to the vast majority of Arizona-born adopted people. Read more.
Arkansas.While Arkansas law allows adult adoptees to request their adoption files, the request is subject to a birthparent's ability to redact their names on the original birth certificates. A FAQ with information about the law and its requirements and discriminatory limitations is here.
California. Adult adoptees do not have a right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Adoptees must petition the court and show “good and compelling cause” in order to obtain a copy of their own original birth record. Read more.
Colorado. Colorado-born adult adopted people have a right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. An adopted person who is at least 18 years of age may apply for and receive a non-certified copy of their original birth certificate through the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. Read more.
Connecticut. Connecticut-born adult adopted people have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. The right also extends to the adult children and grandchildren of the adopted person. Read more.
Delaware. While Delaware-born adopted people who are at least 21 years of age may request a copy of their OBCs, birthparents may legally veto their release, otherwise known as a "disclosure veto." Read more.
District of Columbia. District of Columbia courts control all aspects of releasing an OBC or any identifying information, whether from court records or from vital records. A court order is required and, depending on the date of adoption, may involve federal court or the D.C. Superior Court. Read more.
Florida. While Florida-born adult adopted people may apply for a copy of the original birth record, it takes signed affidavits of consent from birthparents---or death certificates showing that birthparents are deceased---to compel release of the OBC. Otherwise, release is allowed only by court order. Read More.
Georgia. Georgia-born adult adopted people must secure a court order to obtain a copy of their original birth certificates. Read more.
Hawaii. Adopted people born born in Hawaii do not have an unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificates. People adopted in Hawaii may request and obtain their court adoption records, which may include an original birth certificate. The law does not apply to people born in Hawaii but adopted in a different state. Read more.
Idaho. An OBC is available only by court order or conditionally through a state-operated “voluntary adoption registry.” Disclosure of an original birth certificate through the registry is subject to consent of the parties and may require the consent of both birth parents. Additional rights through the registry are available to people adopted on or after July 1, 2022, but those adoptees must also be at least 18 years of age. Read more.
Illinois. The state has implemented a complex tiered date-based system to request and obtain a birth record, using the adoption registry to facilitate release of OBCs and other information. The date of birth of an Illinois-born adopted person determines who has a right to an OBC or who may be subject to a birthparent’s request to redact identifying information on the OBC. Read more.
Indiana. The state has a complex and discriminatory framework that may allow release of specifically defined "identifying information," but a birthparent may prohibit release of that information at any time, even after the parent's death. Read more.
Iowa. While Iowa-born adopted peoole who are at least 18 years of age may apply for a copy of their own original birth certificates, release of the record is subject birthparent redaction requests. Read More.
Kansas. While original birth certificates may be sealed after an adoption, Kansas-born adult adoptees who are at least 18 years of age have always had an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. Read more.
Kentucky. A court order is required for an Kentucky-born adult adopted person to secure a copy of their own original birth certificate. Read more.
Louisiana. All Louisiana-born adopted people, at age 24, have an unrestricted right to request and obtain a copy of their own original birth certificates. Read more.
Maine. Adult adoptees have the unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. Maine-born adopted people must be at least 18 years of age before requesting the OBC. Read more.
Maryland. For all practical purposes, Maryland should be defined as a "restricted" state: there are so few current Maryland-born adult adopted  people who may qualify under its law, which gives preference to adoptions finalized on or after January 1, 2000. Because the adopted person must also be at least 21 years of age to request the OBC under the date-based qualification, the law effectively applies only to those adopted people who are recently turning 21 (or were older at the time of their adoption). In addition, birthparents under current law may at any time veto disclosure of birth records or identifying information. Maryland-born adopted people whose adoptions were finalized before January 1, 2000, must secure a court order to obtain a copy of their own original birth records. Read more.
Massachusetts. The Bay State in 2022 became the 12th state in the U.S. to affirm or restore the right of all Massachusetts-born adult adopted people to request and obtain a copy of their own original birth certificates. Read more.
Michigan. Michigan requires the use of a “Central Adoption Registry” to process information and to determine whether an adoptee should or should not get “identifying information,” which does not initially include an original birth certificate. Depending on the date of terminatuion of a birthparent's parent rights, a birthparent may deny access to identifying information or withhold access by saying nothing. In most cases (those in the donut hole years) no identifying information---or the OBC---may be released to the adoptee, except by court order or if the birthparent is deceased. Read more.
Minnesota. The right of Minnesota-born adopted people to obtain their own original birth certificate in all cases requires the affirmative written consent (or death) of birthparents to release the record. The state also uses a complex, confidential, and often expensive intermediary system involving the department of health, the department of human services, and individual adoption agencies. For these reasons it is considered a Restricted State. Read more.
Mississippi. Mississippi-born adult adopted people do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. It takes a court order to obtain the record. Read more.
Missouri. The state has a complex framework that makes the original birth certificate subject to birth parent disclosure vetoes, some of which may extend beyond the death of the parent. Read more.
Montana. Montana maintains a somewhat complex tiered system that uses an adoptee’s date of adoption as the determinant of whether an adopted person may obtain their own original birth certificate. While an original birth certificate may be available more easily to adoptees who are at least 30 years of age, court orders may be required for younger adoptees. In all cases, if a birthparent requests that a court order be required, the OBC will not be released without a court order. Read more.
Nebraska. Nebraska law is incredibly complex and confusing. Generally, any right of a Nebraska-born adult adopted person to obtain a copy of their own OBC depends on the date of an adoptee’s relinquishment and also whether a birth parent—and in some cases an adoptive parent—has affirmatively consented to disclosure or has filed a “nonconsent” form objecting to the OBC’s release. Read more.
Nevada. Nevada-born adult adopted people must secure a court order to obtain a copy of their own original birth certificate. Read more.
New Hampshire. Adoptees who are at least 18 years of age have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. The state also allows birth parents to file a contact preference form and/or health history questionnaire, neither of which will restrict the right of adult adoptees to obtain their OBCs. Read more.
New Jersey is best described as a "limited time redaction" state, as the law in 2016 provided birthparents a limited amount of time to request redaction of their information from the adoptee's original birth certificate. Thus, while most New Jersey-born adult adopted people now have a right to obtain their own original birth certificates, approximately 560 birthparents filed redaction requests, leading to redaction of the parents’ identifying information on the OBC. Those 560 adoptees have no right to obtain an unredacted original birth certificate except through a court order. Read more.
New Mexico. A New Mexico-born adult adopted person must demonstrate good cause to convince a court to release a copy of the adoptee's own original birth certificate. Read more.
New York. Since 2020, adult adopted persons and their descendants have an unrestricted right to request and obtain a certified copy of the adopted person's own original birth certificate. Read more.
North Carolina. A court order is required for the release of any identifying information, including an OBC. A North Carolina-born adult adopted person must specifically request the OBC in a court action that seeks the release of identifying information. Read more.
North Dakota. Adult adopted people who were born in North Dakota do not have a right to request and obtain a copy of their own original birth certificates. It takes a court order to release it. Read more.
Ohio. Not all Ohip-born adult adopted people are treated equally. While legislative reforms in the last decade removed a number of discriminatory provisions, significant restrictions remain, including birthparent redaction and disclosure vetoes. Read more.
Oklahoma. Currently, nearly all Oklahoma-born adult adopted must obtain a court order and show good cause for release of the OBC. While Oklahoma-born adopted people whose adoptions were finalized after November 1, 1997, do not require a court order, requests for such OBCs are subject to birth parent disclosure vetoes and redaction. Read more.
Oregon. Oregon-born adopted people who are at least 21 years of age have an unrestricted right to obtain a copy of their own original birth certificates. Oregon law also allows adoptees at age 18 to obtain specific records in the court adoption proceedings. Read more.
Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania-born adopted people who are at least 18 years of age—and who must be high school graduates, possess a GED, or are legally withdrawn from school— may request "summary information" from their original birth record (but not a copy of the original record itself). Birthparents, however may redact identifying information on the OBC by filing a “name redaction request.” Redaction requests may be filed or withdrawn at any time and do not extend beyond a filing parent’s death. Read more.
Rhode Island. Adult adopted people and their descendants have an unrestricted right to request and obtain the adopted person's own original birth certificate at age 18. Read more.
South Carolina. South Carolina-born adult adopted people must either obtain a court order or birthparent permission to obtain an unredacted original birth record. Read more.
South Dakota. South Dakota-born adult adopted people do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain a copy of their own original birth certificate directly from the state's vital records department. Nevertheless, upon "maturity" an adoptee may petition the court for release of the adopted person's court adoption records, which will typically lead to or include release of the OBC. Read more.
Tennessee. Nearly all adoptees who are 21 years of age have a right to request and obtain their their own “adoption records,” which typically include original birth certificates. The only exception to this right is for an adult adoptee whose birth parent was a victim of rape or incest—in such cases the written consent of the birth parent is required for release of records. Read more.
Texas. Release of the OBC to a Texas-born adult adopted person requires a court order, with one significant exception: adoptees who are at least 18 years of age and who know the names of their birthparents listed on the record may obtain a non-certified copy of their own original birth certificate upon request. Read more.
Utah. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. While adoptees 18 years of age or older may request their birth records, release depends on participating in a voluntary registry as well as obtaining the consent of birthparents, unless a birthparent is dead. Read more.
Vermont. Vermont-born adult adopted people do not currently have an unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificates. The state, however, recently enacted legislation that will make the OBC available upon request to all Vermont-born adult adopted people, beginning on July 1, 2023. Read more.
Virginia. Release of an OBC to a Virginia-born adult adopted person requires either a) a state agency’s decision, upon good cause shown, to release identifying information from the adoption records; or b) a court order upon good cause shown. Read more.
Washington. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificates. An OBC is available through the Department of Health but release is subject to birth parent disclosure vetoes as well as to corrupt contact preference forms that allow birthparents to deny release of the OBC. Disclosure vetoes and contact preference forms expire on the death of the birth parent. Read more.
West Virginia. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificates. A court order, requiring good cause, is required before the release of an OBC. Read more.

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.

Wyoming. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to obtain their original birth certificates. It takes a court order for release of an OBC, with no specific standards or procedures outlined in seeking such an order. Read more.
US OBC Rights 2022 Placeholder
US OBC Rights 2022
Alabama. Adult adoptees have the unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates, beginning at age 19. Read more.
Alaska. Adult adoptees have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their original birth certificates, beginning at age 18. Read More.
Arizona. Arizona implemented a "donut hole" provision in a new law, which became effective on January 1, 2022. It allows only some adoptees to request the OBC--- based on their date of birth---but denies the right to obtain the OBC to the vast majority of Arizona-born adopted people. Read more.
Arkansas.While Arkansas law allows adult adoptees to request their adoption files, the request is subject to a birthparent's ability to redact their names on the original birth certificates. A FAQ with information about the law and its requirements and discriminatory limitations is here.
California. Adult adoptees do not have a right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Adoptees must petition the court and show “good and compelling cause” in order to obtain a copy of their own original birth record. Read more.
Colorado. Colorado-born adult adopted people have a right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. An adopted person who is at least 18 years of age may apply for and receive a non-certified copy of their original birth certificate through the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. Read more.
Connecticut. Connecticut-born adult adopted people have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. The right also extends to the adult children and grandchildren of the adopted person. Read more.
Delaware. While Delaware-born adopted people who are at least 21 years of age may request a copy of their OBCs, birthparents may legally veto their release, otherwise known as a "disclosure veto." Read more.
District of Columbia. District of Columbia courts control all aspects of releasing an OBC or any identifying information, whether from court records or from vital records. A court order is required and, depending on the date of adoption, may involve federal court or the D.C. Superior Court. Read more.
Florida. While Florida-born adult adopted people may apply for a copy of the original birth record, it takes signed affidavits of consent from birthparents---or death certificates showing that birthparents are deceased---to compel release of the OBC. Otherwise, release is allowed only by court order. Read More.
Georgia. Georgia-born adult adopted people must secure a court order to obtain a copy of their original birth certificates. Read more.
Hawaii. Adopted people born born in Hawaii do not have an unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificates. People adopted in Hawaii may request and obtain their court adoption records, which may include an original birth certificate. The law does not apply to people born in Hawaii but adopted in a different state. Read more.
Idaho. An OBC is available only by court order or conditionally through a state-operated “voluntary adoption registry.” Disclosure of an original birth certificate through the registry is subject to consent of the parties and may require the consent of both birth parents. Additional rights through the registry are available to people adopted on or after July 1, 2022, but those adoptees must also be at least 18 years of age. Read more.
Illinois. The state has implemented a complex tiered date-based system to request and obtain a birth record, using the adoption registry to facilitate release of OBCs and other information. The date of birth of an Illinois-born adopted person determines who has a right to an OBC or who may be subject to a birthparent’s request to redact identifying information on the OBC. Read more.
Indiana. The state has a complex and discriminatory framework that may allow release of specifically defined "identifying information," but a birthparent may prohibit release of that information at any time, even after the parent's death. Read more.
Iowa. While Iowa-born adopted peoole who are at least 18 years of age may apply for a copy of their own original birth certificates, release of the record is subject birthparent redaction requests. Read More.
Kansas. While original birth certificates may be sealed after an adoption, Kansas-born adult adoptees who are at least 18 years of age have always had an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. Read more.
Kentucky. A court order is required for an Kentucky-born adult adopted person to secure a copy of their own original birth certificate. Read more.
Louisiana. All Louisiana-born adopted people, at age 24, have an unrestricted right to request and obtain a copy of their own original birth certificates. Read more.
Maine. Adult adoptees have the unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. Maine-born adopted people must be at least 18 years of age before requesting the OBC. Read more.
Maryland. For all practical purposes, Maryland should be defined as a "restricted" state: there are so few current Maryland-born adult adopted  people who may qualify under its law, which gives preference to adoptions finalized on or after January 1, 2000. Because the adopted person must also be at least 21 years of age to request the OBC under the date-based qualification, the law effectively applies only to those adopted people who are recently turning 21 (or were older at the time of their adoption). In addition, birthparents under current law may at any time veto disclosure of birth records or identifying information. Maryland-born adopted people whose adoptions were finalized before January 1, 2000, must secure a court order to obtain a copy of their own original birth records. Read more.
Massachusetts. The Bay State in 2022 became the 12th state in the U.S. to affirm or restore the right of all Massachusetts-born adult adopted people to request and obtain a copy of their own original birth certificates. Read more.
Michigan. Michigan requires the use of a “Central Adoption Registry” to process information and to determine whether an adoptee should or should not get “identifying information,” which does not initially include an original birth certificate. Depending on the date of terminatuion of a birthparent's parent rights, a birthparent may deny access to identifying information or withhold access by saying nothing. In most cases (those in the donut hole years) no identifying information---or the OBC---may be released to the adoptee, except by court order or if the birthparent is deceased. Read more.
Minnesota. The right of Minnesota-born adopted people to obtain their own original birth certificate in all cases requires the affirmative written consent (or death) of birthparents to release the record. The state also uses a complex, confidential, and often expensive intermediary system involving the department of health, the department of human services, and individual adoption agencies. For these reasons it is considered a Restricted State. Read more.
Mississippi. Mississippi-born adult adopted people do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. It takes a court order to obtain the record. Read more.
Missouri. The state has a complex framework that makes the original birth certificate subject to birth parent disclosure vetoes, some of which may extend beyond the death of the parent. Read more.
Montana. Montana maintains a somewhat complex tiered system that uses an adoptee’s date of adoption as the determinant of whether an adopted person may obtain their own original birth certificate. While an original birth certificate may be available more easily to adoptees who are at least 30 years of age, court orders may be required for younger adoptees. In all cases, if a birthparent requests that a court order be required, the OBC will not be released without a court order. Read more.
Nebraska. Nebraska law is incredibly complex and confusing. Generally, any right of a Nebraska-born adult adopted person to obtain a copy of their own OBC depends on the date of an adoptee’s relinquishment and also whether a birth parent—and in some cases an adoptive parent—has affirmatively consented to disclosure or has filed a “nonconsent” form objecting to the OBC’s release. Read more.
Nevada. Nevada-born adult adopted people must secure a court order to obtain a copy of their own original birth certificate. Read more.
New Hampshire. Adoptees who are at least 18 years of age have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. The state also allows birth parents to file a contact preference form and/or health history questionnaire, neither of which will restrict the right of adult adoptees to obtain their OBCs. Read more.
New Jersey is best described as a "limited time redaction" state, as the law in 2016 provided birthparents a limited amount of time to request redaction of their information from the adoptee's original birth certificate. Thus, while most New Jersey-born adult adopted people now have a right to obtain their own original birth certificates, approximately 560 birthparents filed redaction requests, leading to redaction of the parents’ identifying information on the OBC. Those 560 adoptees have no right to obtain an unredacted original birth certificate except through a court order. Read more.
New Mexico. A New Mexico-born adult adopted person must demonstrate good cause to convince a court to release a copy of the adoptee's own original birth certificate. Read more.
New York. Since 2020, adult adopted persons and their descendants have an unrestricted right to request and obtain a certified copy of the adopted person's own original birth certificate. Read more.
North Carolina. A court order is required for the release of any identifying information, including an OBC. A North Carolina-born adult adopted person must specifically request the OBC in a court action that seeks the release of identifying information. Read more.
North Dakota. Adult adopted people who were born in North Dakota do not have a right to request and obtain a copy of their own original birth certificates. It takes a court order to release it. Read more.
Ohio. Not all Ohip-born adult adopted people are treated equally. While legislative reforms in the last decade removed a number of discriminatory provisions, significant restrictions remain, including birthparent redaction and disclosure vetoes. Read more.
Oklahoma. Currently, nearly all Oklahoma-born adult adopted must obtain a court order and show good cause for release of the OBC. While Oklahoma-born adopted people whose adoptions were finalized after November 1, 1997, do not require a court order, requests for such OBCs are subject to birth parent disclosure vetoes and redaction. Read more.
Oregon. Oregon-born adopted people who are at least 21 years of age have an unrestricted right to obtain a copy of their own original birth certificates. Oregon law also allows adoptees at age 18 to obtain specific records in the court adoption proceedings. Read more.
Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania-born adopted people who are at least 18 years of age—and who must be high school graduates, possess a GED, or are legally withdrawn from school— may request "summary information" from their original birth record (but not a copy of the original record itself). Birthparents, however may redact identifying information on the OBC by filing a “name redaction request.” Redaction requests may be filed or withdrawn at any time and do not extend beyond a filing parent’s death. Read more.
Rhode Island. Adult adopted people and their descendants have an unrestricted right to request and obtain the adopted person's own original birth certificate at age 18. Read more.
South Carolina. South Carolina-born adult adopted people must either obtain a court order or birthparent permission to obtain an unredacted original birth record. Read more.
South Dakota. South Dakota-born adult adopted people do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain a copy of their own original birth certificate directly from the state's vital records department. Nevertheless, upon "maturity" an adoptee may petition the court for release of the adopted person's court adoption records, which will typically lead to or include release of the OBC. Read more.
Tennessee. Nearly all adoptees who are 21 years of age have a right to request and obtain their their own “adoption records,” which typically include original birth certificates. The only exception to this right is for an adult adoptee whose birth parent was a victim of rape or incest—in such cases the written consent of the birth parent is required for release of records. Read more.
Texas. Release of the OBC to a Texas-born adult adopted person requires a court order, with one significant exception: adoptees who are at least 18 years of age and who know the names of their birthparents listed on the record may obtain a non-certified copy of their own original birth certificate upon request. Read more.
Utah. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. While adoptees 18 years of age or older may request their birth records, release depends on participating in a voluntary registry as well as obtaining the consent of birthparents, unless a birthparent is dead. Read more.
Vermont. Vermont-born adult adopted people do not currently have an unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificates. The state, however, recently enacted legislation that will make the OBC available upon request to all Vermont-born adult adopted people, beginning on July 1, 2023. Read more.
Virginia. Release of an OBC to a Virginia-born adult adopted person requires either a) a state agency’s decision, upon good cause shown, to release identifying information from the adoption records; or b) a court order upon good cause shown. Read more.
Washington. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificates. An OBC is available through the Department of Health but release is subject to birth parent disclosure vetoes as well as to corrupt contact preference forms that allow birthparents to deny release of the OBC. Disclosure vetoes and contact preference forms expire on the death of the birth parent. Read more.
West Virginia. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificates. A court order, requiring good cause, is required before the release of an OBC. Read more.

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.

Wyoming. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to obtain their original birth certificates. It takes a court order for release of an OBC, with no specific standards or procedures outlined in seeking such an order. Read more.

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OBC: State Status & Numbers

12 UNRESTRICTED
21 COMPROMISED
18 RESTRICTED
51 VIEW ALL
What do these mean? Some maps and an explanation.

Legislative Tracking


 
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