• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Adoptee Rights Law Center

Adoptee Rights Law Center

Legal representation and advocacy for adult adopted people

  • Adoptee Rights Law Center
  • Birth Records
    • FAQ
    • Laws
    • Legislation
    • Maps
  • Citizenship
    • FAQ
    • Legislation
  • Latest
  • About
    • Press
    • Contact
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Call to Action: Voting Rights

ACTION NEEDED TODAY: Contact your U.S. Representative. Ask them to VOTE NO on the SAVE Act. This call to action is active and ongoing as of April 1, 2025.

Background. The SAVE Act (H.R.22) is a dangerous anti-voting rights bill that will prevent millions of US citizens from voting in upcoming elections. The bill would require strict proof of US citizenship in order to register or re-register to vote. While that may sound like a neutral proposal, it is not. It is a trick, and a vote in the House is expected this week.

For millions of US citizens, proof required to show US citizenship is often difficult, time-consuming, and costly. The cost to obtain proof of US citizenship is one issue, as working-class and lower-income Americans may not have the funds or the time to apply for and obtain required documents, including birth records. Name changes that prove you are are the person an your own birth record is another costly and complicated problem, particularly for people who changed their names through marriage. And adopted people for years have faced significant hurdles securing proof of US citizenship through acceptable birth records, particularly when they apply for US passports at the Department of State. Worse, thousands of intercountry adopted people in the US lack sufficient proof of US citizenship and must incur significant costs and time to obtain it. Finally, the SAVE Act is wholly unnecessary—it proposes a harsh solution to a problem that does not exist. It is exceedingly rare for a non-citizen to vote, and it is already against the law.


Contact Your Representative Today

Contact Your Representative Today. If you don’t know who your US Representative is, simply type the name of your state into the Search box below and the representatives for your state will pop up. Still don’t know who your specific representative is? Get that information here.

Then call and contact your representative’s office and ask for a NO VOTE on the SAVE Act. Explain who you are and that the SAVE Act will disenfranchise millions of people of their rights to vote and would disproportionately impact adopted people, particularly intercountry adoptees.

To send a message through email, click on the Go link next to the representative’s contact information. You should receive a contact form that the representative’s office uses (and most forms will ask you to enter your address to verify that you are a constituent). Use that form to provide your opinion on the SAVE Act and why it is important to you as a constituent that your representative VOTE NO on the bill. Make sure you ask your representative to oppose the bill and to let you know their position on the bill.

Don’t remember who your US Representative is? Type the name of your state into the Search box below and all representatives for your state will pop up. Still don’t know who your specific representative is? Get that information here.

U.S. Representatives: Contact Information

Representative (Party)StateDistrictPhoneContact
Nick Begich (R)AlaskaAK(907) 921-6575Go
Barry Moore (R)AlabamaAL-1(334) 428-1129Go
Shomari Figures (D)AlabamaAL-2(251) 283-6280Go
Mike Rogers (R)AlabamaAL-3(334) 745-6221Go
Robert Aderholt (R)AlabamaAL-4(256) 546-0201Go
Dale Strong (R)AlabamaAL-5(256) 355-9400Go
Gary Palmer (R)AlabamaAL-6(205) 968-1290Go
Terri Sewell (D)AlabamaAL-7(334) 877-4414Go
Rick Crawford (R)ArkansasAR-1(870) 203-0540Go
French Hill (R)ArkansasAR-2(501) 324-5941Go
Steve Womack (R)ArkansasAR-3(479) 424-1146Go
Bruce Westerman (R)ArkansasAR-4(501) 609-9796Go
David Schweikert (R)ArizonaAZ-1(480) 946-2411Go
Eli Crane (R)ArizonaAZ-2(928) 286-5338Go
Yassamin Ansari (D)ArizonaAZ-3(202) 225-4065Go
Greg Stanton (D)ArizonaAZ-4(602) 956-2463Go
Andy Biggs (R)ArizonaAZ-5(480) 699-8239Go
Juan Ciscomani (R)ArizonaAZ-6(520) 881-3588Go
Raúl Grijalva (D)ArizonaAZ-7(623) 536-3388Go
Abe Hamadeh (R)ArizonaAZ-8(623) 776-7911Go
Paul Gosar (R)ArizonaAZ-9(623) 707-0530Go
Doug LaMalfa (R)CaliforniaCA-1(530) 223-5898Go
Jared Huffman (D)CaliforniaCA-2(415) 258-9657Go
Kevin Kiley (R)CaliforniaCA-3(916) 724-2575Go
Mike Thompson (D)CaliforniaCA-4(530) 753-5301Go
Tom McClintock (R)CaliforniaCA-5(916) 786-5560Go
Ami Bera (D)CaliforniaCA-6(916) 635-0505Go
Doris Matsui (D)CaliforniaCA-7(916) 498-5600Go
John Garamendi (D)CaliforniaCA-8(707) 645-1888Go
Josh Harder (D)CaliforniaCA-9(209) 579-5458Go
Mark DeSaulnier (D)CaliforniaCA-10(925) 754-0716Go
Nancy Pelosi (D)CaliforniaCA-11(415) 556-4862Go
Lateefah Simon (D)CaliforniaCA-12(510) 763-0370Go
Adam Gray (D)CaliforniaCA-13(209) 226-6880Go
Eric Swalwell (D)CaliforniaCA-14(510) 370-3322Go
Kevin Mullin (D)CaliforniaCA-15(650) 342-0300Go
Sam Liccardo (D)CaliforniaCA-16(408) 245-2339Go
Ro Khanna (D)CaliforniaCA-17(408) 436-2720Go
Zoe Lofgren (D)CaliforniaCA-18(408) 271-8700Go
Jimmy Panetta (D)CaliforniaCA-19(408) 960-0333Go
Vince Fong (R)CaliforniaCA-20(661) 327-3611Go
Jim Costa (D)CaliforniaCA-21(559) 749-9330Go
David Valadao (R)CaliforniaCA-22(661) 864-7736Go
Jay Obernolte (R)CaliforniaCA-23(760) 247-1815Go
Salud Carbajal (D)CaliforniaCA-24(805) 730-1710Go
Raul Ruiz (D)CaliforniaCA-25(951) 765-2304Go
Julia Brownley (D)CaliforniaCA-26(805) 379-1779Go
George Whitesides (D)CaliforniaCA-27(661) 568-4855Go
Judy Chu (D)CaliforniaCA-28(626) 304-0110Go
Luz Rivas (D)CaliforniaCA-29(818) 253-3535Go
Laura Friedman (D)CaliforniaCA-30(818) 524-4384Go
Gil Cisneros (D)CaliforniaCA-31(626) 646-0369Go
Brad Sherman (D)CaliforniaCA-32(818) 501-9200Go
Pete Aguilar (D)CaliforniaCA-33(909) 890-4445Go
Jimmy Gomez (D)CaliforniaCA-34(213) 481-1425Go
Norma Torres (D)CaliforniaCA-35(909) 481-6474Go
Ted Lieu (D)CaliforniaCA-36(323) 651-1040Go
Sydney Kamlager (D)CaliforniaCA-37(323) 965-1422Go
Linda Sánchez (D)CaliforniaCA-38(562) 860-5050Go
Mark Takano (D)CaliforniaCA-39(951) 222-0203Go
Young Kim (R)CaliforniaCA-40(949) 268-6706Go
Ken Calvert (R)CaliforniaCA-41(760) 620-0041Go
Robert Garcia (D)CaliforniaCA-42(562) 512-8489Go
Maxine Waters (D)CaliforniaCA-43(323) 757-8900Go
Nanette Barragán (D)CaliforniaCA-44(310) 831-1799Go
Derek Tran (D)CaliforniaCA-45(714) 960-6483Go
Lou Correa (D)CaliforniaCA-46(714) 559-6190Go
Dave Min (D)CaliforniaCA-47(949) 668-6600Go
Darrell Issa (R)CaliforniaCA-48(760) 304-7575Go
Mike Levin (D)CaliforniaCA-49(949) 281-2449Go
Scott Peters (D)CaliforniaCA-50(858) 455-5550Go
Sara Jacobs (D)CaliforniaCA-51(619) 280-5353Go
Juan Vargas (D)CaliforniaCA-52(619) 422-5963Go
Diana DeGette (D)ColoradoCO-1(303) 844-4988Go
Joe Neguse (D)ColoradoCO-2(303) 335-1045Go
Jeff Hurd (R)ColoradoCO-3(970) 208-0455Go
Lauren Boebert (R)ColoradoCO-4(970) 317-6130Go
Jeff Crank (R)ColoradoCO-5(719) 520-0055Go
Jason Crow (D)ColoradoCO-6(720) 748-7514Go
Brittany Pettersen (D)ColoradoCO-7(719) 458-6161Go
Gabe Evans (R)ColoradoCO-8(970) 324-2567Go
John Larson (D)ConnecticutCT-1(860) 278-8888Go
Joe Courtney (D)ConnecticutCT-2(860) 741-6011Go
Rosa DeLauro (D)ConnecticutCT-3(203) 562-3718Go
Jim Himes (D)ConnecticutCT-4(203) 353-9400Go
Jahana Hayes (D)ConnecticutCT-5(860) 223-8412Go
Eleanor Holmes Norton (D)DCDC(202) 408-9041Go
Sarah McBride (D)DelawareDE(302) 830-2330Go
Neal Dunn (R)FloridaFL-2(850) 785-0812Go
Kat Cammack (R)FloridaFL-3(352) 505-0838Go
Aaron Bean (R)FloridaFL-4(904) 557-9550Go
John Rutherford (R)FloridaFL-5(904) 831-5205Go
Cory Mills (R)FloridaFL-7(407) 638-7900Go
Mike Haridopolos (R)FloridaFL-8(321) 632-1776Go
Darren Soto (D)FloridaFL-9(407) 452-1171Go
Maxwell Frost (D)FloridaFL-10(321) 388-9808Go
Daniel Webster (R)FloridaFL-11(352) 383-3552Go
Gus Bilirakis (R)FloridaFL-12(727) 232-2921Go
Anna Luna (R)FloridaFL-13(727) 610-3980Go
Kathy Castor (D)FloridaFL-14(813) 871-2817Go
Laurel Lee (R)FloridaFL-15(813) 393-5077Go
Vern Buchanan (R)FloridaFL-16(941) 951-6643Go
Greg Steube (R)FloridaFL-17(941) 499-3214Go
Scott Franklin (R)FloridaFL-18(863) 644-8215Go
Byron Donalds (R)FloridaFL-19(239) 252-6225Go
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D)FloridaFL-20(561) 461-6767Go
Brian Mast (R)FloridaFL-21(561) 530-7778Go
Lois Frankel (D)FloridaFL-22(561) 998-9045Go
Jared Moskowitz (D)FloridaFL-23(754) 240-6330Go
Frederica Wilson (D)FloridaFL-24(954) 989-2688Go
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D)FloridaFL-25(954) 845-1179Go
Mario Diaz-Balart (R)FloridaFL-26(305) 470-8555Go
María Salazar (R)FloridaFL-27(305) 668-2285Go
Carlos Giménez (R)FloridaFL-28(305) 222-0160Go
Buddy Carter (R)GeorgiaGA-1(912) 265-9010Go
Sanford Bishop (D)GeorgiaGA-2(478) 803-2631Go
Brian Jack (R)GeorgiaGA-3(770) 683-2033Go
Hank Johnson (D)GeorgiaGA-4(770) 987-2291Go
Nikema Williams (D)GeorgiaGA-5(404) 659-0116Go
Lucy McBath (D)GeorgiaGA-6(470) 773-6330Go
Rich McCormick (R)GeorgiaGA-7(770) 232-3005Go
Austin Scott (R)GeorgiaGA-8(229) 396-5175Go
Andrew Clyde (R)GeorgiaGA-9(470) 768-6520Go
Mike Collins (R)GeorgiaGA-10(770) 207-1776Go
Barry Loudermilk (R)GeorgiaGA-11(770) 429-1776Go
Rick Allen (R)GeorgiaGA-12(912) 243-9452Go
David Scott (D)GeorgiaGA-13(770) 210-5073Go
Marjorie Taylor Greene (R)GeorgiaGA-14(706) 226-5320Go
Ed Case (D)HawaiiHI-1(808) 650-6688Go
Jill Tokuda (D)HawaiiHI-2(808) 746-6220Go
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R)IowaIA-1(563) 232-0930Go
Ashley Hinson (R)IowaIA-2(319) 266-6925Go
Zach Nunn (R)IowaIA-3(515) 400-8180Go
Randy Feenstra (R)IowaIA-4(515) 302-7060Go
Russ Fulcher (R)IdahoID-1(208) 888-3188Go
Mike Simpson (R)IdahoID-2(208) 334-1953Go
Jonathan Jackson (D)IllinoisIL-1(773) 779-2400Go
Robin Kelly (D)IllinoisIL-2(708) 679-0078Go
Delia Ramirez (D)IllinoisIL-3(630) 520-9494Go
Chuy García (D)IllinoisIL-4(773) 475-0833Go
Mike Quigley (D)IllinoisIL-5(773) 267-5926Go
Sean Casten (D)IllinoisIL-6(630) 520-9450Go
Danny Davis (D)IllinoisIL-7(773) 533-7520Go
Raja Krishnamoorthi (D)IllinoisIL-8(847) 413-1959Go
Jan Schakowsky (D)IllinoisIL-9(773) 506-7100Go
Brad Schneider (D)IllinoisIL-10(847) 383-4870Go
Bill Foster (D)IllinoisIL-11(630) 585-7672Go
Mike Bost (R)IllinoisIL-12(618) 622-0766Go
Nikki Budzinski (D)IllinoisIL-13(217) 305-6991Go
Lauren Underwood (D)IllinoisIL-14(630) 549-2190Go
Mary Miller (R)IllinoisIL-15(217) 703-6100Go
Darin LaHood (R)IllinoisIL-16(779) 238-4785Go
Eric Sorensen (D)IllinoisIL-17(309) 621-7070Go
Frank Mrvan (D)IndianaIN-1(219) 795-1844Go
Rudy Yakym (R)IndianaIN-2(574) 223-4373Go
Marlin Stutzman (R)IndianaIN-3(260) 702-4750Go
Jim Baird (R)IndianaIN-4(317) 563-5567Go
Victoria Spartz (R)IndianaIN-5(317) 848-0201Go
Jefferson Shreve (R)IndianaIN-6(317) 399-3333Go
André Carson (D)IndianaIN-7(317) 283-6516Go
Mark Messmer (R)IndianaIN-8(812) 465-6484Go
Erin Houchin (R)IndianaIN-9(812) 288-3999Go
Tracey Mann (R)KansasKS-1(785) 370-7277Go
Derek Schmidt (R)KansasKS-2(785) 205-5253Go
Sharice Davids (D)KansasKS-3(913) 621-0832Go
Ron Estes (R)KansasKS-4(316) 262-8992Go
James Comer (R)KentuckyKY-1(270) 487-9509Go
Brett Guthrie (R)KentuckyKY-2(270) 842-9896Go
Morgan McGarvey (D)KentuckyKY-3(502) 582-5129Go
Thomas Massie (R)KentuckyKY-4(859) 426-0080Go
Hal Rogers (R)KentuckyKY-5(606) 679-8346Go
Andy Barr (R)KentuckyKY-6(859) 219-1366Go
Steve Scalise (R)LouisianaLA-1(985) 879-2300Go
Troy Carter (D)LouisianaLA-2(504) 288-3777Go
Clay Higgins (R)LouisianaLA-3(337) 703-6105Go
Mike Johnson (R)LouisianaLA-4(337) 226-6385Go
Julia Letlow (R)LouisianaLA-5(318) 319-6465Go
Cleo Fields (D)LouisianaLA-6(225) 952-1965Go
Richard Neal (D)MassachusettsMA-1(413) 442-0946Go
Jim McGovern (D)MassachusettsMA-2(413) 341-8700Go
Lori Trahan (D)MassachusettsMA-3(978) 459-0101Go
Jake Auchincloss (D)MassachusettsMA-4(508) 431-1110Go
Katherine Clark (D)MassachusettsMA-5(617) 354-0292Go
Seth Moulton (D)MassachusettsMA-6(978) 531-1669Go
Ayanna Pressley (D)MassachusettsMA-7(617) 850-0040Go
Stephen Lynch (D)MassachusettsMA-8(508) 586-5555Go
Bill Keating (D)MassachusettsMA-9(508) 746-9000Go
Andy Harris (R)MarylandMD-1(443) 944-8624Go
Johnny Olszewski (D)MarylandMD-2(410) 427-5725Go
Sarah Elfreth (D)MarylandMD-3(410) 832-8890Go
Glenn Ivey (D)MarylandMD-4(240) 906-6262Go
Steny Hoyer (D)MarylandMD-5(301) 474-0119Go
April McClain-Delaney (D)MarylandMD-6(301) 926-0300Go
Kweisi Mfume (D)MarylandMD-7(410) 818-2120Go
Jamie Raskin (D)MarylandMD-8(301) 354-1000Go
Chellie Pingree (D)MaineME-1(207) 774-5019Go
Jared Golden (D)MaineME-2(207) 492-6009Go
Jack Bergman (R)MichiganMI-1(231) 944-7633Go
John Moolenaar (R)MichiganMI-2(616) 528-7100Go
Hillary Scholten (D)MichiganMI-3(616) 451-8383Go
Bill Huizenga (R)MichiganMI-4(269) 569-8595Go
Tim Walberg (R)MichiganMI-5(269) 479-3115Go
Debbie Dingell (D)MichiganMI-6(313) 278-2936Go
Tom Barrett (R)MichiganMI-7(517) 993-0510Go
Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)MichiganMI-8(810) 238-8627Go
Lisa McClain (R)MichiganMI-9(586) 697-9300Go
John James (R)MichiganMI-10(586) 498-7122Go
Haley Stevens (D)MichiganMI-11(734) 853-3040Go
Rashida Tlaib (D)MichiganMI-12(313) 463-6220Go
Shri Thanedar (D)MichiganMI-13(313) 880-2400Go
Brad Finstad (R)MinnesotaMN-1(507) 577-6141Go
Angie Craig (D)MinnesotaMN-2(651) 846-2120Go
Kelly Morrison (D)MinnesotaMN-3(202) 225-2871Go
Betty McCollum (D)MinnesotaMN-4(651) 224-9191Go
Ilhan Omar (D)MinnesotaMN-5(612) 333-1272Go
Tom Emmer (R)MinnesotaMN-6(763) 241-6848Go
Michelle Fischbach (R)MinnesotaMN-7(218) 422-2090Go
Pete Stauber (R)MinnesotaMN-8(218) 355-0240Go
Wesley Bell (D)MissouriMO-1(314) 955-9980Go
Ann Wagner (R)MissouriMO-2(636) 231-1001Go
Bob Onder (R)MissouriMO-3(636) 327-7055Go
Mark Alford (R)MissouriMO-4(417) 532-5582Go
Emanuel Cleaver (D)MissouriMO-5(816) 833-4545Go
Sam Graves (R)MissouriMO-6(816) 749-0800Go
Eric Burlison (R)MissouriMO-7(417) 781-1041Go
Jason Smith (R)MissouriMO-8(573) 364-2455Go
Trent Kelly (R)MississippiMS-1(662) 687-1545Go
Bennie Thompson (D)MississippiMS-2(662) 741-9003Go
Michael Guest (R)MississippiMS-3(769) 241-6120Go
Mike Ezell (R)MississippiMS-4(601) 582-3246Go
Ryan Zinke (R)MontanaMT-1(406) 317-0277Go
Troy Downing (R)MontanaMT-2(406) 502-1435Go
Don Davis (D)North CarolinaNC-1(252) 999-7600Go
Deborah Ross (D)North CarolinaNC-2(919) 334-0840Go
Greg Murphy (R)North CarolinaNC-3(252) 230-3549Go
Valerie Foushee (D)North CarolinaNC-4(919) 967-7924Go
Virginia Foxx (R)North CarolinaNC-5(828) 265-0240Go
Addison McDowell (R)North CarolinaNC-6(336) 333-5005Go
David Rouzer (R)North CarolinaNC-7(910) 702-6140Go
Mark Harris (R)North CarolinaNC-8(704) 218-5300Go
Richard Hudson (R)North CarolinaNC-9(910) 910-1924Go
Pat Harrigan (R)North CarolinaNC-10(828) 327-6100Go
Chuck Edwards (R)North CarolinaNC-11(828) 435-7310Go
Alma Adams (D)North CarolinaNC-12(704) 344-9950Go
Brad Knott (R)North CarolinaNC-13(202) 225-4531Go
Tim Moore (R)North CarolinaNC-14(980) 460-8110Go
Julie Fedorchak (R)North DakotaND-AL(701) 354-6700Go
Mike Flood (R)NebraskaNE-1(402) 438-1598Go
Don Bacon (R)NebraskaNE-2(402) 607-0077Go
Adrian Smith (R)NebraskaNE-3(308) 633-6333Go
Chris Pappas (D)New HampshireNH-1(603) 935-6710Go
Maggie Goodlander (D)New HampshireNH-2(603) 444-7700Go
Donald Norcross (D)New JerseyNJ-1(856) 427-7000Go
Jeff Van Drew (R)New JerseyNJ-2(609) 625-5008Go
Herb Conaway (D)New JerseyNJ-3(609) 438-6290Go
Chris Smith (R)New JerseyNJ-4(732) 780-3035Go
Josh Gottheimer (D)New JerseyNJ-5(973) 940-1117Go
Frank Pallone (D)New JerseyNJ-6(732) 249-8892Go
Tom Kean (R)New JerseyNJ-7(908) 547-3307Go
Rob Menendez (D)New JerseyNJ-8(201) 309-0301Go
Nellie Pou (D)New JerseyNJ-9(973) 523-5152Go
LaMonica McIver (D)New JerseyNJ-10(973) 645-3213Go
Mikie Sherrill (D)New JerseyNJ-11(973) 526-5668Go
Bonnie Watson Coleman (D)New JerseyNJ-12(609) 883-0026Go
Melanie Stansbury (D)New MexicoNM-1(505) 346-6781Go
Gabe Vasquez (D)New MexicoNM-2(505) 208-4777Go
Teresa Leger Fernandez (D)New MexicoNM-3(575) 218-5770Go
Dina Titus (D)NevadaNV-1(702) 220-9823Go
Mark Amodei (R)NevadaNV-2(775) 777-7705Go
Susie Lee (D)NevadaNV-3(702) 963-9336Go
Steven Horsford (D)NevadaNV-4(702) 963-9360Go
Nick LaLota (R)New YorkNY-1(631) 289-1097Go
Andrew Garbarino (R)New YorkNY-2(631) 541-4225Go
Tom Suozzi (D)New YorkNY-3(516) 861-1070Go
Laura Gillen (D)New YorkNY-4(516) 739-3008Go
Gregory Meeks (D)New YorkNY-5(347) 230-4032Go
Grace Meng (D)New YorkNY-6(718) 358-6364Go
Nydia Velázquez (D)New YorkNY-7(718) 340-6244Go
Hakeem Jeffries (D)New YorkNY-8(718) 237-2211Go
Yvette Clarke (D)New YorkNY-9(718) 287-1142Go
Dan Goldman (D)New YorkNY-10(718) 312-7575Go
Nicole Malliotakis (R)New YorkNY-11(718) 306-1620Go
Jerry Nadler (D)New YorkNY-12(718) 373-3198Go
Adriano Espaillat (D)New YorkNY-13(212) 663-3900Go
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D)New YorkNY-14(718) 662-5970,Go
Ritchie Torres (D)New YorkNY-15(718) 503-9610Go
George Latimer (D)New YorkNY-16(718) 530-7888Go
Mike Lawler (R)New YorkNY-17(845) 743-7130Go
Pat Ryan (D)New YorkNY-18(845) 443-2930Go
Josh Riley (D)New YorkNY-19(607) 242-0200Go
Paul Tonko (D)New YorkNY-20(518) 374-4547Go
Elise Stefanik (R)New YorkNY-21(518) 242-4707Go
John Mannion (D)New YorkNY-22(315) 233-4333Go
Nick Langworthy (R)New YorkNY-23(716) 488-8111Go
Claudia Tenney (R)New YorkNY-24(315) 236-7088Go
Joe Morelle (D)New YorkNY-25(585) 232-4850Go
Tim Kennedy (D)New YorkNY-26(716) 282-1274Go
Greg Landsman (D)OhioOH-1(513) 810-7988Go
Dave Taylor (R)OhioOH-2(740) 672-7040Go
Joyce Beatty (D)OhioOH-3(614) 220-0003Go
Jim Jordan (R)OhioOH-4(419) 999-6455Go
Bob Latta (R)OhioOH-5(419) 422-7791Go
Michael Rulli (R)OhioOH-6(330) 967-7312Go
Max Miller (R)OhioOH-7(440) 692-6120Go
Warren Davidson (R)OhioOH-8(513) 779-5400Go
Marcy Kaptur (D)OhioOH-9(419) 259-7500Go
Mike Turner (R)OhioOH-10(937) 225-2843Go
Shontel Brown (D)OhioOH-11(216) 522-4900Go
Troy Balderson (R)OhioOH-12(614) 523-2555Go
Emilia Sykes (D)OhioOH-13(330) 400-5350Go
Dave Joyce (R)OhioOH-14(440) 352-3939Go
Mike Carey (R)OhioOH-15(614) 927-6902Go
Kevin Hern (R)OklahomaOK-1(918) 935-3222Go
Josh Brecheen (R)OklahomaOK-2(918) 283-6262Go
Frank Lucas (R)OklahomaOK-3(405) 373-1958Go
Tom Cole (R)OklahomaOK-4(580) 357-2131Go
Stephanie Bice (R)OklahomaOK-5(405) 300-6890Go
Suzanne Bonamici (D)OregonOR-1(503) 469-6010Go
Cliff Bentz (R)OregonOR-2(541) 709-2040Go
Maxine Dexter (D)OregonOR-3(503) 231-2300Go
Val Hoyle (D)OregonOR-4(541) 465-6732Go
Janelle Bynum (D)OregonOR-5(503) 387-8651Go
Andrea Salinas (D)OregonOR-6(503) 385-0906Go
Brian Fitzpatrick (R)PennsylvaniaPA-1(215) 579-8102Go
Brendan Boyle (D)PennsylvaniaPA-2(267) 335-5643Go
Dwight Evans (D)PennsylvaniaPA-3(215) 276-0340Go
Madeleine Dean (D)PennsylvaniaPA-4(610) 382-1250Go
Mary Gay Scanlon (D)PennsylvaniaPA-5(610) 626-2020Go
Chrissy Houlahan (D)PennsylvaniaPA-6(610) 883-5050Go
Ryan Mackenzie (R)PennsylvaniaPA-7(484) 781-6000Go
Rob Bresnahan (R)PennsylvaniaPA-8(570) 906-6850Go
Dan Meuser (R)PennsylvaniaPA-9(717) 603-1459Go
Scott Perry (R)PennsylvaniaPA-10(717) 603-4980Go
Lloyd Smucker (R)PennsylvaniaPA-11(717) 393-0667Go
Summer Lee (D)PennsylvaniaPA-12(412) 214-5000Go
John Joyce (R)PennsylvaniaPA-13(814) 656-6081Go
Guy Reschenthaler (R)PennsylvaniaPA-14(724) 219-4200Go
G.T. Thompson (R)PennsylvaniaPA-15(814) 353-0215Go
Mike Kelly (R)PennsylvaniaPA-16(724) 342-7170Go
Chris Deluzio (D)PennsylvaniaPA-17(412) 344-5583Go
Pablo José Hernández (D)Puerto RicoPR(202) 225-2615Go
Gabe Amo (D)Rhode IslandRI-1(401) 729-5600Go
Seth Magaziner (D)Rhode IslandRI-2(401) 244-1201Go
Nancy Mace (R)South CarolinaSC-1(843) 521-2530Go
Joe Wilson (R)South CarolinaSC-2(803) 642-6416Go
Sheri Biggs (R)South CarolinaSC-3(864) 224-7401Go
William Timmons (R)South CarolinaSC-4(864) 241-0175Go
Ralph Norman (R)South CarolinaSC-5(803) 327-1114Go
Jim Clyburn (D)South CarolinaSC-6(803) 854-4700Go
Russell Fry (R)South CarolinaSC-7(843) 799-6880Go
Dusty Johnson (R)South DakotaSD-AL(605) 646-6454Go
Diana Harshbarger (R)TennesseeTN-1(423) 398-5186Go
Tim Burchett (R)TennesseeTN-2(865) 523-3772Go
Chuck Fleischmann (R)TennesseeTN-3(423) 745-4671Go
Scott DesJarlais (R)TennesseeTN-4(931) 962-3180Go
Andy Ogles (R)TennesseeTN-5(931) 777-2140Go
John Rose (R)TennesseeTN-6(615) 206-8204Go
Mark Green (R)TennesseeTN-7(629) 999-4950Go
David Kustoff (R)TennesseeTN-8(731) 423-4848Go
Steve Cohen (D)TennesseeTN-9(901) 544-4131Go
Nathaniel Moran (R)TexasTX-1(903) 561-6349Go
Dan Crenshaw (R)TexasTX-2(281) 640-7720Go
Keith Self (R)TexasTX-3(972) 202-4150Go
Pat Fallon (R)TexasTX-4(972) 771-0100Go
Lance Gooden (R)TexasTX-5(903) 502-5300Go
Jake Ellzey (R)TexasTX-6(469) 550-7150Go
Lizzie Fletcher (D)TexasTX-7(713) 353-8680Go
Morgan Luttrell (R)TexasTX-8(281) 305-7890Go
Al Green (D)TexasTX-9(713) 383-9234Go
Michael McCaul (R)TexasTX-10(979) 431-6480Go
August Pfluger (R)TexasTX-11(254) 669-6570Go
Craig Goldman (R)TexasTX-12(817) 806-9474Go
Ronny Jackson (R)TexasTX-13(806) 641-5600Go
Randy Weber (R)TexasTX-14(409) 835-0108Go
Monica De La Cruz (R)TexasTX-15(956) 800-6069Go
Veronica Escobar (D)TexasTX-16(915) 541-1400Go
Pete Sessions (R)TexasTX-17(936) 755-7770Go
Sylvester Turner (D)TexasTX-18(713) 227–7740Go
Jodey Arrington (R)TexasTX-19(325) 675-9779Go
Joaquin Castro (D)TexasTX-20(210) 348-8216Go
Chip Roy (R)TexasTX-21(512) 871-5959Go
Troy Nehls (R)TexasTX-22(346) 762-6600Go
Tony Gonzales (R)TexasTX-23(830) 308-6200Go
Beth Van Duyne (R)TexasTX-24(972) 966-5500Go
Roger Williams (R)TexasTX-25(682) 218-5965Go
Brandon Gill (R)TexasTX-26(972) 966-5454Go
Michael Cloud (R)TexasTX-27(361) 884-2222Go
Henry Cuellar (D)TexasTX-28(956) 725-0639Go
Sylvia Garcia (D)TexasTX-29(832) 325-3150Go
Jasmine Crockett (D)TexasTX-30(214) 922-8885Go
John Carter (R)TexasTX-31(512) 591-9061Go
Julie Johnson (D)TexasTX-32(972) 972-7949Go
Marc Veasey (D)TexasTX-33(214) 741-1387Go
Vicente Gonzalez (D)TexasTX-34(956) 682-5545Go
Greg Casar (D)TexasTX-35(512) 691-1200Go
Brian Babin (R)TexasTX-36(409) 331-8066Go
Lloyd Doggett (D)TexasTX-37(512) 916-5921Go
Wesley Hunt (R)TexasTX-38(346) 246-7355Go
Blake Moore (R)UtahUT-1(801) 625-0107Go
Celeste Maloy (R)UtahUT-2(801) 364-5550Go
Mike Kennedy (R)UtahUT-3(801) 607-3238Go
Burgess Owens (R)UtahUT-4(801) 999-9801Go
Rob Wittman (R)VirginiaVA-1(804) 401-4120Go
Jen Kiggans (R)VirginiaVA-2(757) 364-7650Go
Bobby Scott (D)VirginiaVA-3(757) 380-1000Go
Jenn McClellan (D)VirginiaVA-4(804) 486-1840Go
John McGuire (R)VirginiaVA-5(202) 225-4711Go
Ben Cline (R)VirginiaVA-6(540) 432-2391Go
Eugene Vindman (D)VirginiaVA-7(703) 987-2180Go
Don Beyer (D)VirginiaVA-8(703) 658-5403Go
Morgan Griffith (R)VirginiaVA-9(276) 525-1405Go
Suhas Subramanyam (D)VirginiaVA-10(703) 236-1300Go
Gerry Connolly (D)VirginiaVA-11(703) 256-3071Go
Stacey Plaskett (D)Virgin IslandsVI(340) 774-4408Go
Becca Balint (D)VermontVT(802) 652-2450Go
Suzan DelBene (D)WashingtonWA-1(425) 485-0085Go
Rick Larsen (D)WashingtonWA-2(425) 252-3188Go
Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez (D)WashingtonWA-3(360) 695-6292Go
Dan Newhouse (R)WashingtonWA-4(509) 452-3243Go
Michael Baumgartner (R)WashingtonWA-5(509) 353-2374Go
Emily Randall (D)WashingtonWA-6(360) 373-9725Go
Pramila Jayapal (D)WashingtonWA-7(206) 674-0040Go
Kim Schrier (D)WashingtonWA-8(509) 850-5340Go
Adam Smith (D)WashingtonWA-9(425) 793-5180Go
Marilyn Strickland (D)WashingtonWA-10(360) 459-8514Go
Bryan Steil (R)WisconsinWI-1(414) 285-2120Go
Mark Pocan (D)WisconsinWI-2(608) 258-9800Go
Derrick Van Orden (R)WisconsinWI-3(715) 831-9214Go
Gwen Moore (D)WisconsinWI-4(414) 297-1140Go
Scott Fitzgerald (R)WisconsinWI-5(262) 784-1111Go
Glenn Grothman (R)WisconsinWI-6(920) 907-0624Go
Tom Tiffany (R)WisconsinWI-7(715) 298-9344Go
Tony Wied (R)WisconsinWI-8(920) 301-4500Go
Carol Miller (R)West VirginiaWV-1(304) 250-6177Go
Riley Moore (R)West VirginiaWV-2(304) 350-6995Go
Harriet Hageman (R)WyomingWY(307) 772-2595Go

Primary Sidebar

  • Bluesky
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

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

  • Dear Parents of Intercountry Adoptees: Do These Two Things Today
  • USCIS Is Withholding My Clients’ Immigration Records at an Alarming Rate
  • Name Changes and an N-565
  • Q&A: US Citizenship and Immigration Issues for Intercountry Adoptees
  • Thank You! Funds Raised for a Filing Fee for Intercountry Adoptee

Contact Info

Adoptee Rights Law Center PLLC
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. All Minnesota-born adult adopted people have a right obtain a copy of their own original birth records. This also applies to the spouse, children, and grandchildren of the adopted person if the person is deceased. 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 have an unrestricted right to request and obtain a copy of their own original birth certificate directly from the state's vital records department or from the local register of deeds. In July 2023, South Dakota became the fourteenth state to affirm or restore such a right. 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 and their descendants have an unrestricted right to request and obtain a copy of the adopted person's own original birth certificate directly from the state's vital records department. In July 2023, Vermont became the thirteenth state to affirm or restore such a right. 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 2024 Placeholder
US OBC Rights 2024
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. All Minnesota-born adult adopted people have a right obtain a copy of their own original birth records. This also applies to the spouse, children, and grandchildren of the adopted person if the person is deceased. 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 have an unrestricted right to request and obtain a copy of their own original birth certificate directly from the state's vital records department or from the local register of deeds. In July 2023, South Dakota became the fourteenth state to affirm or restore such a right. 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 and their descendants have an unrestricted right to request and obtain a copy of the adopted person's own original birth certificate directly from the state's vital records department. In July 2023, Vermont became the thirteenth state to affirm or restore such a right. 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.

View More Maps

OBC: State Status & Numbers

15 UNRESTRICTED
19 COMPROMISED
17 RESTRICTED
51 VIEW ALL
What do these mean? Some maps and an explanation.</>

Legislative Tracking


 
I also monitor federal legislation related to intercountry adoptees.

Adoptee Rights Law Center

Copyright © 2025 · Adoptee Rights Law Center PLLC · Home · About · Contact