Adoptee Rights Law Center

Legal representation and advocacy for adult adopted people

Community Engagement Sessions for Minnesota’s New Law

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The following is an announcement of community engagement sessions facilitated by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The sessions relate in part to enactment of the new Minnesota birth records law, effective on July 1, 2024.

I am providing the announcement of the sessions without comment or substantive editing (just light editing of the format). This is not an endorsement of the sessions, though I have registered to attend.

Adoption Record Engagement Sessions – Public

[The Minnesota Department of Human Services] is looking for feedback from members of the community with personal experience in Minnesota’s adoption system. Considering the upcoming changes around access to original birth records, DHS is hoping to hear from those with lived experience in the adoption system around access to adoption records. We will be looking to talk with adopted individuals, adoptive parents and kinship caregivers, birth parents and other relatives through various listening sessions during the months of January and February. We hope to better understand the experiences of individuals and families and listen to your ideas on potential improvements.

  • Participants must be 18 or older.
  • Accommodations: For accommodation requests or difficulty registering contact Colton Brinker [email protected] or 651-431-5855.
  • Location: All meetings will be hosted via Zoom. Links to register are below.

Birth Parents

January 30th 12-1pm Register here
January 30th 5:30-6:30pm Register here

Siblings, Grandparents, Kin, and other Relatives

February 1st 12-1pm Register here
February 1st 5:30-6:30pm Register here

Adult Adopted Individuals

February 6th 12-1pm Register here
February 6th 5:30-6:30pm Register here

Adoptive Parents and Kinship Caregivers

February 8th 12-1pm Register here
February 8th 5:30-6:30pm Register here

Note: The Department notified me on January 25, 2024, that the following additional sessions have been added.

Advocacy Groups: Feb. 1, 2024 – 2 to 3 p.m. Register here.
County Staff/MACSSA: Feb. 13, 2024 – 12 to 1 p.m. Register here.
Private Adoption Agencies: Feb. 15, 2024 – 12 to 1:30 p.m. Register here.
Adoption Attorneys: Feb. 20, 2024 – 12 to 1 p.m. Register here.

About Gregory D. Luce

I am a Minnesota lawyer, born and adopted in the District of Columbia, and the founder of Adoptee Rights Law Center PLLC. I've been practicing law in Minnesota state and federal courts since 1993, and have been the executive director of Adoptees United Inc. since 2021. I also have a sense of humor.

Get Involved with Adoptees United Inc.

Logo of Adoptees United Inc.Did you find this post interesting? Then get involved nationally with Adoptees United Inc., a national tax-exempt non-profit organization dedicated to securing equality for all adult adopted people in the US. Find out more here, and join me and others in working for equality.

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What’s an Original Birth Certificate?

Most adopted persons know what an original birth certificate (OBC) is. Many non-adopted people do not. An original birth certificate is the initial birth certificate created shortly after a person's birth. For most people, it is their only birth certificate.

For persons born and adopted in the United States, a new or "amended" birth certificate replaces the OBC once the adoption is final. In addition to replacing the original, the names of the birth parents are also replaced with the names of the adoptive parents. Some states may also alter or omit additional information on a new certificate, including the adoptee's specific place of birth.

Depending on state law, an original birth certificate is sealed and remains unavailable to the adopted person, even when they become an adult. If you are not adopted, your original birth certificate is your only birth certificate---and it is always available to you upon request.