Overview
Original Birth Certificates. Connecticut is an Unrestricted State. All Connecticut-born adoptees, at age 18, have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. This right also extends to the children and grandchildren of the adopted person.
Cost/Fees. The fee to obtain a non-certified copy of a pre-adoptive original birth certificate in Connecticut is $65, which is more than three times what it costs non-adopted people to obtain their own birth records in the state.
People Are Not Secrets. Connecticut law provides that a new certificate of birth after an adoption will not be prepared “if the court decreeing the adoption, the adoptive parents or the adopted person, if over fourteen years of age, so requests.” Birthparents have no control over the issuance of an amended birth certificate and the sealing of the original in Connecticut.
Court Records. Court adoption records are generally unavailable except by court order to a petitioner who requires information for health or medical treatment of an adopted person. In general, release of adoption records is governed by Connecticut law concerning identifying information as well as the law allowing release of the adopted person’s original birth certificate.
Identifying information. Identifying information from adoption records may be available to adult adopted people in Connecticut, though release is subject to birthparent consent, with further limitations that may apply based on the date of the adoption. An adoption agency or the Connecticut Department of Children and Families may also refuse to release identifying information to an adoptee if “at any time [it determines] that the release of the requested information would be seriously disruptive to or endanger the physical or emotional health of the applicant” or the person who may be identified. Connecticut law also allows an agency or the state’s department of children and families— if they believe counseling is “advisable with the release of information”—to request that an adult adoptee “appear for an interview.”
Descendant Rights. A child or grandchild of an adopted person may apply for and obtain the adopted person’s original birth certificate, so long as the child or grandchild is at least 18 years of age. The adopted person does not need to be deceased for the person’s descendant to request a copy of the OBC. Descendants may also seek identifying information from the court or adoption agencies, with the same restrictions applicable to adopted people.
Adoption Reunion Registry. Connecticut law requires child-placing agencies and the Department of Children and Families to maintain adoption reunion registries. Private adoption agencies may charge a fee for their post-adoption services, including services related to identifying and non-identifying information. Registries use a contact preference form for genetic parents to express a preference for contact.
Adult Adoption. Connecticut law provides for the adoption of adults. The court must approve the adoption agreement and find that the “proposed adoptive parent and adopted person share a relationship that is similar to that between a parent and an adult child and that the adoption is in the best interests of the proposed adoptive parent and adopted person.”
Connecticut Law: Vital Records and Birth Certificates
Relevant parts of Connecticut vital records law. The entire Connecticut vital records statute is available here.
Sec. 7-53. Birth certificates of adopted persons born in this state.
(a) Upon receipt of the record of adoption referred to in subsection (e) of section 45a-745 or of other evidence satisfactory to the department that a person born in this state has been adopted, the department shall prepare a new birth certificate of such adopted person, except that no new certificate of birth shall be prepared if the court decreeing the adoption, the adoptive parents or the adopted person, if over fourteen years of age, so requests. Such new birth certificate shall include all the information required to be set forth in a certificate of birth of this state as of the date of birth, except that the adopting parents shall be named as the parents instead of the birth parents and, when a certified copy of the birth of such person is requested by an eligible party as described in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 7-51, a copy of the new certificate of birth as prepared by the department shall be provided. Immediately after a new certificate of birth has been prepared, an exact copy of such certificate, together with a written notice of the evidence of adoption, shall be transmitted by the department to the registrar of vital statistics of each municipality in which the birth of the adopted person is recorded. The new birth certificate, the original certificate of birth on file and the evidence of adoption shall be filed and indexed, under such regulations as the commissioner adopts, in accordance with chapter 54, to carry out the provisions of this section and to prevent access to the records of birth and adoption and the information contained in the records, except as provided in this section.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section and section 45a-751c, as amended by this act, an original certificate of birth may only be issued if the person named in the certificate of birth is deceased and the person seeking to obtain such certificate of birth is an authorized applicant, as defined in section 45a-743. Any authorized applicant seeking to obtain a copy of the original certificate of birth shall first obtain a written court order issued in accordance with section 45a-751c, as amended by this act. Upon receipt of such court order, the registrar of vital statistics of the municipality of an adopted person’s birth may issue an uncertified copy of the original certificate of birth on file, marked with a notation by the issuer that such original certificate of birth has been superseded by a replacement certificate of birth as on file.
(c) Upon written request, the registrar of vital statistics of the municipality of an adopted person’s birth shall, not later than thirty days after such written request, issue an uncertified copy of an original certificate of birth to (1) such adopted person if he or she is eighteen years of age or older or (2) such adopted person’s child or grandchild, provided such child or grandchild is eighteen years of age or older. Such certificate shall be marked with a notation by the issuer that such original certificate of birth has been superseded by a replacement certificate of birth as on file. Additionally, a notice stating that information related to the birth parents’ preferences regarding contact by such adopted person or such adopted person’s adult child or grandchild and a medical health history form completed by the birth parent may be on file with the Department of Children and Families shall be printed on such certificate or attached thereto.
(d) Any person, except such birth or adoptive parents, such adopted person or such adopted person’s adult child or grandchild, who discloses any information contained in such records, except as provided in this section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
(e) Whenever a certified copy of an adoption decree from a court of a foreign country, having jurisdiction of the adopted person, is filed with the department under the provisions of this section, such decree, when written in a language other than English, shall be accompanied by an English translation, which shall be subscribed and sworn to as a true translation by an American consulate officer stationed in such foreign country.
Sec. 7-54. Certification of birth registration or certificate of foreign birth for person born outside of the country and adopted by a state resident. Application and decree re change of biological age and date of birth.
(a) The department shall prepare a certification of birth registration or a certificate of foreign birth for any person born outside of the country and adopted by a resident of this state, provided (1) an authenticated and exemplified copy of the order of adoption of the court of the district in which the adoption proceedings were had, or such other evidence as is considered satisfactory by the probate court for the district in which such person resides, is filed with such probate court, and (2) such probate court notifies the department that such copy or satisfactory evidence has been so filed. Such certification of birth registration shall contain only the adopted name, sex, date of birth, place of birth and date of preparation of such certification of birth registration by the department. Such certificate of foreign birth shall contain the adopted name, sex, date of birth, place of birth, legal name of adoptive parent or parents and date of preparation of such certificate of foreign birth. No certification of birth registration or certificate of foreign birth shall be prepared by the department unless upon specific written request of the person to whom the certification of birth registration relates, if over sixteen years of age, or of the adopting parent or parents or the probate court for the district in which the adoption proceedings were had. When the department has prepared such certificate of birth registration or certificate of foreign birth, copies thereof shall be issued by the department in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of section 7-52.
(b) The adoptive parent or parents of an adopted person born outside of the country and adopted by a resident of this state, or such adopted person if eighteen years of age or older, may apply to the probate court for the district in which the adopted person resides for a determination of the biological age and date of birth of the adopted person. The probate court shall hold a hearing on the application and receive medical and other evidence relevant to the issue of biological age and date of birth of the adopted person. After such hearing, the probate court may issue a decree to establish the biological age and date of birth of the adopted person. If the biological age and date of birth established in the decree is different from the biological age and date of birth in the certification of birth registration or a certificate of foreign birth, the probate court shall provide a certified copy of the decree to the department. Any certification of birth registration or certificate of foreign birth issued by the department pursuant to subsection (a) of this section after the date the department receives such decree shall reflect the date of birth in such decree.
Connecticut Law: Court Records and Information
Relevant current parts of Connecticut law related to adoption records, identifying information, and release of the adopted person’s original birth record. The entire Connecticut adoption statute is available here, though it may not yet include changes through 2022.
Sec. 45a-736. Change of name of adopted person
Any court of probate, as part of its approval of any agreement of adoption or declaration of an intention to adopt, may change the name of the person adopted, as requested by the adoptive parent or parents.
Sec. 45a-737. Obliteration of original name on institutional records, new name substituted
Upon the request of an adopting parent of a child adopted under the provisions of section 45a-727, any public or quasi-public institution, including but not limited to schools and hospitals, shall obliterate the original family name of an adopted child and substitute the new name of the child on its records; except that the person in charge of the records may apply to the court of probate having jurisdiction over the adoption and show cause why the name shall not be substituted. The court may grant or deny the order for the substitution of names as it deems to be in the best interests of the child.
Sec. 45a-743. Definitions
For the purposes of sections 7-53, 45a-743 to 45a-757, inclusive, and 46b-124, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) “Adoptable person” means a person who has not been adopted but whose biological parents had their parental rights terminated under the laws of the state of Connecticut.
(2) “Adopted person” means (A) a person who was adopted under the laws of the state of Connecticut or (B) a person who was adopted in another jurisdiction but whose biological parents have had their parental rights terminated in the state of Connecticut.
(3) “Authorized applicant” means (A) an adult adopted or adult adoptable person, (B) any biological parent of an adult adopted or adult adoptable person, including any person claiming to be the father who was not a party to the proceedings for the termination of parental rights, (C) any adult biological sibling of any adult adopted or adult adoptable person, and (D) if the adopted or adult adoptable person is deceased, any adult descendants, including legally adopted descendants.
(4) “Department” means the Department of Children and Families.
(5) “Information” includes information in the records of the courts of probate, Superior Court, the department or child-placing agency or child care facility, the registrars of vital statistics and the Department of Public Health.
(6) “Biological parent” means the biological mother or father of a person.
(7) “Relative” means any person descended from a common ancestor, whether by blood or adoption, not more than three generations removed from the child.
Sec. 45a-744. Legislative policy
It is the policy of the state of Connecticut to make available to adopted and adoptable persons who are adults (1) information concerning their background and status; to give the same information to their adoptive parent or parents; and, in any case where such adopted or adoptable persons are deceased, to give the same information to their adult descendants, including adopted descendants; (2) to provide for consensual release of additional information which may identify the biological parents or relatives of such adult adopted or adoptable persons when release of such information is in the best interests of such persons; (3) except as provided in subdivisions (1) and (4) to (6), inclusive, of this section, to protect the right to privacy of all parties to termination of parental rights, statutory parent and adoption proceedings; (4) to make available to any biological parent of an adult adopted or adult adoptable person, including a person claiming to be the father who was not a party to the proceedings for termination of parental rights, information which would tend to identify such adult adopted or adoptable person; (5) to make available to any adult biological sibling of an adult adopted or adult adoptable person information which would tend to identify such adult adopted or adult adoptable person; and (6) to make available to any adult adopted person eighteen years of age or older or such adopted person’s adult child or grandchild a copy of an original birth certificate, as provided in section 7-53 or 45a-751c.
Sec. 45a-745. Adoption record
(a) For each final decree of adoption decreed by a court of probate, the clerk of the court shall prepare a record on a form prescribed by the Department of Public Health. The record shall include all facts necessary to locate and identify the original birth certificate of the adopted person and to establish the new birth certificate of the adopted person, and shall include official notice from the court of the adoption, including identification of the court action and proceedings.
(b) Each petitioner for adoption, the attorney for the petitioner and each social or welfare agency or other person concerned with the adoption shall supply the clerk with information which is necessary to complete the adoption record. The supplying of the information shall be a prerequisite to the issuance of a final adoption decree by the court.
(c) Not later than the fifteenth day of each calendar month, the clerk of the Court of Probate shall forward to the Department of Public Health the record provided for in subsection (a) of this section for all final adoption decrees issued during the preceding month.
(d) When the Department of Public Health receives a record of adoption for a person born outside the state, the record shall be forwarded to the proper registration authority of the place of birth.
(e) The Department of Public Health, upon receipt of a record of adoption for a person born in this state, shall establish a new certificate of birth in the manner prescribed in section 7-53, except that no new certificate of birth shall be established if the court decreeing the adoption, the adoptive parents or the adopted person, if over fourteen years of age, so requests.
Sec. 45a-746. Information available to adoptive parents and adult adopted or adoptable person
(a) To the extent reasonably available, the following information concerning the biological parents of any adopted or adoptable person shall be recorded by the child-placing agency or department which has access to the information, in writing on a form provided by the department: (1) Age of biological parents in years, not dates of birth, at the birth of the adopted or adoptable person; (2) heritage of the biological parent or parents, which shall include (A) nationality, (B) ethnic background and (C) race; (3) education, which shall be number of years of school completed by the biological parent or parents; (4) general physical appearance of the biological parent or parents at the time of the birth of the adopted or adoptable person in terms of height, weight, color of hair, eyes, skin and other information of a similar nature; (5) talents, hobbies and special interests of the biological parent or parents; (6) existence of any other child or children born to either biological parent of the adopted or adoptable person; (7) reasons for placing the child for adoption or for biological parental rights being terminated; (8) religion of biological parent or parents; (9) field of occupation of biological parent or parents in general terms; (10) health history of biological parent or parents and blood relatives, on a standardized form provided by the department; (11) manner in which plans for the adopted or adoptable person’s future were made by biological parent or parents; (12) relationship between the biological parents; (13) any psychological, psychiatric or social evaluations, including the date of the evaluation, any diagnosis, and a summary of any findings; and (14) any other relevant nonidentifying information. In addition, such information to the extent reasonably available and applicable concerning the biological and adoptive grandparents, adoptive siblings, and siblings of the whole blood and half-blood and such siblings of the biological parents shall be recorded by the child-placing agency or department which has access to the information in writing on a form provided by the department.
(b) The information in subsection (a) of this section, if available, shall be given in writing to the adoptive parents not later than the date of finalization of the adoption proceedings.
(c) The information in subsection (a) of this section and any other nonidentifying information furnished to the child-placing agency from time to time shall be made available in writing upon written request to the following persons provided the child-placing agency or department is satisfied as to the identity of such persons: (1) The adopted or adoptable person who is an adult; (2) the adoptive parents of the adopted person, provided if the adopted person is an adult, such adopted person must give notarized permission to the parents; (3) the guardian or legally authorized representative of an adopted or adoptable person; (4) if the adopted or adoptable person is deceased, any adult descendants, including legally adopted descendants, of such person, provided a certificate of death of such person is presented. Any information requested pursuant to this section shall be provided to the applicant within sixty days of receipt of the request. The child-placing agency, department or court shall notify in writing any person making such request if the information cannot be made available within sixty days and shall state the reason for the delay.
(d) At any time, upon written request, any biological parent shall be given in writing, for purposes of verifying, correcting and adding information, any information in subdivisions (1) to (14), inclusive, of subsection (a) of this section, provided the child-placing agency, department or court is satisfied as to the identity of the parent making this request. Such information shall be provided within sixty days of receipt of such request unless the child-placing agency, department or court notifies the person requesting such information that it cannot be made available within sixty days and states the reason for the delay. Any such biological parent who believes such information to be inaccurate or incomplete may add a statement to the record setting forth what he or she believes to be an accurate or complete version of such information or updated information. Such statement shall become a permanent part of the record and shall be included with any information disclosed pursuant to this section.
(e) None of the information provided for in this section shall be made available if it is of such a nature that it would tend to identify a biological parent or parents of the adopted person, except as provided in sections 45a-750, 45a-751, 45a-751a, 45a-751b and 45a-753.
(f) The provisions of chapter 55 shall not apply to the provisions of this section.
Sec. 45a-747. Information regarding adoption completed before October 1, 1977
For any adoption completed before October 1, 1977, information in section 45a-746, if available, shall be given in writing to the adoptive parent or parents of an adopted person upon their written request to the child-placing agency, department, court of probate or superior court which has the information. Any such request shall be accompanied by a statement made by such adopted person under oath authorizing such disclosure.
Sec. 45a-748. Agency or department to make effort to obtain information
Each child-placing agency or the department shall be required to make a reasonable effort to obtain the information provided for in section 45a-746 for each child being placed for adoption or for whom there is a probability of adoption, but the lack of such information shall not be a bar to the granting of a decree of adoption, provided the child-placing agency or department has made a reasonable effort to obtain the information. If the judge of probate decides that a reasonable effort has not been made to obtain the information or that the information is being unreasonably withheld, the judge may order the child-placing agency or department to make a reasonable effort to obtain the information or to release the information. Any child-placing agency or department aggrieved by the order may appeal to the Superior Court.
Sec. 45a-749. Request for information
A person entitled to nonidentifying information under subsection (c) of section 45a-746 may request the information provided in said section by applying in person or in writing to the child-placing agency in this state or the department which has the information. Such information shall not be released unless the child-placing agency or department is satisfied as to the identity of the person requesting information under the provisions of this section. For the purposes of this section, any records at the Court of Probate or the Superior Court or the Department of Public Health shall be available to an authorized representative of the child-placing agency or department to which the request has been made. Such information may be released in writing or in person.
Sec. 45a-750. Identifying information
(a) A certificate of birth registration or a certified copy of the certificate of birth shall be issued in accordance with subsection (c) of section 7-51 or section 7-52 to any adoptable person by the Department of Public Health whether or not such person knows the names of his or her birth parents, provided such department is satisfied as to the identity of the person for whom the certificate is being requested. Any child-placing agency, the department or any court having information which is needed to locate such certificate shall furnish it to the Department of Public Health.
(b) Any person for whom there is only a removal of custody or removal of guardianship, and such removal took place in this state shall be given information that may identify the biological parent or parents or any relative of such person, upon request, in person or in writing, in accordance with subsection (g) of section 45a-751b, provided such information with respect to any relative shall not be released unless the consents required in subsection (f) of section 45a-751b are obtained.
(c) The provisions of chapter 55 shall not apply to the provisions of this section or section 45a-751. Any information provided in this section shall not be released unless the child-placing agency, department or court is satisfied as to the identity of the person requesting the information.
Sec. 45a-751. Release of identifying information by child-placing agency or department
(a) Any authorized applicant may, by applying in person or in writing to the child-placing agency or department, request the release of information that identifies or would tend to identify biological relatives who are unknown as the result of an adoption or termination of parental rights. The child-placing agency or department shall attempt to locate the person or persons sought in the request.
(b) Following such attempt, the child-placing agency or department shall furnish the information requested unless: (1) The consents required by section 45a-751b are not given; or (2) the child-placing agency or department determines at any time that the release of the requested information would be seriously disruptive to or endanger the physical or emotional health of the applicant; or (3) the child-placing agency or department determines at any time that the release of the requested information would be seriously disruptive to or endanger the physical or emotional health of the person whose identity is being requested.
(c) If the child-placing agency or department within sixty days of receipt of the request denies the request pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the child-placing agency or department shall inform the applicant in writing of its determination. If a determination to grant or to deny the request is not reached within sixty days, the child-placing agency or department shall state the reason for the delay.
Sec. 45a-751a. Conditions re release of information. Counseling
(a) If the authorized applicant is a resident of this state and it appears that counseling is advisable with release of the information, the child-placing agency or department may request that such person appear for an interview.
(b) If the authorized applicant is not a resident of Connecticut and it appears that counseling is advisable with release of the information, the child-placing agency or department may refer the person to an out-of-state child-placing agency or appropriate governmental agency or department, approved by the department or accredited by the Child Welfare League of America, the National Conference of Catholic Charities, the Family Services Association of America or the Council on Accreditation of Services of Families and Children.
(c) If an out-of-state referral is made, the information shall be released to the out-of-state child-placing agency or department for release to the authorized applicant, provided such information shall not be released if such child-placing agency or department determines that release of the requested information would be seriously disruptive to or endanger the physical or emotional health of the adult adopted or adoptable person or the person whose identity is being requested and provided such information shall not be released unless the consents required by subsection (b) of section 45a-751b are given and the out-of-state child-placing agency or department is satisfied as to the identity of the person.
Sec. 45a-751b. Disclosure of identifying information. Consent required. Exception
(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, if parental rights were terminated on or after October 1, 1995, any information tending to identify the adult adopted or adoptable person, a biological parent, including a person claiming to be the father who was not a party to the proceedings for the termination of parental rights, or adult biological sibling shall not be disclosed unless written consent is obtained from the person whose identity is being requested.
(b) (1) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, if parental rights were terminated on or before September 30, 1995, (A) any information tending to identify the biological parents, including a person claiming to be the father who was not a party to the proceedings for the termination of parental rights, shall not be disclosed unless written consent is obtained from each biological parent who was party to such proceedings, except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, and (B) identifying information shall not be disclosed to a biological parent, including a person claiming to be the father who was not a party to the proceedings for the termination of parental rights, without the written consent of each biological parent who was a party to such proceedings and the consent of the adult adopted or adoptable person whose identity is being requested.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, on and after October 1, 2009, information tending to identify a biological parent who is subject to this subsection may be disclosed to an authorized applicant if the biological parent whose information is to be disclosed provides written consent, provided the child-placing agency or department attempts to determine the whereabouts of the other biological parent and obtain written consent from such other biological parent to permit disclosure of such information in the manner permitted under subdivision (1) of this subsection. If such other biological parent cannot be located or does not provide such written consent, information tending to identify the biological parent who has provided written consent may be disclosed to an authorized applicant, provided: (A) Information tending to identify the other biological parent shall not be disclosed without the written consent of the other biological parent, and (B) the biological parent whose information is to be disclosed signs an affidavit that such parent shall not disclose any information tending to identify the other biological parent without the written consent of the other biological parent.
(c) Regardless of the date parental rights were terminated, on or after July 1, 2021, the registrar of vital statistics of the municipality of an adopted person’s birth shall, not later than thirty days after a written request, issue an uncertified copy of an original birth certificate to such adopted person if her or she is eighteen years of age or older and the subject of such birth certificate, or to such adopted person’s child or grandchild, in accordance with the provisions of section 7-53, as amended by this act.
(d) If the whereabouts of any person whose identity is being sought are unknown, the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem pursuant to subsection (c) of section 45a-753.
(e) When the authorized applicant requesting identifying information has contact with a biological sibling who is a minor, identifying information shall not be disclosed unless consent is obtained from the adoptive parents or guardian or guardian ad litem of the sibling.
(f) Any information tending to identify any adult relative other than a biological parent shall not be disclosed unless written consent is obtained from such adult relative. The consent of any biological parents common to the person making the request and the person to be identified shall be required unless (1) the parental rights of such parents have been terminated and not reinstated, guardianship has been removed and not reinstated or custody has been removed and not reinstated with respect to such adult relative or (2) the adoption was finalized on or after June 12, 1984. No consent shall be required if the person to be identified is deceased. If the person to be identified is deceased, the information that may be released shall be limited as provided in subsection (e) of section 45a-753.
(g) Any adult person for whom there is only removal of custody or removal of guardianship as specified in subsection (b) of section 45a-750 may apply in person or in writing to the child-placing agency, the department, the court of probate or the superior court that has the information. Such information shall be made available within sixty days of receipt of such request unless the child-placing agency, department or court notifies the person requesting the information that it cannot be made available within sixty days and states the reason for the delay. If the person making such request is a resident of this state and it appears that counseling is advisable with release of the information, the child-placing agency or department may request that the person appear for an interview. If the person making such request is not a resident of this state, and if it appears that counseling is advisable with release of the information, the child-placing agency, department or court may refer the person to an out-of-state agency or appropriate governmental agency or department, approved by the department or accredited by the Child Welfare League of America, the National Conference of Catholic Charities, the Family Services Association of America or the Council on Accreditation of Services of Families and Children. If an out-of-state referral is made, the information shall be released to the out-of-state child-placing agency or department for release to the applicant, provided such information shall not be released unless the out-of-state child-placing agency or department is satisfied as to the identity of the person.
Sec. 45a-751c. Order directing issuance of uncertified copy of original birth certificate.
On the petition of an authorized applicant, as defined in section 45a-743, the Probate Court or the Superior Court that finalized an adoption or appointed a guardian ad litem in accordance with section 45a-753 shall issue an order directing the registrar of vital statistics of the municipality of an adopted person’s birth to issue an uncertified copy of an original birth certificate to the authorized applicant in accordance with subsection (b) of section 7-53, as amended by this act, provided the person named in the certificate of birth is deceased and (1) each birth parent named on the original birth certificate: (A) Consents to the release of identifying information, in accordance with sections 45a-751 to 45a-751b, inclusive, as amended by this act; or (B) is deceased; or (2) a legal representative or guardian ad litem consents to the release of identifying information on behalf of the birth parent, in accordance with section 45a-753.
Sec. 45a-753. Obtaining consent of person whose identity is requested. Petition to court.
(a) If a request is received pursuant to section 45a-751, the child-placing agency or department that has agreed to attempt to locate the person or persons whose identity is being requested or the child-placing agency or department that furnished a report ordered by the court following a petition shall not be required to expend more than ten hours’ time within sixty days of receipt of the request unless the child-placing agency or department notifies the authorized applicant of a delay and states the reason for the delay. The child-placing agency or department may charge the applicant reasonable compensation and be reimbursed for expenses in locating any person whose identity is being requested. The obtaining of such consent shall be accomplished in a manner that will protect the confidentiality of the communication and shall be done without disclosing the identity of the applicant. For the purposes of this section any records at the Probate Court or the Superior Court shall be available to an authorized representative of the child-placing agency or department to which the request has been made.
(b) If the child-placing agency or department is out-of-state and unwilling to expend time for such purpose, the Probate Court or Superior Court that finalized the adoption or terminated parental rights shall upon petition appoint a licensed or approved child-placing agency or the department to complete the requirements of this section.
(c) If the relative whose identity is requested cannot be located or appears to be incompetent but has not been legally so declared, the Probate Court or the Superior Court shall appoint a guardian ad litem under the provisions of section 45a-132, at the expense of the person making the request. The guardian ad litem shall decide whether to give consent on behalf of the relative whose identity is being requested.
(d) If the relative whose identity has been requested has been declared legally incapable or incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the legal representative of such person may consent to the release of such information.
(e) Such guardian ad litem or legal representative shall give such consent unless after investigation he or she concludes that it would not be in the best interest of the adult person to be identified for such consent to be given. Except as provided in section 45a-751c, if release of the information requires the consent of such guardian ad litem or legal representative, or if the person whose identity is sought is deceased, only the following information may be released: (1) All names by which the person whose identity is being sought has been known, and all known addresses; (2) the date and place of such person’s birth; (3) all places where such person was employed; (4) such person’s Social Security number; (5) the names of educational institutions such person attended; and (6) any other information that may assist in the search of a person who cannot be located.
Sec. 45a-754. Records related to termination of parental rights, removal of parent as guardian, appointment of statutory parent, adoption matters, temporary guardianship and emancipation of minors. Confidentiality. Exceptions.
(a) All records of cases related to termination of parental rights, removal of a parent as guardian, appointment of a statutory parent, adoption matters, temporary guardianship and emancipation of a minor shall be confidential and shall not be open to inspection by or disclosed to any third party, except that (1) such records shall be available to (A) the parties in any such case and their counsel; (B) the Department of Children and Families; (C) any licensed child-placing agency involved in any such case; (D) any judge or employee of a court of this state who, in the performance of his or her duties, requires access to such records; (E) the office of the Probate Court Administrator; and (F) courts of other states under the provisions of sections 46b-115a to 46b-115gg, inclusive; and (2) access to and disclosure of adoption records shall be in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.
(b) Access to adoption records shall be in accordance with sections 45a-743 to 45a-753, inclusive. The records may also be disclosed upon order of the judge of probate to a petitioner who requires such information for the health or medical treatment of any adopted person. If such information is so required and is not within the records, the biological parent or parents or blood relatives may be contacted in accordance with the procedures in section 45a-753.
Connecticut Law: Adoption Law Generally
Relevant portions of Connecticut law related to adoption. The entire Connecticut adoption statute is available here.
Sec. 45a-724. Who may give child in adoption
(a) The following persons may give a child in adoption:
(1) A statutory parent appointed under the provisions of section 17a-112, section 45a-717 or section 45a-718 may, by written agreement, subject to the approval of the Court of Probate as provided in section 45a-727, give in adoption to any adult person any minor child of whom he or she is the statutory parent; provided, if the child has attained the age of twelve, the child shall consent to the agreement.
(2) Subject to the approval of the Court of Probate as provided in section 45a-727, any parent of a minor child may agree in writing with his or her spouse that the spouse shall adopt or join in the adoption of the child; if that parent is (A) the surviving parent if the other parent has died; (B) the mother of a child born out of wedlock, provided that if there is a putative father who has been notified under the provisions of section 45a-716, the rights of the putative father have been terminated; (C) a former single person who adopted a child and thereafter married; or (D) the sole guardian of the person of the child, if the parental rights, if any, of any person other than the parties to such agreement have been terminated.
(3) Subject to the approval of the Court of Probate as provided in section 45a-727, any parent of a minor child may agree in writing with one other person who shares parental responsibility for the child with such parent that the other person shall adopt or join in the adoption of the child, if the parental rights, if any, of any other person other than the parties to such agreement have been terminated.
(4) Subject to the approval of the Court of Probate as provided in section 45a-727, the guardian or guardians of the person of any minor child who is free for adoption in accordance with section 45a-725 may agree in writing with a relative that the relative shall adopt the child. For the purposes of this subsection “relative” shall include, but not be limited to, a person who has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be the father of a child born out of wedlock, or who has acknowledged his paternity under the provisions of section 46b-172a, with further relationship to the child determined through the father.
(b) If all parties consent to the adoption under subdivision (2), (3) or (4) of subsection (a) of this section, then the application to be filed under section 45a-727 shall be combined with the consent termination of parental rights to be filed under section 45a-717. An application made under subdivision (2), (3) or (4) of subsection (a) of this section shall not be granted in the case of any child who has attained the age of twelve without the child’s consent.
Sec. 45a-724a. Placement for adoption with child-placing agency by Commissioner of Children and Families
Upon the termination of parental rights by the court pursuant to section 17a-112 or 45a-717, the court, at the request of the Commissioner of Children and Families as statutory parent, may order any child-placing agency to place the child for adoption.
Sec. 45a-725. When child free for adoption
A minor child shall be considered free for adoption and the Court of Probate may grant an application for the appointment of a statutory parent if any of the following have occurred: (a) The child has no living parents; (b) all parental rights have been terminated under Connecticut law; (c) (1) in the case of any child from outside the United States, its territories or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico placed for adoption by the Commissioner of Children and Families or by any child-placing agency, the petitioner has filed an affidavit that the child has no living parents or that the child is free for adoption and that the rights of all parties in connection with the child have been properly terminated under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the child was domiciled before being removed to the state of Connecticut; or (2) in the case of any child from any of the United States, its territories or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico placed by the Commissioner of Children and Families or a child-placing agency, the petitioner has filed an affidavit that the child has no living parents or has filed in court a certified copy of the court decree in which the rights of all parties in connection with the child have been terminated under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the child was domiciled before being removed to the state of Connecticut, and the child-placing agency obtained guardianship or other court authority to place the child for adoption. If no such affidavit or certified decree has been filed, then termination of parental rights proceedings shall be required.
Sec. 45a-726. Placement of adoptive children by Commissioner of Children and Families or child-placing agency
(a) If the Commissioner of Children and Families or a child-placing agency is appointed as statutory parent for any child free for adoption, the commissioner or such agency shall not refuse to place or delay placement of such child with any prospective adoptive parent solely on the basis of a difference in race, color or national origin.
(b) The Commissioner of Children and Families or the child-placing agency, in determining placement for each child, shall focus on the particular needs of the child and the capacity of the prospective adoptive parent to meet such needs. Whenever possible, siblings should be placed with the same prospective adoptive parent unless it is determined not to be in the best interests of a sibling.
(c) The Commissioner of Children and Families shall not discriminate in preparing a home study or in placing a child with a prospective adoptive parent based on whether the prospective parent is or is not willing to become a foster parent pending an adoption placement.
Sec. 45a-726a. Consideration of sexual orientation of prospective adoptive or foster parent
Section 45a-726a is repealed, effective July 1, 2013.
Sec. 45a-726b. Recruitment of minority families not to delay placement of adoptive child
The recruitment of minority families may not be a reason to delay placement of a child with an available family of a race or ethnicity different from that of the child.
Sec. 45a-726c. Term “adoptive parent” substituted for “adopting parent”
(a) Wherever the words “adopting parent” are used in the following general statutes, “adoptive parent” shall be substituted in lieu thereof: 45a-727, 45a-736 and 45a-746.
(b) The Legislative Commissioners’ Office shall, in codifying said sections of the general statutes pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, make such technical, grammatical and punctuation changes as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.
Sec. 45a-727. Application and agreement for adoption. Investigation, report. Adoptive parents entitled to receive copy of records and other information re history of child. Assessment of fees. Hearing and decree
(a)(1) Except as provided in section 46b-129b, each adoption matter shall be instituted by filing an application in a Court of Probate, together with the written agreement of adoption, in duplicate. One of the duplicates shall be sent immediately to the Commissioner of Children and Families.
(2) The application shall incorporate a declaration that to the best of the knowledge and belief of the declarant there is no other proceeding pending or contemplated in any other court affecting the custody of the child to be adopted, or if there is such a proceeding, a statement in detail of the nature of the proceeding and affirming that the proposed adoption would not conflict with or interfere with the other proceeding. The court shall not proceed on any application which does not contain such a declaration. For the purposes of this declaration, visitation rights granted by any court shall not be considered as affecting the custody of the child.
(3) An application for the adoption of a minor child not related to the adoptive parents shall not be accepted by the Court of Probate unless (A) the child sought to be adopted has been placed for adoption by the Commissioner of Children and Families or a child-placing agency, and the placement for adoption has been approved by the commissioner or a child-placing agency; (B) the placement requirements of this section have been waived by the Adoption Review Board as provided in section 45a-764; (C) the application is for adoption of a minor child by a stepparent as provided in section 45a-733; or (D) the application is for adoption of a child by another person who shares parental responsibility for the child with the parent as provided in subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 45a-724. The commissioner or a child-placing agency may place a child in adoption who has been identified or located by a prospective parent, provided any such placement shall be made in accordance with regulations promulgated by the commissioner pursuant to section 45a-728. If any such placement is not made in accordance with such regulations, the adoption application shall not be approved by the Court of Probate.
(4) The application and the agreement of adoption shall be filed in the Court of Probate for the district where the adoptive parent resides or in the district where the main office or any local office of the statutory parent is located.
(5) The provisions of section 17a-152, regarding placement of a child from another state, and section 17a-175, regarding the interstate compact on the placement of children, shall apply to adoption placements.
(b) (1) The Court of Probate shall request the commissioner or a child-placing agency to make an investigation and written report to it, in duplicate, within sixty days from the receipt of such request. A duplicate of the report shall be sent immediately to the Commissioner of Children and Families.
(2) The report shall be filed with the Court of Probate within the sixty-day period. The report shall indicate the physical and mental status of the child and shall also contain such facts as may be relevant to determine whether the proposed adoption will be in the best interests of the child, including the physical, mental, genetic and educational history of the child and the physical, mental, social and financial condition of the parties to the agreement and the biological parents of the child, if known, and whether the best interests of the child would be served in accordance with the criteria set forth in section 45a-727a. The report shall include a history of physical, sexual or emotional abuse suffered by the child, if any. The report may set forth conclusions as to whether or not the proposed adoption will be in the best interests of the child.
(3) The physical, mental and genetic history of the child shall include information about: (A) The child’s health status at the time of placement; (B) the child’s birth, neonatal, and other medical, psychological, psychiatric, and dental history information; (C) a record of immunizations for the child; and (D) the available results of medical, psychological, psychiatric and dental examinations of the child. The report shall include information, to the extent known, about past and existing relationships between the child and the child’s siblings, biological parents, extended family, and other persons who have had physical possession of or legal access to the child. The educational history of the child shall include, to the extent known, information about the enrollment and performance of the child in educational institutions, results of educational testing and standardized tests for the child, and special educational needs, if any, of the child.
(4) The adoptive parents are entitled to receive copies of the records and other information relating to the history of the child maintained by the commissioner or child-placing agency. The adoptive parents are entitled to receive copies of the records, provided if required by law, the copies have been edited to protect the identity of the biological parents and any other person whose identity is confidential and other identifying information relating to the history of the child. It is the duty of the person placing the child for adoption to edit, to the extent required by law, the records and information to protect the identity of the biological parents and any other person whose identity is confidential.
(5) The report shall be admissible in evidence subject to the right of any interested party to require that the person making it appear as a witness, if available, and such person shall be subject to examination.
(6) For any report under this section the Court of Probate may assess against the adoptive parent or parents a reasonable fee covering the cost and expenses of making the investigation. The fee shall be paid to the state or to the child-placing agency making the investigation and report, provided the report shall be made within the sixty-day period or other time set by the court.
(c) (1) Upon the expiration of the sixty-day period or upon the receipt of such report, whichever is first, the Court of Probate shall set a day for a hearing upon the agreement and shall give reasonable notice of the hearing to the parties to the agreement, the child-placing agency if such agency is involved in the adoption, the Commissioner of Children and Families and the child, if over twelve years of age.
(2) At the hearing the court may deny the application, enter a final decree approving the adoption if it is satisfied that the adoption is in the best interests of the child or order a further investigation and written report to be filed, in duplicate, within whatever period of time it directs. A duplicate of such report shall be sent to the commissioner. The court may adjourn the hearing to a day after that fixed for filing the report. If such report has not been filed with the court within the specified time, the court may thereupon deny the application or enter a final decree in the manner provided in this section.
(3) The Court of Probate shall not disapprove any adoption under this section solely because of an adoptive parent’s marital status or because of a difference in race, color or religion between a prospective adoptive parent and the child to be adopted or because the adoption may be subsidized in accordance with the provisions of section 17a-117.
(4) The Court of Probate shall ascertain as far as possible the date and the place of birth of the child and shall incorporate such facts in the final decree, a copy of which shall be sent to the Commissioner of Children and Families.
Sec. 45a-727a. Legislative findings re best interests of child
The General Assembly finds that:
(1) The best interests of a child are promoted by having persons in the child’s life who manifest a deep concern for the child’s growth and development;
(2) The best interests of a child are promoted when a child has as many persons loving and caring for the child as possible; and
(3) The best interests of a child are promoted when the child is part of a loving, supportive and stable family, whether that family is a nuclear, extended, split, blended, single parent, adoptive or foster family.
Sec. 45a-728. Regulations re adoption placement of children identified or located by prospective parents
The Commissioner of Children and Families shall adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 concerning adoption placement of children who have been identified or located by prospective adoptive parents. Such regulations shall provide that for adoptions involving an identified expectant mother, counseling of the birth mother shall be required within seventy-two hours of birth of the child, or as soon as medically possible after the birth, and that permissible payment of expenses for birth parent counseling shall include the cost of transportation. Such counseling may be provided by a person with a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling, psychology or related mental health disciplines from an accredited college or university.
Sec. 45a-728a. Participation in birth and visitation of newborn identified for adoption by prospective adoptive parents
Prospective adoptive parents may participate in the labor and birth of the child identified for adoption and may visit with such newborn child, provided the birth mother, the child-placing agency and her physician agree and such participation and visitation are consistent with the medically necessary procedures of the hospital.
Sec. 45a-728b. Discharge of newborn identified for adoption from hospital
Prospective adoptive parents permitted to attend hospital programs re infant care. Any licensed hospital discharging a newborn infant identified for adoption to a child-placing agency shall arrange for the physical transfer of custody of such infant to take place in a safe, secure and private room on the hospital premises. The prospective adoptive parents may be present at the discharge with the approval of the child-placing agency. At the time of discharge, the hospital shall provide such prospective adoptive parents or child-placing agency with any nonidentifying information customarily provided to birth parents upon discharge concerning the care, feeding and health of the infant. The hospital shall provide the child-placing agency with the medical information concerning the birth mother and the infant within a reasonable time. Such prospective adoptive parents shall be permitted to participate in any program of instruction regarding infant care and child development that is made available by such licensed hospital to birth parents, provided such prospective adoptive parents pay the cost of such participation in such program.
Sec. 45a-730. Validation of foreign adoption. Petition filed in Probate Court
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 45a-727, when the adoption of a minor child born outside the United States or its territories has been finalized in a jurisdiction other than the United States or its territories, and such minor is unable to obtain citizenship in the United States because the adoptive parents did not personally see and observe the child prior to or during the adoption proceedings, a petition for validation of such adoption may be filed with a court of probate.
(b) The petition may be made by an adoptive parent or a duly authorized officer of any child-placing agency.
(c) The petition shall be filed in the court of probate in which the petitioner resides or in the district in which the main office or any local office of the child-placing agency is located.
(d) The petition shall be accompanied by an authenticated and exemplified copy of the adoption unless, upon a showing of good cause, the court waives such requirement.
(e) Upon receipt of the petition the court shall hold a hearing on said petition within forty-five days and shall order such notice as it may direct.
(f) The court may validate the adoption of the minor child if it finds after hearing that: (1) The adoption of the child born outside the United States or its territories occurred outside the United States or its territories and (2) United States Immigration and Naturalization Service refuses to naturalize said minor because the adoptive parents did not personally see and observe the child prior to or during the adoption proceedings, and (3) it is in the best interest of the child.
(g) Any validation pursuant to a petition filed under this section shall not be construed to validate an adoption otherwise invalid in accordance with the law of the place of adoption.
Sec. 45a-731. Effects of final decree of adoption. Surviving rights
A final decree of adoption, whether issued by a court of this state or a court of any other jurisdiction, shall have the following effect in this state:
(1) All rights, duties and other legal consequences of the biological relation of a child and parent shall thereafter exist between the adopted person and the adoptive parent and the relatives of such adoptive parent. Such adopted person shall be treated as if such adopted person were the biological child of the adoptive parent, for all purposes including the applicability of statutes which do not expressly exclude an adopted person in their operation or effect;
(2) The adoptive parent and the adopted person shall have rights of inheritance from and through each other and the biological and adopted relatives of the adoptive parent. The right of inheritance of an adopted person extends to the heirs of such adopted person, and such heirs shall be the same as if such adopted person were the biological child of the adoptive parent;
(3) The adopted person and the biological children and other adopted children of the adoptive parent shall be treated, unless otherwise provided by statute, as siblings, having rights of inheritance from and through each other. Such rights of inheritance extend to the heirs of such adopted person and of the biological children and other adopted children, and such heirs shall be the same as if each such adopted person were the biological child of the adoptive parent;
(4) The adopted person shall, except as hereinafter provided, be treated as if such adopted person were the biological child of the adoptive parent for purposes of the applicability of all documents and instruments, whether executed before or after the adoption decree is issued, which do not expressly exclude an adopted person in their operation or effect. The words “child”, “children”, “issue”, “descendant”, “descendants”, “heir”, “heirs”, “lawful heirs”, “grandchild” and “grandchildren”, when used in any will or trust instrument shall include legally adopted persons unless such document clearly indicates a contrary intention. Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter or modify the provisions of section 45a-257 concerning revocation of a will or codicil when a child is born as the result of artificial insemination;
(5) Except in the case of an adoption as provided in subdivision (2) or (3) of subsection (a) of section 45a-724 or subsection (c) or (d) of section 45a-734, the legal relationship between the adopted person and the adopted person’s biological parent or parents and the relatives of such biological parent or parents is terminated for all purposes, including the applicability of statutes which do not expressly include such an adopted person in their operation and effect. The biological parent or parents of the adopted person are relieved of all parental rights and responsibilities;
(6) Except in the case of an adoption as provided in subdivision (2) or (3) of subsection (a) of section 45a-724 or subsection (c) or (d) of section 45a-734, the biological parent or parents and their relatives shall have no rights of inheritance from or through the adopted person, nor shall the adopted person have any rights of inheritance from or through the biological parent or parents of the adopted person and the relatives of such biological parent or parents, except as provided in this section;
(7) Except in the case of an adoption as provided in subdivision (2) or (3) of subsection (a) of section 45a-724 or subsection (c) or (d) of section 45a-734, the legal relationship between the adopted person and the adopted person’s biological parent or parents and the relatives of such biological parent or parents is terminated for purposes of the construction of documents and instruments, whether executed before or after the adoption decree is issued, which do not expressly include the individual by name or by some designation not based on a parent and child or blood relationship, except as provided in this section;
(8) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (1) to (7), inclusive, of this section, when one of the biological parents of a minor child has died, adoption of such child shall not affect the rights of such child to inherit from or through the deceased parent and the deceased parent’s relatives;
(9) Nothing in this section shall deprive an adopted person who is the biological child of a veteran who served in time of war as defined in subsection (a) of section 27-103 of aid under the provisions of section 27-140 or deprive a child receiving benefits under the Social Security Act, 42 USC Sec. 301 et seq., as amended from time to time, from continued receipt of benefits authorized under said act;
(10) Except as provided in subdivision (11) of this section, the provisions of law in force prior to October 1, 1959, affected by the provisions of this section shall apply to the estates or wills of persons dying prior to said date and to inter vivos instruments executed prior to said date and which on said date were not subject to the grantor’s power to revoke or amend;
(11) The provisions of subdivisions (1) to (9), inclusive, of this section shall apply to the estate or wills of persons dying prior to October 1, 1959, and to inter vivos instruments executed prior to said date and which on said date were not subject to the grantor’s power to revoke or amend, unless (A) a contrary intention of the testator or grantor is demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence, or (B) distribution of the estate or under the will or under the inter vivos instrument has been or will be made pursuant to court order entered prior to October 1, 1991;
(12) No fiduciary, distributee of the estate or person to whom a legacy has been paid shall be liable to any other person for any action taken or benefit received prior to October 1, 1991, provided any such action was taken or benefit was received in good faith by such fiduciary, distributee or legatee with respect to the applicability of statutes concerning the rights of inheritance or rights to take of adopted persons under any instrument executed prior to October 1, 1959;
(13) No fiduciary shall have the obligation to determine the rights of inheritance or rights to take of an adopted person under an instrument executed prior to October 1, 1959, unless the fiduciary receives a written claim for benefits by or on behalf of such adopted person.
Sec. 45a-731a. Issuance of final adoption decree notwithstanding death of child
If (1) a minor child, free for adoption pursuant to section 45a-725 on or after January 1, 1995, was placed with prospective adoptive parents by the Commissioner of Children and Families or a licensed child-placing agency, (2) an application for adoption was filed with the court of probate having jurisdiction, and (3) the child died prior to April 30, 1995, the court may enter a final decree approving such adoption, notwithstanding the death of such minor child prior to the final adoption decree, provided such adoption is solely for the purpose of establishing a name for the child and rights concerning burial. No other right or responsibility shall inure as a result of an adoption approved pursuant to this section.
Sec. 45a-733. Procedure on application for adoption by stepparent or person who shares parental responsibility with the parent of a child
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 45a-727, in the case of a child sought to be adopted by a stepparent or a person who shares parental responsibility with the parent of such child pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 45a-724, the Probate Court may waive all requirements of notice to the Commissioner of Children and Families and shall waive, unless good cause is shown for an investigation and report, all requirements for investigation and report by the Commissioner of Children and Families or by a child-placing agency. Upon receipt of the application and agreement, the Probate Court may set a day for a hearing upon the agreement and shall give reasonable notice of the hearing to the parties to the agreement and to the child, if over twelve years of age.
(b) At the hearing the court may deny the application, enter a final decree approving the adoption if it is satisfied that the adoption is in the best interests of the child, or, for good cause shown, order an investigation by the Commissioner of Children and Families or a child-placing agency.
Connecticut Law: Adult Adoption
Relevant parts of Connecticut law related to adult adoption. The entire Connecticut adoption statute is available here.
Sec. 45a-734. Adoption of adults. Inheritance.
(a) Any person eighteen years of age or older may, by written agreement with another person at least eighteen years of age but younger than himself or herself, unless the other person is his or her spouse, brother, sister, uncle or aunt of the whole or half blood, adopt the other person as his or her child, provided the written agreement shall be approved by the Probate Court for the district in which the proposed adoptive parent resides or, if the proposed adoptive parent does not reside in this state, for the district in which the adopted person resides.
(b) The Probate Court shall cause notice of the time and place of hearing on the proposed adoption to be given to each party to the adoption agreement. If the spouse of the proposed adoptive parent is not a party to the adoption agreement, notice shall be given to the spouse. The court may give notice to other persons interested in the welfare of the proposed adoptive parent or adopted person. The court shall approve the adoption agreement if it finds that the proposed adoptive parent and adopted person share a relationship that is similar to that between a parent and an adult child and that the adoption is in the best interests of the proposed adoptive parent and adopted person. Upon the court’s approval of the adoption agreement, the adopted person shall become the legal child of the adoptive parent, and the adoptive parent shall become the legal parent of the adopted person, and the provisions of section 45a-731 shall apply.
(c) One parent of an adult child may join in an adoption agreement between the parent’s spouse and the adult child. Upon the court’s approval of the adoption agreement, the legal relationship between the adult child and the parent who did not join in the adoption agreement shall be terminated in accordance with subdivisions (5), (6) and (7) of section 45a-731, and the adopted person shall be the child of the parent and spouse who joined in the adoption agreement, except that the adoption shall not affect the rights of the adopted person to inherit from or through a parent who died before the adoption occurred, as provided in subdivision (8) of section 45a-731.
(d) One parent of an adult child may join in an adoption agreement between one other person and the adult child. Upon the court’s approval of the adoption agreement, the legal relationship between the adult child and the parent who did not join the adoption agreement shall be terminated in accordance with subdivisions (5), (6) and (7) of section 45a-731, and the adopted person shall be the child of the parent and other person who joined the adoption agreement, except that the adoption shall not affect the rights of the adopted person to inherit from or through a parent who died before the adoption occurred, as provided in subdivision (8) of section 45a-731.
(e) A married person shall not adopt a person under the provisions of this section unless both the married person and the married person’s spouse join in the adoption agreement, except that the Probate Court may approve an adoption agreement by either of them upon finding that there is sufficient reason why the other should not join in the agreement.
Please I’m in need of the law that was passed in the state of Connecticut giving all adoptees the legal rights to their biological parents information! I was adopted in Middletown, CT through Catholic Charities in 1970.
Hi, Carol. Unfortunately, that bill is still pending and is not yet law, though it has now moved out of a critical joint legislative committee and is looking promising for passage. Because it is not yet law, adoptees in Connecticut whose adoptions were finalized prior to October 1, 1983, still do not have access to their original birth certificates, except by court order. You should contact Access Connecticut here, which is the organization that is coordinating efforts to pass a pending bill that would provide access to Connecticut adoptees like you.
I was adopted in March 1966, from Catholic Family Charities/Services. How do I go about getting my original birth certificate. I want to know medical info. Names etc. I was born 1/16/1966 Greenwich Hospital Greenwich ct
I think
It is my understanding that the CT law that had imposed a seal of confidentiality on adoption records did not apply retroactively. Connecticut adoptions prior to 1944 were not affected, so those records are available. Those whose adoptions were finalized between 1944 and 1983 continue to have a problem that must be addressed, the sooner, the better. But researchers who are interested in records prior to that time do not have to wait on the Connecticut Assembly. I’m a genealogist, not an attorney or a legislator; and I am basing this information on the experience of a friend whom I had been assisting in researching his mother’s adoption.
Kathleen,
How do you go about getting a record prior to 1944. My Grandmother was adopted in 1917 and is no longer living.
Kathleen,
Does this mean that you can just request the Original Birth Certificate for someone born prior to 1944? My grandmother was adopted in 1917 in Hartford Connecticut.
well thank you for the feedback!! i wonder why that is?? seems strange that records after 1944 and through 1983 would be more difficult to acquire!! either way the roman catholic church has riches enough without my $350!! my adopted parents literally bought me from them through adoption and now i have to pay to gain what is rightfully and lawfully and morally mine????? this is an abomination to humanity!! i’m confident that there are thousands of adoptees out there who are going through emotional and mental hardshipes due to there arrogance and lack of compassion!!! it has to stop!!!
catholic family services? I couldn’t agree more, just money hungry and the 350 doesn’t guarantee any info if not much was given
Catholic family services here too, & I can’t afford to pay them that much just for them to come back & tell me they don’t have the info or they can’t give it to me. I just want to know if my mom is alive or if I have any siblings. That’s all 🙁
Born 6/24/1985 at Hartford Hospital, Adopted Aug 1st, same year.
hello, thank goodness their really is a God!! He whispered to me to get my DNA test done, so I paid $100 for that, well 3 months later got a hit on a sibling and now have gotten in contact with my birth mother through those means! when the enemy places a road block, God brings in the bulldozers!! Thank You Lord!! In Jesus name, Amen!
and for all of those adoptees who want to make a change in legislations and adoptee laws, now would be a great time to band together and maybe hold some protests of our own!! just a suggestioin!
🙏Amen and congratulations!
My husband’s still trying to locate: sister born:10/29/1961 and his
Half brother born: 12/6/1964
Stamford Ct.
Can someone tell me if I can receive an original birth certificate. I was born Micheline Bonita Costta in Stamford, Ct. 11/25/1959. My mother Annemarie , remarried in 1965 to my stepfather and they formally/legally adopted my brother and myself and never a word was said, we were much too young to be aware of what was going on. It wasnt until after my stepfather died and that we discovered he wasnt our biological father.
How can I find out who our father was , birthplace, birthdate?This has been a futile search …please help!!!
Any ideas how to obtain my original birth certificate? I was adopted in 1955, so it falls in that 1944-1983 window. Any progress being made in the legislature to make access easier? I currently live in Florida, on a very limited budget, so travelling to Connecticu to go to court is out of the question.
Did the law/bill pass yet or is Connecticut still holding us hostage if we were born/adopted between 1944 to 1983. It passed in NY recently, so I guess there’s hope
It has not yet passed despite efforts each year to make that happen. I believe it will pass, as it feels inevitable. Let’s hope New York’s progress helps things along this session.
So very frustrating!
I have a question… i was adopted by my dad. I was raised always by my mom and dad (adopted dad) my biological father terminated his rights, because this was done in 1977 I cannot access my original birth certificate… it is not with my adoption papers as I thought it was.
How close is the state to changing the law for people adopted prior to 1983?
Thank you
Hi. I was adopted in ct when I was around 10 yrs old. I’ve always had a good relationship with my bio mom and adoptive parents till this day. Now 22 yrs old, it would make us so happy to get my original certified birth certificate.
The law doesn’t seem to address people whose adoptions were finalized in Connecticut, but who were born in a different state. For me, that’s California (with in interim adoption in Indiana). I assume that Connecticut can’t override the laws of other states, so people like me are still out of luck.
I was adopted when I was 11 in 2012 but the adopted birth certificates have two different date of births one is 11/23/80 and the other is 11/26/80 and the birth certificates states that my adopted mother was single when she had married since 1983. I also have my adopted mother’s husbands last name but on the birth certificate it states father unknown. I just want to know the truth and I want to know how I can have the sealed adoption records unsealed and how I can have access to the court records of the adoption. I know who my biological parents are.
You can update this page now. As of 7/1/2021, all adoptees in Connecticut will have access to their original birth certificate.
Yes! Thanks for pointing that out. I placed a notice on the page now and will change everything over once it becomes effective. Congrats to all Connecticut-born adoptees!
AWESOME! Now I just need to figure out how to request it. I know the town hall of where you were born has birth cert, but will they have these? Thanks for any help.
Hi I actually just put mine in I was born in 1989 but wasnt adopted til 5 years later. You can print out a request form on the CT Town clerks vital records site its super easy it lists at the bottom of the page what you need to send in. I had to do photo ID and the form plus a money order of 65.00 payable to the town of where you where born. I just got a notice from my informed delivery account and it says I have a letter from my town Clerk coming already. its been like a week and half. They have 30 days to do it. I hope you get yours.
Heather.
Hi Heather,
I’m curious if the original birth certificate you requested has your biological parents’ names or your adoptive parents’ names on it? I’m very confused by this new Connecticut law, and don’t want to pay $65.00 for a piece of paper with my adoptive parents’ names on it.
Thanks – hope to hear from you.
Juliette
I came with my Biological parents name but my father was not listed. Im guessing her wasn’t there but yes the 65 is worth it. The original is not legal so it cannot be used for anything except for personal resons. I hope this helps.
So as of July 2021 anyone adopted can get there original birth certificate?
I believe that is the law that was passed. I’m just not sure who to contact or how to get it. I was adopted in 1970 and I very much want to get a hold of mine.
I have a FAQ page here that provides an overview of the law and has links to the state forms that are used for applying.
Are there any lawyers in the New Haven area who specialize in adoption ? Particularly in obtaining birth records of a sibling that was adopted.
The original will have birth mother, but it is common for no father to be listed. I got mine recently this way.