Summary
Only adult adoptees whose adoptions were finalized on or after October 1, 1983, have unrestricted access to their birth certificates. All other adult adoptees must obtain a court order—contingent upon the consent or death of birth parents— to obtain their original birth certificates.
Identifying information may be available to adult adoptees in Connecticut, subject to birth parent consent.
An adoption agency or the Connecticut Department of Children and Families may 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.”
Connecticut law requires child-placing agencies and the Department of Children and Families to maintain adoption registries.
Relevant Connecticut Law: Original Birth Certificates
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, 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. Upon receipt of such court order, the department 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 request, the department shall issue an uncertified copy of an original certificate of birth to (1) an adopted person who is eighteen years of age or older whose adoption was finalized on or after October 1, 1983, or (2) such adopted person’s adult child or grandchild. 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. 45a-751c. Order directing issuance of uncertified copy of original birth certificate.
(a) On the petition of an adopted person who is eighteen years of age or older and whose adoption was finalized prior to October 1, 1983, or such adopted person’s adult child or grandchild, 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 Department of Public Health to issue an uncertified copy of an original birth certificate to such adopted person or such adopted person’s child or grandchild in accordance with subsection (b) of section 7-53, provided each birth parent named on the original birth certificate: (1) Consents to the release of identifying information in accordance with sections 45a-751 to 45a-751b, inclusive; (2) is deceased; or (3) 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. Nothing in this section shall limit the right of an adopted person eighteen years of age or older whose adoption was finalized on or after October 1, 1983, or such adopted person’s adult child or grandchild to obtain an uncertified copy of an original birth certificate pursuant to section 7-53.
(b) 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 Department of Public Health to issue an uncertified copy of an original birth certificate to the authorized applicant in accordance with subsection (b) of section 7-53, provided the person named in the certificate of birth is deceased and each birth parent named on the original birth certificate: (1) Consents to the release of identifying information, in accordance with sections 45a-751 to 45a-751b, inclusive; (2) is deceased; or (3) 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.
Relevant Connecticut Law: Identifying 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, 2015, the Department of Public Health shall, upon request, issue an uncertified copy of an original birth certificate to an adopted person eighteen years of age or older who is the subject of the birth certificate and whose adoption was finalized on or after October 1, 1983, or such adopted person’s adult child or grandchild, in accordance with the provisions of section 7-53.
(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.
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.
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.
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!!!