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Legal representation and advocacy for adoptees

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Adoption Registry

Adoption registries are registration and matching systems used primarily for search and reunion. At least 20 states maintain state-funded and/or state-operated adoption registries, and some states require the use of a registry in order to access an OBC.

Last updated on December 15, 2020

Illinois

Detail from Illinois road map

IIllinois denies the unrestricted right of all adult adoptees to obtain their own original birth certificates. It uses a date-based approach and allows redactions.

Last updated on December 16, 2020

West Virginia

Detail from West Virginia road map

West Virginia denies adult adoptees the unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificates upon request. A court order, requiring good cause, is required before the release of an OBC.

Last updated on March 31, 2019

Vermont

Detail from Vermont road map

Vermont does not allow adult adoptees unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. Access may be obtained through a probate court order or by adoptees who are at least 18 years of age and who have already obtained identifying information from Vermont’s Adoption Registry.

Last updated on October 28, 2020

Utah

Detail from Utah road map

Utah does not allow adult adoptees access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. A petition for release must show good cause in order for the court to unseal the original birth certificate.

Last updated on November 17, 2020

Texas

Detail of Texas road map

Texas law does not provide adult adoptees unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. An adult adoptee must petition the court in which the adoption occurred for release of an OBC, though adoptees who are at least 18 years of age may obtain a non-certified copy of their OBC if they already know the names of their birth parents.

Last updated on July 13, 2017

South Dakota

Detail from South Dakota road map

Adult adoptees in South Dakota do not have access to their original birth certificates except by court order. It is believed, however, that most court petitions for release of an OBC in South Dakota are successful.

Last updated on July 5, 2018

South Carolina

Detail from South Carolina road map

South Carolina does not give adult adoptees unrestricted access to their original birth certificates. It’s actually unclear how the state may respond to requests for access. Pending legislation in 2017 is seeking to amend the law to allow unrestricted access.

Last updated on October 27, 2020

Rhode Island

Detail from map of Rhode Island

Adult adoptees in Rhode Island have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. You must be 25 years of age to request an OBC.

Last updated on January 20, 2020

New York

Detail of New York road map

Until November 14, 2019, New York was one of the most restrictive states in the country for releasing an OBC. That has now completely changed.

Last updated on March 11, 2017

Nevada

Detail of Nevada road map

Nevada law does not provide adult adoptees unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. Access to an OBC in Nevada is available only by court order.

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Contact

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

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

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New York Adoptee Rights Coalition

Adoptee Rights Law Center is part of the New York Adoptee Rights Coalition, a group of organizations committed to enactment of unrestricted OBC access legislation in New York. Join Us

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