Adoptee Rights Law Center

Legal representation and advocacy for adult adopted people

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

Utah’s New Discriminatory Law: FAQ

How Utah’s new law will work, or more likely not work, for Utah-born adoptees who want their own original birth certificates.

Last updated on

Illinois

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

West Virginia

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

Vermont

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

Utah

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

Texas

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

South Dakota

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

South Carolina

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

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

New York

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.