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Adoptee Rights Law Center

Legal representation and advocacy for adult adopted people

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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 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.

Last updated on January 3, 2022

Michigan

Detail of Michigan road map

Michigan is a donut hole state. It divides access to original birth certificates by date of birth, with those born between 1945 and 1980 the big losers. Find out more about Michigan’s complicated and deeply flawed system.

Last updated on May 28, 2019

Maryland

Detail from road atlas of Maryland

Since 1937, Maryland has denied adult adoptees unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. OBCs are currently available only by court order. Adoptees who are at least 21 years of age and whose adoptions were finalized on or after January 1, 2000, may request their original birth certificates. Birth parents, however, may at any time veto disclosure of birth records or identifying information.

Last updated on February 9, 2022

Maine

Adult adoptees in Maine have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. Adoptees must be 18 years of age before requesting their OBCs. Maine allows a birth parent to file a contact preference and medical history form, which is attached to the original birth certificate.

Last updated on February 26, 2021

Louisiana

Adult adoptees in Louisiana do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. An adult adoptee in Louisiana must demonstrate “compelling reasons” for a court to order release of an original birth certificate.

Last updated on January 3, 2022

Iowa

Adult adoptees in Iowa do not have a right to obtain their own original birth certificates. It takes a court order to release any information.

Last updated on March 31, 2019

Arkansas

Adult adoptees in Arkansas do not currently have an unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificates, except by court order. A new law, effective August 1, 2018, will change this, but requests by an adult adoptee 21 years or over will be subject to birthparent redaction. In addition, the cost to request the “adoption file” will be $100.

Last updated on January 3, 2022

Connecticut

Detail from Connecticut road map

Only adult adoptees whose adoptions were finalized 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.

Last updated on February 23, 2021

Idaho

Detail from Idaho road map

Adult adoptees in Idaho do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. Access is available only by court order or conditionally through a state-operated “voluntary adoption registry.” Disclosure of an original birth certificate through the registry is subject to consent of the parties and may require the consent of both birth parents.

Last updated on January 25, 2022

Georgia

Detail from Georgia road map

Adult adoptees in Georgia do not have access to their original birth certificates, except 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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