Adoptee Rights Law Center

Legal representation and advocacy for adult adopted people

Contact Veto

A contact veto is a provision in the law that prohibits or criminalizes contact between an adopted person and birthparents or relatives. Tennessee was the only state that used a contact veto, but it was repealed in 2022 as unnecessary, costly, and ineffective.

Tennessee Dumps Its Contact Veto

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Tennessee in 2022 eliminated its onerous and discriminatory contact veto, which had criminalized contact in the context of adoptions.

What’s an Original Birth Certificate?

Most adopted persons know what an original birth certificate (OBC) is. Many non-adopted people do not. An original birth certificate is the initial birth certificate created shortly after a person's birth. For most people, it is their only birth certificate.

For persons born and adopted in the United States, a new or "amended" birth certificate replaces the OBC once the adoption is final. In addition to replacing the original, the names of the birth parents are also replaced with the names of the adoptive parents. Some states may also alter or omit additional information on a new certificate, including the adoptee's specific place of birth.

Depending on state law, an original birth certificate is sealed and remains unavailable to the adopted person, even when they become an adult. If you are not adopted, your original birth certificate is your only birth certificate---and it is always available to you upon request.