Adoptee Rights Law Center

Legal representation and advocacy for adult adopted people

Legislation

How Will COVID-19 Issues Affect Me?

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Overview of COVID-19 issues that may impact adopted people beyond the immediate threat to a person’s health, community, and economic safety.

Join Me As I Update the Adoptee Rights Map

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On January 15, 2020, at 12:01am I will update the adoptee rights map to show the unrestricted status of New York. Wanna be there when I do?

My Big Problem With Wisconsin’s Bill

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I support the unrestricted release of identifying information. I do not support mixing that all up and calling it an OBC under a different name.

Updated Info about New York’s Equal Rights Bill

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An updated list of questions and answers about the Weprin/Montgomery Bill, which was finally passed in the New York Assembly on June 20, 2019

Toeing the Bottom Line

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With pressure to amend a Texas bill to add discriminatory provisions, it’s unclear if STAR will now “wink” and let it happen.

Is This the Year for Iowa? No.

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Clean bills have made it out of the first legislative “funnel”—a deadline in Iowa for bills to be voted out of committee.

Can You Crowdsource Equal Rights Legislation?

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Help draft a clean Minnesota bill that provides an unrestricted right for all adult adoptees to obtain their own original birth records upon request.

Midterms and Adoptee Rights

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As part of an upcoming gathering of national and local adoptee rights advocates in Austin, Texas, I am putting together resources on what to expect from key states after upcoming midterm elections.

What Equality Could Like in New York

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In order to settle questions and rumors, I’ve laid out some quick answers to what I’ve seen, heard, and been privy to with current New York adoptee rights legislation.

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.