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Adoptee Rights Law Center

Legal representation and advocacy for adult adopted people

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State OBC Laws

Articles and posts about the original birth certificate (OBC), an adopted person’s birth record that is typically sealed, locked away, and never ever seen. Except in some states.

Last updated on May 30, 2017

Interactive Map of OBC Access

As part of a 50-state review, I created a map to illustrate where access to an original birth certificate is unrestricted, conditionally restricted, or completely restricted.

Last updated on January 15, 2022

Indiana

Detail from Indiana road map

Indiana does not recognize adult adoptees’ unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificate. While a new law expands the release of “identifying information,” which includes an OBC, a birthparent may prohibit release of that information at any time.

Last updated on April 18, 2022

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 6, 2019

Wyoming

Detail from Wyoming road map

Wyoming does not provide adult adoptees unrestricted access to their original birth certificates. It takes a court order for release of an OBC, and there are no specific standards or procedures outlined for seeking such an order.

Last updated on March 4, 2022

Wisconsin

Detail from Wisconsin road map

Wisconsin law does not provide adult adoptees unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. Wisconsin “impounds” original birth certificates after adoptions and releases them only by court order or through Wisconsin’s Adoption Records Search Program.

Last updated on January 3, 2022

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 January 5, 2021

Washington

Detail from Washington road map

Washington does not allow adult adoptees unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. An OBC is available through the Department of Health but release is subject to birth parent disclosure vetoes as well as to corrupt contact preference forms.

Last updated on November 23, 2019

Virginia

Detail from Virginia road map

Virginia does not provide adult adoptees an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. Release of an OBC requires either a) a state agency’s decision, upon good cause shown, to release identifying information from the adoption records; or b) a court order upon good cause shown.

Last updated on May 11, 2022

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 January 3, 2022

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.

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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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