OBC Rights Map
Hover over a state or marker for more information. Click on a state to view a summary of the state’s OBC access law, shown below the map. A full list of states and their restrictions is here and a changelog covering changes in state summaries is also available. There are also interactive maps for pending or prior state OBC access legislation.
All States: Unrestricted, Compromised, and Restricted Access
US OBC Access
Unrestricted States
Unrestricted means an adult adoptee has the right to apply for and obtain an original birth certificate without any restrictions or conditions, other than following general procedures for obtaining a state vital record. Nine states in the United States currently recognize an adult adoptee’s unrestricted right to obtain the OBC.
Unrestricted Access States
Compromised States
Compromised means that a state has enacted laws that discriminatory limit the rights of adult adoptees to obtain their own original birth certificates, whether through birth parent disclosure vetoes, redaction of identifying information, or limited rights based on the date of a person’s adoption. Hover over a restriction marker for a list of current restrictions.
Compromised Access States
Conditional Restriction Map
Restricted States
Restricted typically means that adult adoptees have no specific right to obtain their own original birth certificates, except through a court order. The District of Columbia (not pictured) is a restricted state/district.
Restricted Access
District of Columbia
We are developing additional interactive maps to cover other issues, such as pending legislation, state-funded mutual consent adoption registries, and OBC access statistics. Or let us know what you would like to see. We may be able to do it.
Though mobile-friendly, our interactive maps are best viewed and used on a desktop or tablet.