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
Alabama. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates, beginning at age 19. Read more.
Alaska. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their original birth certificates, beginning at age 18. Full Details
Arizona. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
Arkansas. Beginning August 1, 2018, a new Arkansas law allows adult adoptees to request their adoption files. The request, however, is subject to a birthparent's ability to redact their names on the original birth certificates. This flow chart outlines how the law works. More information about the law and its requirements and discriminatory limitations is also here.
California. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Adoptees must petition the court and show “good and compelling cause” in order to obtain any original birth record. Read more.
Colorado. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. An adopted person who is at least 18 years of age may apply for and receive a non-certified copy of their original birth certificate through the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. Read more.
Connecticut. Only adult adoptees whose adoptions were finalized on or 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. Read more.
Delaware. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. While adoptees 21 years of age or older may request their OBCs, birth parents may legally veto their release. Read more.
District of Columbia. Adult adoptees in the do not have access to their original birth certificates, except by court order. The D.C. superior court controls all aspects of releasing an OBC or any identifying information, whether from court records or from vital records. Read more.
Florida. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their original birth certificates. Access is allowed only by court order. Full Details
Georgia. Adult adoptees do not have access to their original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
Hawaii. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their court adoption records, which typically include original birth certificates. Access to the court record is provided upon request to an adoptee who is 18 years of age or older. Read more.
Idaho. Adult adoptees 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. Read more.
Illinois. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. The state has tiered-access and uses an adoption registry to facilitate release of OBCs. The date of birth of an adoptee determines who has unrestricted access to an OBC or who may be subject to a birth parent’s request to redact identifying information on the OBC. Read more.
Indiana. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificates. A new law, effective July 1, 2018, expands the release of specifically defined "identifying information," but a birth parent may prohibit release of that information at any time. Read more.
Iowa. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Iowa adoptee rights groups are active in the state to change the law. Full Details
Kansas. Adult adoptees in Kansas have always had unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. Court records in adoption proceedings are also available to adoptees upon request. Read more.
Kentucky. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. A court order is required. Read more.
Louisiana. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. An adoptee must demonstrate “compelling reasons” for a court to order release of an original birth certificate. Read more.
Maine. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. Adoptees must be 18 years of age before requesting their OBCs. Maine also allows a birth parent to file a genuine contact preference and medical history form, which is attached to the original birth certificate. Read more.
Maryland. For all practical purposes, Maryland should be defined as a "restricted" state because there are so few current adult adoptees who may qualify under its compromised law, which applies only to adoptions finalized on or after January 1, 2000. Because adoptees must also be at least 21 years of age to request the OBC, the law effectively applies only to those adoptees who were older at the time and adopted on or after January 1, 2000. In addition, birthparents under the compromised law may at any time veto disclosure of birth records or identifying information. Adoptees whose adoptions were finalized before January 1, 2000, do not have a right to obtain their OBCs. It remains available only by court order. Read more.
Massachusetts. Not all adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. Rather, adoptees born between July 17, 1974, and January 1, 2008, are denied access to their own OBCs, except by court order. Adoptees born on or before July 17, 1974, have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates, as do those born after January 1, 2008 (upon reaching the age of 18). Read more.
Michigan. Michigan requires the use of a “Central Adoption Registry” to process information and to determine whether an adoptee should or should not get “identifying information,” which does not initially include an original birth certificate. Depending on an adoptee’s date of birth, a parent may deny access to identifying information or withhold access by saying nothing. In either case, no identifying information may be released to the adoptee, except by court order. Read more.
Minnesota. Access to original birth certificates for adult adoptees is complex and based primarily on the date of adoption. Conditional access is currently available only through a complex, confidential, and often expensive intermediary system involving the department of health, the department of human services, and individual adoption agencies. Read more.
Mississippi. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
Missouri. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. A new law, currently being implemented, will allow access to an original birth certificate, subject to birth parent disclosure vetoes that may extend beyond the death of the parent. Read more.
Montana. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. The state has a somewhat complex tiered system of access that depends upon an adoptee’s date of adoption. While access to an original birth certificate may be available more easily to adoptees who are 30 years of age or older, court orders may be required for younger adoptees and in all cases where a birth parent requests that a court order be required. Read more.
Nebraska. Adult adoptee access to the original birth certificate is remarkably complex and confusing. Generally, access depends on the date of an adoptee’s relinquishment and also whether a birth parent—and sometimes an adoptive parent—has affirmatively consented to disclosure or has filed a “nonconsent” form objecting to the OBC’s release. Read more.
Nevada. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
New Hampshire. Adoptees who are at least 18 years of age have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. The state also allows birth parents to file a contact preference form and/or health history questionnaire, neither of which will restrict the right of adult adoptees to obtain their OBCs. Read more.
New Jersey is best described as a “fixed” partial restriction state. While most adult adoptees gained unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates in 2017, approximately 550 birth parents filed disclosure vetoes, prohibiting release of the parents’ identifying information on the OBC. Accordingly, approximately 550 adult adoptees have no access to unredacted original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
New Mexico. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
New York. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Based on how judges have handled adoptee requests to unseal records, New York may be one of the most restrictive states in the U.S. on the issue of access to an original birth certificate. Read more.
North Carolina. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. A court order is required for the release of any identifying information, including an OBC. An OBC must be specifically requested in any court action that seeks the release of identifying information. Read more.
North Dakota. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
Ohio. Not all adoptees in Ohio have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. While legislative reforms removed some restrictions in 2013, significant legal restrictions remain, including birth parent redaction and disclosure vetoes. Read more.
Oklahoma. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their original birth certificates. Currently, nearly all adult adoptees must obtain a court order and show good cause for release. While adoptees whose adoptions were finalized after November 1, 1997, do not require a court order, requests for such OBCs are subject to birth parent disclosure vetoes and redaction. Read more.
Oregon. Adoptees who are at least 21 years of age have an unrestricted right to access their original birth certificates. A birth parent may file a contact preference form but it has no effect or restriction on the right of adult adoptees to receive their OBCs. Oregon law also allows adoptees access to specific records in the court adoption proceedings. Read more.
Pennsylvania. A new law, now effective, allows adoptees who are at least 18 years of age—and who must be high school graduates, possess a GED, or are withdrawn legally from school— to request their original birth record. Birthparents, however may redact identifying information on the OBC by filing a “name redaction request.” Redaction requests may be filed or withdrawn at any time and do not extend beyond a filing parent’s death. Read more.
Rhode Island. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. The adoptee must be 25 years of age to request an OBC. Birth parents may file a contact preference form, which has no effect on the release of an OBC. Read more.
South Carolina. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
South Dakota. Adult adoptees do not have access to their original birth certificates except by court order. Nevertheless, upon "maturity" an adoptee may petition the court for release of the adoptee's court adoption records, which will typically lead to or include release of the OBC. Read more.
Tennessee. Nearly all adoptees who are 21 years of age have unrestricted access to their their “adoption records,” which should include original birth certificates. The only exception to unrestricted access is for an adult adoptee whose birth parent was a victim of rape or incest—in such cases the written consent of the birth parent is required for release of records. Tennessee also criminalizes contact with birth parents who have registered with a contact veto registry. Read more.
Texas. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Adoptees 18 years of age or older who also know the identities of their birth parents, however, may obtain a non-certified copy of their OBC without the need for a court order. Read more.
Utah. Adult adoptees do not have 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. Read more.
Vermont. Adult adoptees do not have 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 through Vermont’s Adoption Registry. Read more.
Virginia. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to 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. Read more.
Washington. Adult adoptees do not have 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 that allow a birth parent to deny release of the OBC. Disclosure vetoes and contact preference forms expire on the death of the birth parent. Read more.
West Virginia. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. A court order, requiring good cause, is required before the release of an OBC. Read more.
Wisconsin. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order or through a consent-based "Adoption Records Search Program." Read more.
Wyoming. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their original birth certificates. It takes a court order for release of an OBC, with no specific standards or procedures outlined in seeking such an order. Read more.
Alabama. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates, beginning at age 19. Read more.
Alaska. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their original birth certificates, beginning at age 18. Full Details
Arizona. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
Arkansas. Beginning August 1, 2018, a new Arkansas law allows adult adoptees to request their adoption files. The request, however, is subject to a birthparent's ability to redact their names on the original birth certificates. This flow chart outlines how the law works. More information about the law and its requirements and discriminatory limitations is also here.
California. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Adoptees must petition the court and show “good and compelling cause” in order to obtain any original birth record. Read more.
Colorado. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. An adopted person who is at least 18 years of age may apply for and receive a non-certified copy of their original birth certificate through the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. Read more.
Connecticut. Only adult adoptees whose adoptions were finalized on or 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. Read more.
Delaware. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. While adoptees 21 years of age or older may request their OBCs, birth parents may legally veto their release. Read more.
District of Columbia. Adult adoptees in the do not have access to their original birth certificates, except by court order. The D.C. superior court controls all aspects of releasing an OBC or any identifying information, whether from court records or from vital records. Read more.
Florida. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their original birth certificates. Access is allowed only by court order. Full Details
Georgia. Adult adoptees do not have access to their original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
Hawaii. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their court adoption records, which typically include original birth certificates. Access to the court record is provided upon request to an adoptee who is 18 years of age or older. Read more.
Idaho. Adult adoptees 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. Read more.
Illinois. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. The state has tiered-access and uses an adoption registry to facilitate release of OBCs. The date of birth of an adoptee determines who has unrestricted access to an OBC or who may be subject to a birth parent’s request to redact identifying information on the OBC. Read more.
Indiana. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificates. A new law, effective July 1, 2018, expands the release of specifically defined "identifying information," but a birth parent may prohibit release of that information at any time. Read more.
Iowa. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Iowa adoptee rights groups are active in the state to change the law. Full Details
Kansas. Adult adoptees in Kansas have always had unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. Court records in adoption proceedings are also available to adoptees upon request. Read more.
Kentucky. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. A court order is required. Read more.
Louisiana. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. An adoptee must demonstrate “compelling reasons” for a court to order release of an original birth certificate. Read more.
Maine. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. Adoptees must be 18 years of age before requesting their OBCs. Maine also allows a birth parent to file a genuine contact preference and medical history form, which is attached to the original birth certificate. Read more.
Maryland. For all practical purposes, Maryland should be defined as a "restricted" state because there are so few current adult adoptees who may qualify under its compromised law, which applies only to adoptions finalized on or after January 1, 2000. Because adoptees must also be at least 21 years of age to request the OBC, the law effectively applies only to those adoptees who were older at the time and adopted on or after January 1, 2000. In addition, birthparents under the compromised law may at any time veto disclosure of birth records or identifying information. Adoptees whose adoptions were finalized before January 1, 2000, do not have a right to obtain their OBCs. It remains available only by court order. Read more.
Massachusetts. Not all adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. Rather, adoptees born between July 17, 1974, and January 1, 2008, are denied access to their own OBCs, except by court order. Adoptees born on or before July 17, 1974, have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates, as do those born after January 1, 2008 (upon reaching the age of 18). Read more.
Michigan. Michigan requires the use of a “Central Adoption Registry” to process information and to determine whether an adoptee should or should not get “identifying information,” which does not initially include an original birth certificate. Depending on an adoptee’s date of birth, a parent may deny access to identifying information or withhold access by saying nothing. In either case, no identifying information may be released to the adoptee, except by court order. Read more.
Minnesota. Access to original birth certificates for adult adoptees is complex and based primarily on the date of adoption. Conditional access is currently available only through a complex, confidential, and often expensive intermediary system involving the department of health, the department of human services, and individual adoption agencies. Read more.
Mississippi. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
Missouri. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. A new law, currently being implemented, will allow access to an original birth certificate, subject to birth parent disclosure vetoes that may extend beyond the death of the parent. Read more.
Montana. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. The state has a somewhat complex tiered system of access that depends upon an adoptee’s date of adoption. While access to an original birth certificate may be available more easily to adoptees who are 30 years of age or older, court orders may be required for younger adoptees and in all cases where a birth parent requests that a court order be required. Read more.
Nebraska. Adult adoptee access to the original birth certificate is remarkably complex and confusing. Generally, access depends on the date of an adoptee’s relinquishment and also whether a birth parent—and sometimes an adoptive parent—has affirmatively consented to disclosure or has filed a “nonconsent” form objecting to the OBC’s release. Read more.
Nevada. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
New Hampshire. Adoptees who are at least 18 years of age have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. The state also allows birth parents to file a contact preference form and/or health history questionnaire, neither of which will restrict the right of adult adoptees to obtain their OBCs. Read more.
New Jersey is best described as a “fixed” partial restriction state. While most adult adoptees gained unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates in 2017, approximately 550 birth parents filed disclosure vetoes, prohibiting release of the parents’ identifying information on the OBC. Accordingly, approximately 550 adult adoptees have no access to unredacted original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
New Mexico. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
New York. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Based on how judges have handled adoptee requests to unseal records, New York may be one of the most restrictive states in the U.S. on the issue of access to an original birth certificate. Read more.
North Carolina. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. A court order is required for the release of any identifying information, including an OBC. An OBC must be specifically requested in any court action that seeks the release of identifying information. Read more.
North Dakota. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
Ohio. Not all adoptees in Ohio have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. While legislative reforms removed some restrictions in 2013, significant legal restrictions remain, including birth parent redaction and disclosure vetoes. Read more.
Oklahoma. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their original birth certificates. Currently, nearly all adult adoptees must obtain a court order and show good cause for release. While adoptees whose adoptions were finalized after November 1, 1997, do not require a court order, requests for such OBCs are subject to birth parent disclosure vetoes and redaction. Read more.
Oregon. Adoptees who are at least 21 years of age have an unrestricted right to access their original birth certificates. A birth parent may file a contact preference form but it has no effect or restriction on the right of adult adoptees to receive their OBCs. Oregon law also allows adoptees access to specific records in the court adoption proceedings. Read more.
Pennsylvania. A new law, now effective, allows adoptees who are at least 18 years of age—and who must be high school graduates, possess a GED, or are withdrawn legally from school— to request their original birth record. Birthparents, however may redact identifying information on the OBC by filing a “name redaction request.” Redaction requests may be filed or withdrawn at any time and do not extend beyond a filing parent’s death. Read more.
Rhode Island. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. The adoptee must be 25 years of age to request an OBC. Birth parents may file a contact preference form, which has no effect on the release of an OBC. Read more.
South Carolina. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
South Dakota. Adult adoptees do not have access to their original birth certificates except by court order. Nevertheless, upon "maturity" an adoptee may petition the court for release of the adoptee's court adoption records, which will typically lead to or include release of the OBC. Read more.
Tennessee. Nearly all adoptees who are 21 years of age have unrestricted access to their their “adoption records,” which should include original birth certificates. The only exception to unrestricted access is for an adult adoptee whose birth parent was a victim of rape or incest—in such cases the written consent of the birth parent is required for release of records. Tennessee also criminalizes contact with birth parents who have registered with a contact veto registry. Read more.
Texas. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Adoptees 18 years of age or older who also know the identities of their birth parents, however, may obtain a non-certified copy of their OBC without the need for a court order. Read more.
Utah. Adult adoptees do not have 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. Read more.
Vermont. Adult adoptees do not have 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 through Vermont’s Adoption Registry. Read more.
Virginia. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to 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. Read more.
Washington. Adult adoptees do not have 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 that allow a birth parent to deny release of the OBC. Disclosure vetoes and contact preference forms expire on the death of the birth parent. Read more.
West Virginia. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. A court order, requiring good cause, is required before the release of an OBC. Read more.
Wisconsin. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order or through a consent-based "Adoption Records Search Program." Read more.
Wyoming. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their original birth certificates. It takes a court order for release of an OBC, with no specific standards or procedures outlined in seeking such an order. Read more.
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
Alabama. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates, beginning at age 19. Read more.
Alaska. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their original birth certificates, beginning at age 18. Full Details
Colorado. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. An adopted person who is at least 18 years of age may apply for and receive a non-certified copy of their original birth certificate through the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. Read more.
Hawaii. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their court adoption records, which typically include original birth certificates. Access to the court record is provided upon request to an adoptee who is 18 years of age or older. Read more.
Kansas. Adult adoptees in Kansas have always had unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. Court records in adoption proceedings are also available to adoptees upon request. Read more.
Maine. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. Adoptees must be 18 years of age before requesting their OBCs. Maine also allows a birth parent to file a genuine contact preference and medical history form, which is attached to the original birth certificate. Read more.
New Hampshire. Adoptees who are at least 18 years of age have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. The state also allows birth parents to file a contact preference form and/or health history questionnaire, neither of which will restrict the right of adult adoptees to obtain their OBCs. Read more.
Oregon. Adoptees who are at least 21 years of age have an unrestricted right to access their original birth certificates. A birth parent may file a contact preference form but it has no effect or restriction on the right of adult adoptees to receive their OBCs. Oregon law also allows adoptees access to specific records in the court adoption proceedings. Read more.
Rhode Island. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. The adoptee must be 25 years of age to request an OBC. Birth parents may file a contact preference form, which has no effect on the release of an OBC. Read more.
Alabama. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates, beginning at age 19. Read more.
Alaska. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their original birth certificates, beginning at age 18. Full Details
Colorado. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. An adopted person who is at least 18 years of age may apply for and receive a non-certified copy of their original birth certificate through the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. Read more.
Hawaii. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their court adoption records, which typically include original birth certificates. Access to the court record is provided upon request to an adoptee who is 18 years of age or older. Read more.
Kansas. Adult adoptees in Kansas have always had unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. Court records in adoption proceedings are also available to adoptees upon request. Read more.
Maine. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. Adoptees must be 18 years of age before requesting their OBCs. Maine also allows a birth parent to file a genuine contact preference and medical history form, which is attached to the original birth certificate. Read more.
New Hampshire. Adoptees who are at least 18 years of age have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. The state also allows birth parents to file a contact preference form and/or health history questionnaire, neither of which will restrict the right of adult adoptees to obtain their OBCs. Read more.
Oregon. Adoptees who are at least 21 years of age have an unrestricted right to access their original birth certificates. A birth parent may file a contact preference form but it has no effect or restriction on the right of adult adoptees to receive their OBCs. Oregon law also allows adoptees access to specific records in the court adoption proceedings. Read more.
Rhode Island. Adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. The adoptee must be 25 years of age to request an OBC. Birth parents may file a contact preference form, which has no effect on the release of an OBC. Read more.
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
Connecticut. Only adult adoptees whose adoptions were finalized on or 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. Read more.
Delaware. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. While adoptees 21 years of age or older may request their OBCs, birth parents may legally veto their release. Read more.
Illinois. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. The state has tiered-access and uses an adoption registry to facilitate release of OBCs. The date of birth of an adoptee determines who has unrestricted access to an OBC or who may be subject to a birth parent’s request to redact identifying information on the OBC. Read more.
Massachusetts. Not all adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. Rather, adoptees born between July 17, 1974, and January 1, 2008, are denied access to their own OBCs, except by court order. Adoptees born on or before July 17, 1974, have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates, as do those born after January 1, 2008 (upon reaching the age of 18). Read more.
Michigan. Michigan requires the use of a “Central Adoption Registry” to process information and to determine whether an adoptee should or should not get “identifying information,” which does not initially include an original birth certificate. Depending on an adoptee’s date of birth, a parent may deny access to identifying information or withhold access by saying nothing. In either case, no identifying information may be released to the adoptee, except by court order. Read more.
Minnesota. Access to original birth certificates for adult adoptees is complex and based primarily on the date of adoption. Conditional access is currently available only through a complex, confidential, and often expensive intermediary system involving the department of health, the department of human services, and individual adoption agencies. Read more.
Missouri. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. A new law, currently being implemented, will allow access to an original birth certificate, subject to birth parent disclosure vetoes that may extend beyond the death of the parent. Read more.
Montana. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. The state has a somewhat complex tiered system of access that depends upon an adoptee’s date of adoption. While access to an original birth certificate may be available more easily to adoptees who are 30 years of age or older, court orders may be required for younger adoptees and in all cases where a birth parent requests that a court order be required. Read more.
Nebraska. Adult adoptee access to the original birth certificate is remarkably complex and confusing. Generally, access depends on the date of an adoptee’s relinquishment and also whether a birth parent—and sometimes an adoptive parent—has affirmatively consented to disclosure or has filed a “nonconsent” form objecting to the OBC’s release. Read more.
New Jersey is best described as a “fixed” partial restriction state. While most adult adoptees gained unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates in 2017, approximately 550 birth parents filed disclosure vetoes, prohibiting release of the parents’ identifying information on the OBC. Accordingly, approximately 550 adult adoptees have no access to unredacted original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
Ohio. Not all adoptees in Ohio have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. While legislative reforms removed some restrictions in 2013, significant legal restrictions remain, including birth parent redaction and disclosure vetoes. Read more.
Oklahoma. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their original birth certificates. Currently, nearly all adult adoptees must obtain a court order and show good cause for release. While adoptees whose adoptions were finalized after November 1, 1997, do not require a court order, requests for such OBCs are subject to birth parent disclosure vetoes and redaction. Read more.
South Dakota. Adult adoptees do not have access to their original birth certificates except by court order. Nevertheless, upon "maturity" an adoptee may petition the court for release of the adoptee's court adoption records, which will typically lead to or include release of the OBC. Read more.
Tennessee. Nearly all adoptees who are 21 years of age have unrestricted access to their their “adoption records,” which should include original birth certificates. The only exception to unrestricted access is for an adult adoptee whose birth parent was a victim of rape or incest—in such cases the written consent of the birth parent is required for release of records. Tennessee also criminalizes contact with birth parents who have registered with a contact veto registry. Read more.
Washington. Adult adoptees do not have 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 that allow a birth parent to deny release of the OBC. Disclosure vetoes and contact preference forms expire on the death of the birth parent. Read more.
Wisconsin. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order or through a consent-based "Adoption Records Search Program." Read more.
Pennsylvania. A new law, now effective, allows adoptees who are at least 18 years of age—and who must be high school graduates, possess a GED, or are withdrawn legally from school— to request their original birth record. Birthparents, however may redact identifying information on the OBC by filing a “name redaction request.” Redaction requests may be filed or withdrawn at any time and do not extend beyond a filing parent’s death. Read more.
Description
Arkansas. Beginning August 1, 2018, a new Arkansas law allows adult adoptees to request their adoption files. The request, however, is subject to a birthparent's ability to redact their names on the original birth certificates. This flow chart outlines how the law works. More information about the law and its requirements and discriminatory limitations is also here.
Maryland. For all practical purposes, Maryland should be defined as a "restricted" state because there are so few current adult adoptees who may qualify under its compromised law, which applies only to adoptions finalized on or after January 1, 2000. Because adoptees must also be at least 21 years of age to request the OBC, the law effectively applies only to those adoptees who were older at the time and adopted on or after January 1, 2000. In addition, birthparents under the compromised law may at any time veto disclosure of birth records or identifying information. Adoptees whose adoptions were finalized before January 1, 2000, do not have a right to obtain their OBCs. It remains available only by court order. Read more.
Connecticut. Only adult adoptees whose adoptions were finalized on or 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. Read more.
Delaware. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. While adoptees 21 years of age or older may request their OBCs, birth parents may legally veto their release. Read more.
Illinois. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. The state has tiered-access and uses an adoption registry to facilitate release of OBCs. The date of birth of an adoptee determines who has unrestricted access to an OBC or who may be subject to a birth parent’s request to redact identifying information on the OBC. Read more.
Massachusetts. Not all adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. Rather, adoptees born between July 17, 1974, and January 1, 2008, are denied access to their own OBCs, except by court order. Adoptees born on or before July 17, 1974, have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates, as do those born after January 1, 2008 (upon reaching the age of 18). Read more.
Michigan. Michigan requires the use of a “Central Adoption Registry” to process information and to determine whether an adoptee should or should not get “identifying information,” which does not initially include an original birth certificate. Depending on an adoptee’s date of birth, a parent may deny access to identifying information or withhold access by saying nothing. In either case, no identifying information may be released to the adoptee, except by court order. Read more.
Minnesota. Access to original birth certificates for adult adoptees is complex and based primarily on the date of adoption. Conditional access is currently available only through a complex, confidential, and often expensive intermediary system involving the department of health, the department of human services, and individual adoption agencies. Read more.
Missouri. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. A new law, currently being implemented, will allow access to an original birth certificate, subject to birth parent disclosure vetoes that may extend beyond the death of the parent. Read more.
Montana. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. The state has a somewhat complex tiered system of access that depends upon an adoptee’s date of adoption. While access to an original birth certificate may be available more easily to adoptees who are 30 years of age or older, court orders may be required for younger adoptees and in all cases where a birth parent requests that a court order be required. Read more.
Nebraska. Adult adoptee access to the original birth certificate is remarkably complex and confusing. Generally, access depends on the date of an adoptee’s relinquishment and also whether a birth parent—and sometimes an adoptive parent—has affirmatively consented to disclosure or has filed a “nonconsent” form objecting to the OBC’s release. Read more.
New Jersey is best described as a “fixed” partial restriction state. While most adult adoptees gained unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates in 2017, approximately 550 birth parents filed disclosure vetoes, prohibiting release of the parents’ identifying information on the OBC. Accordingly, approximately 550 adult adoptees have no access to unredacted original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
Ohio. Not all adoptees in Ohio have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. While legislative reforms removed some restrictions in 2013, significant legal restrictions remain, including birth parent redaction and disclosure vetoes. Read more.
Oklahoma. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their original birth certificates. Currently, nearly all adult adoptees must obtain a court order and show good cause for release. While adoptees whose adoptions were finalized after November 1, 1997, do not require a court order, requests for such OBCs are subject to birth parent disclosure vetoes and redaction. Read more.
South Dakota. Adult adoptees do not have access to their original birth certificates except by court order. Nevertheless, upon "maturity" an adoptee may petition the court for release of the adoptee's court adoption records, which will typically lead to or include release of the OBC. Read more.
Tennessee. Nearly all adoptees who are 21 years of age have unrestricted access to their their “adoption records,” which should include original birth certificates. The only exception to unrestricted access is for an adult adoptee whose birth parent was a victim of rape or incest—in such cases the written consent of the birth parent is required for release of records. Tennessee also criminalizes contact with birth parents who have registered with a contact veto registry. Read more.
Washington. Adult adoptees do not have 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 that allow a birth parent to deny release of the OBC. Disclosure vetoes and contact preference forms expire on the death of the birth parent. Read more.
Wisconsin. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order or through a consent-based "Adoption Records Search Program." Read more.
Pennsylvania. A new law, now effective, allows adoptees who are at least 18 years of age—and who must be high school graduates, possess a GED, or are withdrawn legally from school— to request their original birth record. Birthparents, however may redact identifying information on the OBC by filing a “name redaction request.” Redaction requests may be filed or withdrawn at any time and do not extend beyond a filing parent’s death. Read more.
Description
Arkansas. Beginning August 1, 2018, a new Arkansas law allows adult adoptees to request their adoption files. The request, however, is subject to a birthparent's ability to redact their names on the original birth certificates. This flow chart outlines how the law works. More information about the law and its requirements and discriminatory limitations is also here.
Maryland. For all practical purposes, Maryland should be defined as a "restricted" state because there are so few current adult adoptees who may qualify under its compromised law, which applies only to adoptions finalized on or after January 1, 2000. Because adoptees must also be at least 21 years of age to request the OBC, the law effectively applies only to those adoptees who were older at the time and adopted on or after January 1, 2000. In addition, birthparents under the compromised law may at any time veto disclosure of birth records or identifying information. Adoptees whose adoptions were finalized before January 1, 2000, do not have a right to obtain their OBCs. It remains available only by court order. Read more.
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
Arizona. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
California. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Adoptees must petition the court and show “good and compelling cause” in order to obtain any original birth record. Read more.
District of Columbia. Adult adoptees in the do not have access to their original birth certificates, except by court order. The D.C. superior court controls all aspects of releasing an OBC or any identifying information, whether from court records or from vital records. Read more.
Florida. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their original birth certificates. Access is allowed only by court order. Full Details
Georgia. Adult adoptees do not have access to their original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
Idaho. Adult adoptees 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. Read more.
Iowa. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Iowa adoptee rights groups are active in the state to change the law. Full Details
Kentucky. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. A court order is required. Read more.
Louisiana. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. An adoptee must demonstrate “compelling reasons” for a court to order release of an original birth certificate. Read more.
Mississippi. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
Nevada. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
New Mexico. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
New York. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Based on how judges have handled adoptee requests to unseal records, New York may be one of the most restrictive states in the U.S. on the issue of access to an original birth certificate. Read more.
North Carolina. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. A court order is required for the release of any identifying information, including an OBC. An OBC must be specifically requested in any court action that seeks the release of identifying information. Read more.
North Dakota. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
South Carolina. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
Texas. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Adoptees 18 years of age or older who also know the identities of their birth parents, however, may obtain a non-certified copy of their OBC without the need for a court order. Read more.
Utah. Adult adoptees do not have 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. Read more.
Vermont. Adult adoptees do not have 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 through Vermont’s Adoption Registry. Read more.
Virginia. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to 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. Read more.
West Virginia. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. A court order, requiring good cause, is required before the release of an OBC. Read more.
Wyoming. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their original birth certificates. It takes a court order for release of an OBC, with no specific standards or procedures outlined in seeking such an order. Read more.
Arizona. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
California. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Adoptees must petition the court and show “good and compelling cause” in order to obtain any original birth record. Read more.
District of Columbia. Adult adoptees in the do not have access to their original birth certificates, except by court order. The D.C. superior court controls all aspects of releasing an OBC or any identifying information, whether from court records or from vital records. Read more.
Florida. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their original birth certificates. Access is allowed only by court order. Full Details
Georgia. Adult adoptees do not have access to their original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
Idaho. Adult adoptees 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. Read more.
Iowa. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Iowa adoptee rights groups are active in the state to change the law. Full Details
Kentucky. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. A court order is required. Read more.
Louisiana. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. An adoptee must demonstrate “compelling reasons” for a court to order release of an original birth certificate. Read more.
Mississippi. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
Nevada. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
New Mexico. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
New York. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Based on how judges have handled adoptee requests to unseal records, New York may be one of the most restrictive states in the U.S. on the issue of access to an original birth certificate. Read more.
North Carolina. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. A court order is required for the release of any identifying information, including an OBC. An OBC must be specifically requested in any court action that seeks the release of identifying information. Read more.
North Dakota. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
South Carolina. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Read more.
Texas. Adult adoptees do not have access to their own original birth certificates, except by court order. Adoptees 18 years of age or older who also know the identities of their birth parents, however, may obtain a non-certified copy of their OBC without the need for a court order. Read more.
Utah. Adult adoptees do not have 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. Read more.
Vermont. Adult adoptees do not have 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 through Vermont’s Adoption Registry. Read more.
Virginia. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to 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. Read more.
West Virginia. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. A court order, requiring good cause, is required before the release of an OBC. Read more.
Wyoming. Adult adoptees do not have unrestricted access to their original birth certificates. It takes a court order for release of an OBC, with no specific standards or procedures outlined in seeking such an order. Read more.
District of Columbia
District of Columbia. Adult adoptees in the do not have access to their original birth certificates, except by court order. The D.C. superior court controls all aspects of releasing an OBC or any identifying information, whether from court records or from vital records. Read more.
District of Columbia. Adult adoptees in the do not have access to their original birth certificates, except by court order. The D.C. superior court controls all aspects of releasing an OBC or any identifying information, whether from court records or from vital records. Read more.
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.
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