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Last updated on June 23, 2018

A Law Known as “Indiana”

I’ve recently been working on charts to demonstrate how complicated (or simple) state laws are for adult adoptees who request their own original birth records. I started with Maine as a model. Maine is simple: it recognizes the unrestricted right of adult adoptees to request and obtain their original birth certificates. Represented graphically, the process for requesting and getting your OBC in Maine looks like this:

I then turned to Indiana. I’ve already categorized Indiana as a “compromised” state, and the new law maintains a flurry of restrictions and contingencies, including a corrupt contact preference form disguised as a way to file birthparent disclosure vetoes. I have also summarized the new Indiana law and the way it operates here. But to understand fully how the law actually works—step by step—I set out the process in a chart. Here’s the first part:

Assuming your OBC is sealed in Indiana, the next step involves submitting information to the Indiana Adoption Matching Registry and rolling the dice to see what you get back. That’s where it gets ridiculously complex, with two forms to fill out and a backwards process that may lead to nothing. As in zombie emptiness, with birthparents allowed to file contact preference forms that prohibit the release of an OBC even if contact is desired through an intermediary and even after that birthparent dies. Here’s how it all pans out once you turn 21 and actually qualify to request “identifying information,” which should include a copy of your OBC:

See the difference between equality in one state and embracing discriminatory and damaging compromise in another? I call that “the law known as Indiana.” It’s been years in the making. But it’s finally about to arrive.

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: Corrupt CPF, Disclosure Veto, Indiana, Zombie Veto

Gregory D. Luce

I am a Minnesota lawyer, DC-born adoptee, and the founder of Adoptee Rights Law Center PLLC. I've been practicing law in Minnesota state and federal courts since 1993. I also have a sense of humor.

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I work hard to get the laws and facts straight in every state---and to keep them regularly updated. If you see something that's not quite right or doesn't fit your experience, let me know with either a quick comment or an email.

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. John says

    June 29, 2018 at 4:48 pm

    Excellent info. will return for more later.
    Georgia born adoptee, finalized in Tenn. Money, money, money.
    What is the big secret GA is keeping from me ???

    Exceptional work, keep at it.

    An adoptee in Tennessee, still looking after all these years.

    Reply

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Adoptee Rights Law Center

The Adoptee Rights Law Center PLLC is an adoptee-focused legal practice founded by Gregory Luce, a Minnesota lawyer and D.C.-born adoptee.

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Legal representation limited to issues involving Minnesota law and federal immigration law.

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Adoptee Rights Law Center PLLC
PO Box 19561
Minneapolis Minnesota 55419
T: (612) 221-3947
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Legal representation limited to issues involving Minnesota law and federal immigration law.

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Gregory D. Luce
PO Box 19561
Minneapolis Minnesota 55419
T: (612) 221-3947
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Legal representation limited to issues involving Minnesota law and federal immigration law.

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