OBC Rights Map
Hover over a state or marker for more information. Click on a state to review a summary and link to the OBC rights state’s status. A full list of states and their restrictions is here and a changelog covering changes in state summaries is also available. There are also maps for pending or prior state OBC access legislation. Maps are updated for laws in place as of March 1, 2022.
All States: Unrestricted, Compromised, and Restricted Rights

US OBC Rights
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. Adult adopted people in ten states currently have an unrestricted right to obtain their own OBCs upon request. PS: here’s the current deal with Hawaii.

Unrestricted States
Compromised States
Compromised means that a state has enacted laws that unjustly limit the rights of adult adoptees to obtain their own original birth certificates. States accomplish this through birth parent disclosure vetoes, redaction of identifying information, or providing only limited rights based on the date of a person’s adoption. Hover over a restriction marker for a list of current restrictions.

Compromised Rights States
US-IA,Iowa,Compromised,<div class="content-box-yellow"><strong>Indiana</strong>. Indiana denies adult adoptees an unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificates. While legislation effective July 1, 2018, expanded the release of specifically defined “identifying information,” a birth parent may still prohibit release of that information at any time. <a href="https://adopteerightslaw.com/indiana-obc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Read more</a>.</div>,#DB9E36;
US-IA,Iowa,Compromised,<div class="content-box-yellow"><strong>Indiana</strong>. Indiana denies adult adoptees an unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificates. While legislation effective July 1, 2018, expanded the release of specifically defined “identifying information,” a birth parent may still prohibit release of that information at any time. <a href="https://adopteerightslaw.com/indiana-obc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Read more</a>.</div>,#DB9E36;

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 States

District of Columbia
Additional maps are available, including pending adoptee rights legislation.
Though mobile-friendly, the interactive maps are best viewed and used on a desktop or tablet.