Vermont’s Equal Rights Law: A FAQ

Unless Louisiana or Massachusetts gets there first, on July 1, 2023 Vermont will become the eleventh state in the United States to secure or restore the right of all adopted people to request and obtain their own original birth certificates (OBC). Here’s what the new law does plus how and when Vermont-born adoptees and their descendants can apply for a copy of the OBC.

Does this mean I can now get my own original birth certificate in Vermont?

Yes, yes it does—but not quite yet. The new law becomes effective on July 1, 2023. You will have to wait until that date to apply for and receive a copy of your original birth certificate.

Does the new law apply to all adopted people born in Vermont?

Yes. No matter the date of a person’s birth or adoption, all Vermont-born adopted people will have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. While current law uses a complicated process involving the Vermont Adoption Registry, the new law eliminates direct involvement of the registry. Instead, adult adopted people will apply for the OBC directly through the Vermont Department of Health. The heart of the new law is contained in these provisions and may actually answer most of your initial questions:

A certified copy of an adoptee’s original birth certificate and any evidence of the adoption previously filed with the State Registrar shall be released to persons identified in subsection 6-105(a) of this title upon request.

Section 6-105(a), which defines who may apply for and obtain the certified copy of the original birth certificate, specifically includes “an adoptee who is 18 years of age or older.”

How old do I have to be to request my own OBC?

While the general age to request your own OBC is 18 years of age or older, an emancipated minor may also be able to apply for the OBC under the new law. Vermont law on the emancipation of minors is here, and, if emancipation is approved, would allow the adoptee to apply for and obtain the OBC as early as age 16.

Who else can apply for the OBC other than the adopted person?

The law also allows a deceased adoptee’s direct descendant to apply for and obtain a copy of the OBC. The applicant must be either 1) a direct descendant who is 18 years of age or older or 2) the parent or guardian of a direct descendant. In either case, the adoptee must be deceased.

Who is a direct descendant?

A direct descendant is a child, grandchild, great grandchild, etc.—that is, it is a person descended directly from the adopted person.

How and where do I apply?

Once the law is fully effective, you would apply for your original birth certificate with the Vermont Department of Health. The application and more information about the process will be added here and on the New England Adoptee Rights Coalition website once they are available.

What will I receive when I apply for the original birth certificate?

You will receive up to three documents:

1. a certified copy of the original pre-adoption birth certificate;
2. any “evidence of the adoption previously filed with the State Registrar.” This almost always includes the order or report of adoption issued by a court after an adoption is finalized (an image of a blank Vermont report of adoption is here). What you receive as “evidence of the adoption” may vary depending on the year of the adoption, as documentation and other requirements changed over the years.
3. a notice that a birthparent contact preference form may be on file with the Vermont Adoption Registry.

How much does it cost to apply for the original birth certificate?

It should not cost more than what it costs to apply for a certified copy of any Vermont-issued birth certificate, though we do not know the specific cost yet.

Can I apply for the OBC online?

It is not known yet if online applications will be accepted. This will be updated as we learn more.

How long will it take to get the copy of the original birth certificate?

I do not yet have an estimate on this. It’s anticipated it may not take long for releasing OBCs related to adoptions that were finalized more recently. For older births it may take more time for the Department of Health to search for and find the original birth record and link it to the current amended record.

Will any information on the original birth certificate be changed or removed?

No. The law does not allow for anyone to change or remove information from the original birth record.

Will I get a certified copy of the original birth certificate?

Yes, the copy of the original birth record will be certified. The law, however, specifically provides that:

The copy of the original birth certificate shall clearly indicate that it may not be used for identification purposes.

The law still has language about “nondisclosure” of information. What is that about?

This relates only to the process of releasing “identifying information” from the current Vermont Adoption Registry. Under current law, which will extend until July 1, 2023, a birthparent may file a nondisclosure request that will prevent the disclosure of specific identifying information from the registry. On and after July 1, 2023, nondisclosure requests will no longer be allowed.

It is important to note that the filing of any nondisclosure statement with the registry, whether in the past or up to July 1, 2023, relates only to information held by the registry. This specific provision does not apply to the original birth certificate and the new law expressly states that:

This section [related to the registry] shall not be interpreted to interfere with a person’s right to obtain a copy of an original birth certificate pursuant to section 6-107 of this title.

Adoption registries almost always require mutual consent to release information, and they are focused on facilitating contact between people involved in an adoption. Vermont’s registry is no exception. After July 1, 2023, however, the registry will no longer accept requests for nondisclosure of certain information to the adult adopted person. Again, these provisions have no effect on the release of the original birth certificate.

Is there a state or other group involved with this new law?

Yes. The Vermont Adoptee Rights Working Group (VAWRG) led on-the-ground efforts to enact the new law. VARWG is part of the New England Adoptee Rights Coalition, which was also centrally involved in efforts.

Where can I read the text of the new law?

You can find the relevant portions of the law here on Adoptee Rights Law Center, which has been updated to reflect the new law. Links to the state law are also on that page but the state of Vermont may not have updated its online statutes yet to reflect the new changes. You can read a PDF of the officially passed bill here.

Will you be updating this FAQ when necessary?

Yes, I will update this FAQ as more information becomes available or if information changes or needs correction based on what I currently understand about implementation of the new law. Adoptee Rights Law Center is also a core partner in the New England Adoptee Rights Coalition, where information will also be posted.

Have you updated your map yet?

Not yet. We will have to wait until July 1, 2023, to set off our full array of adoptee fireworks. Until then, the map will still look like this, though there is a note about the new law if you click on Vermont.

Alabama. Adult adoptees have the unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates, beginning at age 19. Read more.

Alaska. Adult adoptees have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their original birth certificates, beginning at age 18. Full Details

Arizona. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain a copy of their own original birth certificates. Arizona implemented a "donut hole" provision in a new law, effective January 1, 2022. It provides a right to some adoptees based on their dates of birth but denies the right to obtain the OBC to the vast majority of adoptees born in the state. Read more.

Arkansas. Beginning August 1, 2018, 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 a right to request and obtain 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. Colorado-born adult adopted people have a right to request and obtain 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. Connecticut-born adult adopted people have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. The right also extends to the adult children and grandchildren of the adopted person. Read more.

Delaware. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain 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 District of Columbia the do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain 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 an unrestricted right to request and obtain their original birth certificates. While adoptees may apply for the original birth record, it takes signed affidavits of consent from birthparents---or death certificates showing that birthparents are deceased---to compel release of the OBC. Otherwise, release is allowed only by court order. Full Details

Georgia. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their original birth certificates. A court order is required. Read more.

Hawaii. Adopted people born born in Hawaii do not have an unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificates. Only people who are adopted in Hawaii can request and obtain their court adoption records, which may include an original birth certificate. The law does not apply to people born in Hawaii but adopted in a different state. Read more.

Idaho. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. An OBC 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 an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. The state has a tiered date-based system and uses an adoption registry to facilitate release of OBCs. The date of birth of an adoptee determines who has unrestricted rights 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 an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. Original birth records are subject to the right of birthparents to file redaction requests. Full Details

Kansas. While original birth certificates are sealed, adult adoptees in Kansas have always had an unrestricted right to request and obtain 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 an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. A court order is required. Read more.

Louisiana. All Louisiana-born adopted people, at age 24, have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. A new law, effective August 1, 2022, restored this right. Read more.

Maine. Adult adoptees have the unrestricted right to request and obtain 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. The Bay State became the 12th state in the U.S. to affirm or restore the right of all Massachusetts-born adult adopted people to request and obtain a copy of their own original birth certificates.  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. The right of adult adopted people to obtain their own original birth certificate is complex and based primarily on the date of adoption. Generally, it requires the affirmative written consent of any birthparents and the state uses 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 an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. It takes a court order. Read more.

Missouri. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. The state has a complex framework that makes the original birth certificate subject to birth parent disclosure vetoes that may extend beyond the death of the parent. Read more.

Montana. Montana maintains a somewhat complex tiered system that uses an adoptee’s date of adoption as the determinant of whether an adopted person may obtain their own original birth certificate. While an original birth certificate may be available more easily to adoptees who are at least 30 years of age, 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 adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain the original birth certificate. Nebraska law is remarkably complex and confusing. Generally, any right to obtain the OBC 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 an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. It requires a court order. Read more.

New Hampshire. Adoptees who are at least 18 years of age have an unrestricted right to request and obtain 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 "limited time redaction" state, as its current law, effective on January 1, 2017, provided birthparents a limited amount of time to request redaction of their information from the adoptee's original birth certificate. Thus, while most adult adoptees now have a right to obtain their own original birth certificates, approximately 550 birthparents filed redaction requests, leading to redaction of the parents’ identifying information on the OBC. Those 550 adult adoptees have no do not have the right to an unredacted original birth certificate except through securing a court order. Read more.

New Mexico. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. Good cause is required through a court order. Read more.

New York. Adult adopted persons and their descendants have an unrestricted right to request and obtain the adoptee's original birth certificate, without discriminatory restrictions. A 2020 law overturned 83 years of iron-clad secrecy. 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 adopted people and their descendants have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates at age 18. Birth parents may file a contact preference form, which has no effect on the release of the record. Read more.

South Carolina. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. A court order is required. Read more.

South Dakota. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain 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 a right to request and obtain their their “adoption records,” which should include original birth certificates. The only exception to this right 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. Release of the OBC to a Texas-born adult adopted person requires a court order, with one significant exception:  adoptees who are at least 18 years of age and know the names of their birthparents may obtain a non-certified copy of their OBC upon request. Read more.

Utah. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. While adoptees 18 years of age or older may request their birth records, release depends on participating in a voluntary registry as well as obtaining the consent of birthparents, unless a birthparent is dead. Read more.

Vermont. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificates. An OBC 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 an unrestricted right to 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. Read more.

Washington. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to obtain 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 birthparents 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 an unrestricted right to obtain 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 an unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificates. Wisconsin requires either court order or participation in a consent-based "Adoption Records Search Program." Read more.

Wyoming. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to obtain 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.

US OBC Rights

Alabama. Adult adoptees have the unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates, beginning at age 19. Read more.

Alaska. Adult adoptees have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their original birth certificates, beginning at age 18. Full Details

Arizona. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain a copy of their own original birth certificates. Arizona implemented a "donut hole" provision in a new law, effective January 1, 2022. It provides a right to some adoptees based on their dates of birth but denies the right to obtain the OBC to the vast majority of adoptees born in the state. Read more.

Arkansas. Beginning August 1, 2018, 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 a right to request and obtain 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. Colorado-born adult adopted people have a right to request and obtain 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. Connecticut-born adult adopted people have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. The right also extends to the adult children and grandchildren of the adopted person. Read more.

Delaware. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain 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 District of Columbia the do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain 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 an unrestricted right to request and obtain their original birth certificates. While adoptees may apply for the original birth record, it takes signed affidavits of consent from birthparents---or death certificates showing that birthparents are deceased---to compel release of the OBC. Otherwise, release is allowed only by court order. Full Details

Georgia. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their original birth certificates. A court order is required. Read more.

Hawaii. Adopted people born born in Hawaii do not have an unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificates. Only people who are adopted in Hawaii can request and obtain their court adoption records, which may include an original birth certificate. The law does not apply to people born in Hawaii but adopted in a different state. Read more.

Idaho. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. An OBC 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 an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. The state has a tiered date-based system and uses an adoption registry to facilitate release of OBCs. The date of birth of an adoptee determines who has unrestricted rights 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 an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. Original birth records are subject to the right of birthparents to file redaction requests. Full Details

Kansas. While original birth certificates are sealed, adult adoptees in Kansas have always had an unrestricted right to request and obtain 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 an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. A court order is required. Read more.

Louisiana. All Louisiana-born adopted people, at age 24, have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. A new law, effective August 1, 2022, restored this right. Read more.

Maine. Adult adoptees have the unrestricted right to request and obtain 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. The Bay State became the 12th state in the U.S. to affirm or restore the right of all Massachusetts-born adult adopted people to request and obtain a copy of their own original birth certificates.  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. The right of adult adopted people to obtain their own original birth certificate is complex and based primarily on the date of adoption. Generally, it requires the affirmative written consent of any birthparents and the state uses 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 an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. It takes a court order. Read more.

Missouri. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. The state has a complex framework that makes the original birth certificate subject to birth parent disclosure vetoes that may extend beyond the death of the parent. Read more.

Montana. Montana maintains a somewhat complex tiered system that uses an adoptee’s date of adoption as the determinant of whether an adopted person may obtain their own original birth certificate. While an original birth certificate may be available more easily to adoptees who are at least 30 years of age, 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 adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain the original birth certificate. Nebraska law is remarkably complex and confusing. Generally, any right to obtain the OBC 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 an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. It requires a court order. Read more.

New Hampshire. Adoptees who are at least 18 years of age have an unrestricted right to request and obtain 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 "limited time redaction" state, as its current law, effective on January 1, 2017, provided birthparents a limited amount of time to request redaction of their information from the adoptee's original birth certificate. Thus, while most adult adoptees now have a right to obtain their own original birth certificates, approximately 550 birthparents filed redaction requests, leading to redaction of the parents’ identifying information on the OBC. Those 550 adult adoptees have no do not have the right to an unredacted original birth certificate except through securing a court order. Read more.

New Mexico. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. Good cause is required through a court order. Read more.

New York. Adult adopted persons and their descendants have an unrestricted right to request and obtain the adoptee's original birth certificate, without discriminatory restrictions. A 2020 law overturned 83 years of iron-clad secrecy. 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 adopted people and their descendants have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates at age 18. Birth parents may file a contact preference form, which has no effect on the release of the record. Read more.

South Carolina. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. A court order is required. Read more.

South Dakota. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain 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 a right to request and obtain their their “adoption records,” which should include original birth certificates. The only exception to this right 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. Release of the OBC to a Texas-born adult adopted person requires a court order, with one significant exception:  adoptees who are at least 18 years of age and know the names of their birthparents may obtain a non-certified copy of their OBC upon request. Read more.

Utah. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. While adoptees 18 years of age or older may request their birth records, release depends on participating in a voluntary registry as well as obtaining the consent of birthparents, unless a birthparent is dead. Read more.

Vermont. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificates. An OBC 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 an unrestricted right to 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. Read more.

Washington. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to obtain 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 birthparents 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 an unrestricted right to obtain 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 an unrestricted right to obtain their own original birth certificates. Wisconsin requires either court order or participation in a consent-based "Adoption Records Search Program." Read more.

Wyoming. Adult adoptees do not have an unrestricted right to obtain 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.