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You are here: Home > For Adopted People > Obtaining Birth and/or Adoption Records
Obtaining Birth and/or Adoption Records
Information on access to adoption records, reunion registries, confidential intermediaries, and laws and legal information regarding release of birth/adoption records.
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Access to Family Information by Adopted Persons
In nearly all States, adoption records are sealed and withheld from public inspection after the adoption is finalized. Most States, therefore, have procedures by which parties to an adoption may obtain nonidentifying and identifying information about an adopted person and the adopted person's birth relatives from an adoption record. This resource, current through June 2004, provides definitions of nonidentifying and identifying information, an overview of who may access such information, and information about access to original birth certificates.
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Adoption General Information Packet 3: Searching for Birth Relatives
This collection of factsheets provides an overview of the impact of adoption on birth parents and adopted persons and examines issues related to the search process. Coping skills, support groups, resources for searching, and state laws regarding access to adoption records are discussed.
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American Adoption Congress
Composed of individuals, families, and organizations committed to adoption reform. Examines the benefits for children offered by institutional care versus family foster care.
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Collection of Family Information About Adopted Persons, Birth Parents, and Adoptive Parents
Requirements regarding collection of information about those involved in an adoption differ from State to State. Each State establishes its own guidelines regarding who can collect information and what kinds of information may be collected regarding the child to be adopted, the birth parents, and the adoptive parents. This document, current through July 2003, summarizes these State statutes.
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Intestate Inheritance Rights
Issues of property distribution may arise when a birth parent or adoptive parent dies without making a valid will or without naming an heir to particular property (referred to as "intestacy"). In these cases, State law determines who may inherit from whom. All 50 States and the Territories of the United States specify an adopted child's rights of inheritance from and through the adoptive and biological parents. Current through July 2003, this document sets forth the laws of each State and Territory regarding intestate succession as it affects adopted children.
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Shea's Search Series
A discussion about making the decision to search, and why it would not be complete without some background information about who searches in general, and why.
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Where to Write for Vital Records
Service of the National Center for Health Statistics.
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A Service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
For more information, contact:
National Adoption Information Clearinghouse
330 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20447
Phone: (703) 352-3488 or (888) 251-0075
Fax: (703) 385-3206
E-mail: naic@caliber.com
Updated on October 8, 2004 by webmaster_naic@caliber.com.
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