Are adoption records really confidential? i would really like to find out who my birth parents are?

Question

Are adoption records really confidential? i would really like to find out who my birth parents are?

Answer 1

Gershom was right regarding open states except for Arkansas (Alabama is open) and the lack of rights that adoptees have in this country.   Maine records are not open until 2009.  There are a couple of states that consider an adult the age of 25 as well.

There are however many states that have vital records online or available to search angels.  Many states also offer confidential intermediary programs which unfortunately do have fees attached to them.  Use them as your last resort.  Do not pay any private company or search angel any money.  They do not have the right or ability to receive any more information from your file than you can provide to them.  There are many free searchers to use first.

register with isrr.net

registry.adoption.com

findme.org

g's adoption registry

and any other state specific or general registry you can find.  If you can find it with a search engine, someone looking for you can as well.

When looking through registries remember that details are forgotten and birthparents and siblings may not have the correct date.   Look at all of the details to determine if there is a match.

This site will also tell you what options you have in your state.

http://local.reunion.adoption.com/

Answer 2

Yes they really are confidential.  I was adopted at birth and even though I didn't really start looking until I was over 18, it was hard to find info.  I had to track down the agency that performed the adoption, they contacted the birth mother, she gave her permission to speak with me, they I had to contact her by phone once she gave up her number.  But the whole process took a couple months.  If you really want to meet them don't give up hope.  Just don't build up an expection too high either.  Remember, they may not want to meet you, you must be prepared for that too.

Answer 3

Yes, they are confidential.  But there are agencies out there that will help you with the court process of getting them unsealed, and also with helping you initiate contact with your birth parents.  I have not done it yet, but I plan to, I was adopted in 1975, but I am now having twins, and want to know my family medical history.  So, I wish you luck on your search.

Answer 4

yes they are. i worked for social services for 10 yra...... i do believe after the age of 21 you may file a court motion to access that info

Answer 5

If it is a closed adoption then your adoption records will be sealed all of your life. However most agencies are now going with open adoptions or semi open adoptions which means when you are 18 years old you can go to the adoption agency you were adopted from and get access to your records. There are hardly any agencies doing closed adoptions anymore. An open adoption or semi open adoption is where the birth mother gets contact with her son or daughter through pictures and letters. There are some cases where the hospitals need to get access to the birth mother's records in order to find out any hereditary diseases or disabilities and so the birth mother would be informed.

Answer 6

They are confidential until your 18th birthday.  Once you are 18, then you contact social services who will run you through everything.

Answer 7

Yes! They ARE sealed, only 6 states in the US give adoptees access to their OBC's. ( original birth certificates ) alaska and kansas never sealed, oregon, new hampshire, maine, and arkansas give adoptees unconditional access to their unaltered birth ceritificates upon the age of majority which is 18, 19 or 21 depending on the state.

Unconditional access means that you can walk up to any vital records place, pay the same fee as non adopted people requesting their birth certificates and get it!!

Everywhere else in the USA discriminates against adoptees by enforcing state run registries ( with no fee limit some states charge over 1000 dollars just to register with no searching or guarantee of a reunion for you, or guarantee of access to your obc ) other states enforce confidential intermediaries which is also a violation of adoptee rights!!

We aren't a threat to anyone. We never consented to having our records sealed. Allowing another human being authority on OUR access to OUR records is discrimination at its finest! No state court has the obligation to uphold any unlawful promise to our first parents of privacy above our rights to our heritage, ancestry and original, only legal document of our OWN birth.

Most of these sealed record states laws will say that "access to unaltered birth certificates will only be given via court order " in other words the adoptee will have to petition the courts and show "good cause."

The only "good cause" i have seen by the judges in my years online working with other adoptees on reform is the Indian Child Welfare Act. If your non identifying information says that you have native american indian in you, then chances are you can win a petition to the courts for your OBC. However, its still a discrimination in itself that you even have to petition for your OBC.

If our mothers really were "promised" secrecy, which would seal our records, and that was a lawful promise, then our records couldn't be opened by court order due to the promise. ( loop hole in the law for anyone in adoption reform activism for adoptee rights! ) Majority of the time, mothers weren't promised it anyways, its a lie.

For your states specific laws you can go to www.adopteerights.net

Also, check out the Adoptee Rights Demonstration on that site above. A bunch of us are protesting at the annual state legislatures convention in July on 2008! The State Legislatures have the ability to enforce the opening of our records, so they are who we want to know that we're not taking NO for an answer anymore. Its time adoptees were treated equal to the non adopted citizens of this country. I am a proud american, but I wish america was proud of me.

Answer 8

i dont think they should be. or they should till you are 21. and then let you see them

Answer 9

That depends on what state you were born in and where the adoption records are filed.  I talked to the courts in Prince Georges County, MD for over a year and each time was told that the records are sealed permanenty. I have heard about other places where you can access them after you turn 18. I finally hired a professional searcher to locate my birthmother... I think it took her less than 3 months.

Answer 10

yes it is because it contains who are your real parents and the one who adopted

Answer 11

The only states with open adoption records are Kansas & Hawaii.

Answer 12

hmmm that depends you can do that at the public records office in your area where your birth was registered you need to make  an appointment with public recxords officer or registrar go and see them  and you neeed to pay a fee thats all for the information you want.

Answer 13

yes they are confidential. you can see your sealed records by petitioning the courts. you can if its there. sometimes if you get yur birthcertificate their names should be there but if you are like my mom well guess what she had one girl she didnt' name a dad for her. that is bad. cause shes dead and it has gone to grave with her and no one can find this out. its very sad. she will never know what type of medical she has and she does have MS now.

Answer 14

yes they are confidential..but...if you really want to know..you should go to them and tell them,dont forget to bring authorization letter from the parents you grew...

Answer 15

Most Countries in the world you can get your own records when you turn 18

However, the USA is WAY behind the rest of the world (land of the free must have been a joke!)  They seal the records forever - even from the people who they belong to!  Outrageous!

I hope you are outside the USA, the first answerer is obviously from somewhere more civilized when it comes to living in a free society (the UK I'd guess)

There are a handful of States that have reversed the sealed records laws and two that never ever sealed them at all

So to answer your question; it really depends on where you were born as to what civil rights you have (or don't have)

If you are in a sealed records state - don't lose hope - there are ways to find your first parents, sealed records or no sealed records and never let anyone tell you this is not your right.  It is your birthright.  Your human right. Your civil right.  Your constitutional right.

If you want to post information on where you live, I'm sure someone will be able to point you in the right direction.