Can any adoptees at all get copies of their OBC's?

Question

Or are they all sealed? Some sealed, some not?

As some of you may know, my husband was adopted. I've checked out his birth certificate since reading here that OBC's are not available to you- his birth certificate is not 'true', since it lists his adoptive parents as his parents. It also lists a town that I don't think he was really born in, but he says he was (SURE he remembers!). Can they change the town of birth as well? I'm wondering if an OBC is available for him or not. He was born in Wyoming.

Thanks~

Answer 1

If they are not sealed I guess so. I only know that access where I live is only possible if the birth mother has granted access at the time of adoption. Also the extract given at adoption is all one will ever need as no one can ask for an exact original for any purpose such as legal reasons. This is what I was told  but I am not to sure. Also don't get caught trying to get this info yourself and make sure hubby really wants to do this as it is a long process to wait for forms to be processed. Good luck. :)

Answer 2

Lillie and Cam are correct, 6 states give adult adoptees unconditional access to their identifying information. Meaning they can apply for their original records and get them the same way that the non adopted do.

There are a handful of other states across the country ( i think maybe 4 more ) that provide restricted access meaning, some adoptees born during certain dates can access the records only. And then of course there are the other states the provide registries and if both parties consent the identifying information will be released after paying the registry fee's and usually going through a CI.

Wyoming doesn't give adoptees their birth certificates.

Some states are known to change the place of birth and the date of birth, i've heard of up to a year from the actual birthdate.

New Jersey still allows adoptive parents to alter the birth PLACE to the city of the adoptive parents residence at the time of the adoptees birth.

Many states have done this throughout history. I'm looking for a link that I have of a woman who went through all the states and put together their falsification trends to birth certificates, but I can't find it, if i do i'll edit it back up.

Answer 3

Only in six states are OBC's accessed by all adoptees in those states.  Yes they have been known to change location, date,  and other information.  I think Wyoming is a closed state.

Answer 4

I got mine bu tthat's because i was adopted in Kansas.

I live in NC right now and here it takes an act of congress and even then they may still deny you access.

It def. depends on what state you live in.

You're going to have to find out what hospital or city,state he was born in and get in contact with the vital statistics office. request his original birth certificate either they will tell you it's sealed or they will get him to go through their process to get a copy.

Answer 5

The link below will lead you to information about the adoption laws in each state, including adoptee access to OBC's.

http://laws.adoption.com/statutes/state-...

I know you're not talking about Maine, but for anyone adopted in Maine, as of Jan. 1, 2009 all adopted adults will have unconditional access to their OBC's.

You'll notice that in a few states, some or most adoptees can access their OBC's.  Ohio and Tennessee are examples of such states.

Answer 6

i can't say as to america but what i will say might help adoptees in australia and that is in most states of australia it is getting easier all the time to get your original birth certificate but tasmania still seems to have some archaic laws but they are slowly getting with the times i know this doesn't help you but by posting this it might help some more aussies realise they can get the copies they desire if they want to i just wish i was in another state than tassie myself

Answer 7

There are only 6 states in the US that allow adoptees to access their original birth cetificates.  I can't think of all 6 off hand right now, but I don't think Wyoming is one of them...

Answer 8

I believe rights to access are only in these states:

Alaska

Kansas

Alabama

Oregon

New Hampshire

Maine

ETA: My daughter was born in a different state than where we live. Her place of birth was not changed. How fortunate for her that both of those states are listed above.

Answer 9

I've had my OBC for about 20 years.  But that's only because I knew my mother's name, and everything that was on the BC.

Whatever the state of Michigan required, I did.  My name, my mother's name, birth date.  I bought a money order.  I had it mailed to the my real name, obviously, to my address.  I lived in NYC at the time, and had 4 roomies.  I found the mailman and told him we had a new 'roommate' so he wouldn't send it back.

Answer 10

I don't know.  I'm adopted, my BC lists my adoptive parents in the "Parents" category, but it doesn't say "amended".  I doubt if I could get my original BC because in my state, adoption records were all sealed before 1980.  Unless there's a serious illness involved, you cannot get them unsealed.  You would probably have to check with a legal advisor in such matters....

Answer 11

And it should matter where your husband was born :)

Luckily for me I was born in UK and luckily for me they changed the laws for Australia and the UK So I have mine

I think thats appalling that they are allowed to change the town where they were born ...Sooner your current leader goes and a new one with forward thinking ideas is elected the better so that ALL Adoptees will have Open record access !

Every Person has a right to know WHO They exactly are

Frankly its unconstitutional not to allow them !

Answer 12

The state I live in (Wash.) passed a law that states that any person whose adoption was finalized after Oct 1993, can obtain their OBC upon the age of 18.  This law also puts in place that the adopted person's natural parents can obtain the OBC at any given time so long as they furnish proof that they are, in fact, the natural parents.