I guess I need to clarify my adoption question?

Question

I am simply looking for the court document in which the man my biological mother was married to legally adopted myself. This has nothing to do with sealed or not. My biological father gave up all rights and my stepfather adopted me. I am simply trying to find the records because my mother never had my last name changed on my birth certificate and I am unable to obtain a passport unless I can show proof of adoption and name change. I've actually had copies of these that were lost several years ago, so I know they are not sealed. I'm only looking for information on which division of the courts I'd go to to obtain another copy.

Answer 1

Hi Karen,

If you and your mother have lost your copy, you should petition the court in the county where the adoption was finalized.  That is where your adoption decree and birth certificate will be.  There is a family law division.  You may be able to ask the judge to do that for you without having to actually appear in court.  Try contacting that office and they will help direct you to where you need to go.  

Vital statisitcs office in your state also has your records.  However, they will only give you an amended version.  Try county court first.  Have a fun vacation once you get your passport Karen  :)

julie j

reunited adoptee

Answer 2

Go to the courthouse and go to the office that handles birth certificates, your name change should be registered there or they will know where to obtain a copy.  In the county where the name change occurred.

Answer 3

You can contact the court in which your adoption was finalized for assistance in obtaining your adoption decree.

As far as sealed records go, as odd as it may sound, even though you had copies of these documents at one time, all adoptions end with the sealing of the records when the adoption is finalized.  Plenty of families have copies of items related to an adoption (including original birth certificates) from before the finalization.  But, after the finalization, the records are sealed, even if there were copies given to parties prior to the finalization.   I know it makes no sense, but it's the way it is.  Even when an adult adopts another adult, the records are sealed!

Here's Nevada's statute:

NRS 127.140  Confidentiality of hearings, files and records.

      1.  Except as otherwise provided in NRS 239.0115, all hearings held in proceedings under this chapter are confidential and must be held in closed court, without admittance of any person other than the petitioners, their witnesses, the director of an agency, or their authorized representatives, attorneys and persons entitled to notice by this chapter, except by order of the court.

      2.  The files and records of the court in adoption proceedings are not open to inspection by any person except:

      (a) Upon an order of the court expressly so permitting pursuant to a petition setting forth the reasons therefor;

      (b) If a natural parent and the child are eligible to receive information from the State Register for Adoptions; or

      (c) As provided pursuant to subsections 3, 4 and 5.

      3.  An adoptive parent who intends to file a petition pursuant to NRS 127.1885 or 127.1895 to enforce, modify or terminate an agreement that provides for postadoptive contact may inspect only the portions of the files and records of the court concerning the agreement for postadoptive contact.

      4.  A natural parent who intends to file a petition pursuant to NRS 127.1885 to prove the existence of or to enforce an agreement that provides for postadoptive contact or to file an action pursuant to NRS 41.509 may inspect only the portions of the files or records of the court concerning the agreement for postadoptive contact.

      5.  The portions of the files and records which are made available for inspection by an adoptive parent or natural parent pursuant to subsection 3 or 4 must not include any confidential information, including, without limitation, any information that identifies or would lead to the identification of a natural parent if the identity of the natural parent is not included in the agreement for postadoptive contact.

      [14:332:1953]—(NRS A 1979, 1283; 2005, 1682; 2007, 2074)

Answer 4

here's the problem.  "sealed or not".  this is why i constantly tell people to get an extra copy before they let their husbands adopt their kids.

you likely had copies from before the adoption.  if someone ever, ever, EVER, in THIS LIFETIME legally adopted you, you are SCREWED just like the rest of adoptees.

Answer 5

Where I live, I had to go to state probate court to finalize the adoption and do the name change for the last name.  They told me that if I needed copies in the future, I could call them. Also, in my state the Department of Vital Records is able to provide copies of a lot of things.

I would say to try calling these two offices where you live and asking them.