I need some help & information re: adoption & court records?

Question

I am helping a friend find information about his roots. The problem is: There is a string of adoptions involved and I'm stuck on how to obtain information that's "sealed" by the courts.

All right. He was born in 1984. His mother was separated from her husband at the time, and it's been ruled out that he isn't the father. They eventually divorced in 1987. That same year, she remarried, and the man she married adopted my friend as his own son. Therefore, the 1st birth certificate was sealed by the courts.

His mother divorced this man a few years later and has since never remarried. In 1993, my friend was taken away from his mother because of abuse and neglect. He was in foster care until he turned 18. At that time, his foster mother legally adopted him, which then sealed the 2nd birth certificate!

This isn't like a typical adoption situation because all of the players all along the way are known to my friend. He just wants documentation.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Answer 1

petitioning the courts is the only way to get the records. He'll have to show good cause.

In the meantime I suggest getting involved in actively changing the laws through legislation and bills with adoptee rights groups.

edit the state this happened in and i'll give you links :)

Answer 2

Since he's legal (18+), he should be able to obtain his own adoption documents.  I worked in the Circuit Clerk's office at my county courthouse for a couple years, and I know that adoption records are sealed unless you're the person who was adopted and wants to know information about your past.  Of course, you do have to be 18 and you have to look in the county that you were adopted..... as long as your friend has proof of ID, he should be able to look at his records.  At least, I'm 90% sure that's how it works.  

Good luck!

Answer 3

I don't know what state your friend was a foster child in. I was a foster child in California. I was adopted by my foster parents at the age of 3.  

I was able to obtain copies of my court records pertaining to the foster care. In those records I found my first mother's name, as well as the name of some relatives & extended family members.  Foster records are not sealed.

His first mother's divorces are a matter of public record that anyone can obtain a copy of.  The foster records will likely have much of the information he needs, even his adopted dad's name since CWS would have at least tried to contact him.  With that information, he may be able to figure out, or narrow down, what city his mother was divorced in, etc.

Hope this is helpful. Feel free to e-mail me.

Good luck!