How Do You Open Sealed Adoption Records?
Each state has its own laws concerning open and sealed adoption records. In general, if an adoption occured before a certain year, the records may be opened at the request of the adoptee. If the adoptee is below a certain age, the adoptee and the adoptive parents cannot search records unless the birth parents or biological siblings have signed a release of their contact information. If you are having trouble searching for birth parents, or a child given up for adoption, here’s how you can find sealed records. Visit your states department of health, family services, or governmental agency that oversees adoptions and vital records. Check to make sure the url ends in “.gov” or “.state.[your state’s 2-letter abbreviation].us” so that you get official information. Here you will find adoption laws and the rules for how to access sealed information. In most states, sealed records can only be opened with a court order, so you will need to have a valid reason to request information, other than
