How Do You Search Sealed Adoption Records?
In many states, adoption records are sealed and remain that way from the time an adoption is finalized. This can make searching for adult adoptees very frustrating as they struggle with the laws to access their non-identifying and identifying information. Adoptees must wait until they are of age and follow a set process, often starting with the original adoption agency. Study your state’s adoption laws concerning the release of adoption records. Seven out of the fifty states now utilize an open record policy, while several other states will open the records under certain conditions. Contact the agency that handled your adoption to obtain your non-identifying information. Depending on which state you live in, you must be at least 18 or 25 years old to be considered an adult. These details cannot be released over to you before that time. Read over your non-identifying information, looking for clues that may point you in the right direction. This information often includes the location of
