Adoption Records Availability by State

Alabama
Open Records Human Resources, S. Gordon Persons Building, 50 Ripley St., Montgomery, AL 36130 (205) 242-9500.

Alaska
At age 18 adoptees have full access to records, passive registry for birth parents.
Adoption Dept: Dept. of Health & Social Services, Pouch H-05, Juneau, AK 99811 (907)465-3191.

Arizona
By court order. Intermediary system.
Adoption Dept: Dept. of Economic Security, Admin. for Children, Youth, & Families, 3001 W Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85017 (602) 277-3564.

Arkansas
By court order. Passive registry, intermediary system.
Human Svcs., Division of Social Services: Adoption Services, P.O. Box 1437 slot 808, Little Rock, AR 72203 (501) 682-8345.
Pending legislation: Bill HB 2202, all adoptees permitted OBC at age 21
Registry: Mutual Consent Voluntary Registry, 626 Donaghey Plaza South, P.O. Box 1437 Little Rock, AK (501)203-1437.

California
By court order. Waiver system.
Social Services, 744 P St., MS 19-31, Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 973-3827.

Colorado
By court order before 6/9/99. At age 18 after that unless birth parent vetoes. Passive registry, intermediary system. Adoption/Social Services, Post Adoption Services, 1575 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 (303) 866-5700.
Reunion Registry: Voluntary Adoption Registry, 4210 E. 11th Ave., Denver, CO 80220 (303) 320-8333)

Connecticut:
By court order. Intermediary system.
Adoption/Children & Youth Services: Adoption Resource Exchange, Under cliff Road Bldg. 2, Meriden, CT 06450 (203) 238-6640.
Pending legislation: 1999SB-01274-R00-SB. Opens records with provisions for both birthparent waiver, and hearings to open records despite said waiver. Status: referred to Committee on Judiciary
State Reunion list: Each agency is required to maintain its own registry.

Delaware
Original Birth Certificate at 21, unless Birth parent vetoes, active registry.
State Adoption Dept: Dept. of Services for Children, Youth & their Families, Division of Child Protective Services, Attn.: Adoption Coordinator, 1825 Faulkland Rd., Wilmington, DE 19805-1195 (302) 633-2655.

Washington DC
By court order only.
Human Services, Adoption & Placement Rsrcs., 609 H Street, NE, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20002 (202) 727-5930.

Florida
By court order. Passive registry, intermediary system.
State Health & Rehabilitative Services, Family and Child Services, 1317 Winewood Blvd. Bldg. 8, Rm. 100, Tallahassee, FL 32301 (904) 488-8000.
State Reunion Registry: Contact Registration: $35 Updates: $10.

Georgia
By court order. Active registry. GA Human Resources, State Adoption Unit, Rm. 501, 878 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 (404) 894-2641. State Reunion. Contact State Adoption Services.

Hawaii
Original Birth certificate at 18 for those adopted after 1991, if no disclosure veto is on file. Post 1991 if waiver is on file, adoptees may obtain records, if not, a Confidential intermediary is assigned to obtain waiver from birth parents. If the birth parents are not found in 120 days, adoptees are granted access to records. Birth parents rules are the same, and may obtain an original birth certificate.
Adoption/Human Svcs., Child & Family Svcs., P. O. Box 339, Honolulu, HI 96809-0339 (808) 548-2211.
No formal registry on state level. 1st Circuit Family Court maintains a registry for the 1st circuit only.

Idaho
By court order.
State Adoption/Health & Welfare: 450 W. State Street, Boise, ID 83720 (208) 334-5697.
State Reunion Registry: Contact Vital Statistics Agency: Bureau of Vital Statistics, State Health & Welfare: Statehouse, Boise, ID 83720 (208) 334-5988.

Illinois
By court order. Confidential Intermediary Sys. Recent legislation instituted an active registry reunited adoptees and Birth parents may obtain OBC with permission from other parties.
State Family Services, 406 E. Monroe, Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 785-2519.
Contact State Adoption Division

Indiana
By court order, except those adopted before 1940, who have full access to records. Intermediary system, passive registry.
Adoption Division State/Public Welfare, Social Services Division, 141 Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46225 (317) 232-4956.
State Reunion Registry: IN Adoption History Registry, State Registrar of Vital Stats., P. O. Box 1964, Indianapolis, IN 46206-1964 (317) 633-0274.

Iowa
By court order after 1941. Pre 1941 open. Passive registry, State Adoption Division Iowa - Human Services: Division of Adult, Children & Family Svcs., Hoover Building, Des Moines, IA 50319 (515) 281-5358.

Kansas
All adoption records open to adoptee at age 18. State Adoption Dept: Dept. of Social & Rehabilitative Services: Division of Children & Youth, 300 SW Oakley, Topeka, KS 66606 (913) 296-2500.

Kentucky
Adoptees have access to records only with birth parent permission at age 18. Intermediary program, passive registry. Dept. for Social Services, Cabinet for Human Rscrs., 275 E. Main St. -6th Floor W, Frankfort, KY 40621 (502) 564-2136.

Louisiana
Court order only. Passive registry. Adoption Dept: Office of Human Development, Adoption Program, P. O. Box 3318, Baton Rouge, LA 70821 (504) 342-4040. State Reunion Registry: Must be over 25 yrs. old. Contact the State Adoption Dept.

Maine
Adoption Records: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/bohodr/ovrpage.htm
Reunion Registry: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/cw/adoption/reunionregistry.htm

Court order only. Passive registry. State Adoption Dept: Bur. of Child & Family Svcs., Main Dept. of Human Svcs., 221 State Street, Augusta, ME 04333 (207) 289-5060. Reunion Registry: Contact Vital Statistics Agency: Office of Vital Statistics, ME Dept. of Human Svcs., 221 State St., State House, Station 11, Augusta, ME 04333 (207) 289-3184.

Maryland
By court order only after June 1, 1947. New CI system, access to OBC with identifying info removed. By contacting the circuit court pre 1947, unless sealed by the parties involved. State Adoption Dept: Dept. of Human Resources, 311 W. Saratoga Street, Baltimore, MD 21201(410) 333-0235. State Reunion Registry: MD Mutual Consent Registry, 311 W. Saratoga St., Baltimore, MD 21201 (There is a $25 enrollment fee).

Massachusetts
By court order. Waiver system. Adoption Dept: Dept. of Social Services, 150 Causeway St., Boston, MA 02114(617) 727-0900. Reunion Registry: Massachusetts Adoption Search Coordinator Department of Social Services 24 Farnsworth St. Boston, MA 02210.

Michigan
By court order. Waiver System in central registry, Intermediary system. Adoption Dept: Dept. of Social Services, P. O. Box 30037, Lansing, MI 48909 (517)373-3513. Reunion Registry: Contact State Adoption Dept.

Minnesota
Post 1982 records released when adoptee is an adult, unless Birth parent disclosure veto is on file. State Adoption Dept: Dept. of Human Services, 444 Lafayette Rd., St. Paul, MN 55155-3831(612) 296-0584.

Mississippi
By court order. Intermediary system, post 1994 birth parent registry. Public Welfare, 855 S Plaza Drive, Jackson, MS 39284 (601)373-3526.

Missouri

Missouri does not have an active registry, rather, it is passive and requires both the adult adoptee and the biological parent to have registered. True, an adult adoptee may request the court to order a search, which would be active, however this is a different action than the registry. (573) 751-4329.

Montana
After Oct. 1, 1997, placement records released unless birth parent veto. July 1, 1967- Sept. 30, 1997, by court order. Before 1967, original birth certificates released upon request. Passive registry, intermediary system. State Adoption Dept: Dept. of Social & Rehabilitation Services: Social Svcs. Bureau, 111 Sanders Street, Helena, MT 59601 (406) 444-5622. Nebraska: By law, Over age 25 unless birthparent veto is on record. In practice, adoptive parents can veto, and unless a birth parent waiver is on file, records are being denied. Waiver system, active registry. Public Welfare, Division of Social Services, P. O. Box 95026, Lincoln, NE 68509 (401) 471-3121. State Reunion Registry: Contact State Adoption Dept. Nevada: By court order. Passive registry. State Adoption Dept: Dept. of Human Resources., Welfare Division, 251 Jeanell Drive, Capitol Mall Complex, Carson City, NV 89710 (702) 687-4760.

New Hampshire
Reunion Registry: New Hampshire: By court order. Waiver system, intermediary system. Dept. of Health & Welfare, Bureau of Child & Family Services, 6 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301 (603) 271-6202. New Jersey: By court order. State Adoption Dept: Dept of Institutions & Agencies: Division of Youth & Family Services, P. O. Box 510, Trenton, NJ 08625 (609) 292-8816. State Reunion Registry: Contact State Adoption Dept. Limited access.

New Jersey
By court order. Adoption Dept: Dept of Institutions & Agencies: Division of Youth & Family Services, P. O. Box 510, Trenton, NJ 08625 (609) 292-8816 Contact - Limited access. New Mexico
By court order. Intermediary system. State Adoption Dept: Human Services Dept., Social Services Division, Adoption Services, P.O. Box 2348, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2348 (505) 827-8413.

New York
By court order. Passive registry, (Now available to siblings) Adoption Dept: Dept. of Social Services, NY St. Adoption Services, 40 N. Pearl St., Albany, NY 12243-0001 (518) 474-2868. State Reunion Registry: NY St. Health Dept., Adoption Information Registry, Corning Tower - Room 208, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237-0023 (518) 474-1746.

North Carolina
By court order. Adoption Dept: Dept. of Human Rscrs., Child Services Bureau, Division of Social Services, 325 N. Salisbury, Raleigh, NC 27611 (919) 733-0598.

North Dakota
By court order. Active registry. Waiver system. State Adoption Dept: Children & Family Services, Russell Building, P. O. Box 7, Bismarck, ND 58505 (701) 224-2316. State Reunion Registry: Contact State Adoption Dept.

Ohio
Before 1964, adoptees may be able to obtain original birth certificate, unless there was a request to reissue the adoptive birth certificate. After 1964, By court order. Passive registry. State Adoption Dept: OH Dept. of Human Services, Division of Social Services, Bureau of Child Services, 30 E. Broad Street 30th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215. State Reunion Registry: Contact Vital Statistics Agency: Ohio Dept. of Health, Division of Vital Statistics, 65 South Front Street, Columbus, OH 43266-0333 (614) 466-2531.

Oklahoma

By court order. New intermediary system. State Adoption/Human Services, Division of Child Welfare, P. O. Box 25352, Oklahoma City, OK 73125 (405) 521-2778. State Reunion Registry: Only for adoptions arranged by the state. Contact State Adoption Dept.

Oregon
Open Records - Dept. of Human Resources., Children Services Division, Adoption Services, 198 Commercial St. SE, Salem, OR 97310-0450 (503) 378-6224. State Reunion Registry: Contact State Dept.

PennsylVerdanaa
Access to original birth certificate at age 18 with waiver from birth parent. Intermediary system, passive registry, medical registry. Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) PO Box 2675 Harrisburg, Pa. 17105-2675. State Reunion Registry: For birthparents only. Adoptees should write frequently to check registry.
Website

Rhode Island
Court order. Passive registry. Children & Their Families, 618 Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 457-4708.

South Carolina
Court order. Passive registry. State Adoption Dept: SC Dept. of Social Services, Adoption & Birth Parent Svcs., P.O. Box 1520, Columbia, SC 29202-1520 (803) 734-6095. State Reunion Registry: Contact State Adoption Agency.

South Dakota
Court order. Passive registry. Social Services, Richard F. Kneip Bldg., 700 Governor's Dr., Pierre, SD 57501 (605) 773-3521. State Reunion Registry: Voluntary. Contact State Adoption Dept.

Tennessee
Original birth certificates to adult adoptees at age 21 unless their birth was a result of rape or incest. If Birthparents do not desire contact, adoptees must sign an agreement not to in order to obtain records. State Adoption Dept: Dept. of Human Services, Post Adoption Branch, 400 Deaderick St., Nashville, TN 37248-9000 (615) 741-3263. State Reunion Registry: Contact State Adoption Dept.

Texas
Court order. Passive registry. Human Resources, 706 Bannister Ln., P.O. Box 2960, Austin, TX 78709 (512) 450-3011. State Reunion Registry: Contact Dept. of Health: Texas Dept. of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1100 W. 49th St., Austin, TX 78756 Attn: Voluntary Mutual Consent Registry (512) 458-7111.

Utah
Court order. Passive registry. Social Services, Division of Family Services, 120 N. 200 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84103 (801) 468-5465.
State Reunion Registry: Contact: Vital Statistics Agency (801) 538-6363 Utah State Dept. of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, P. O. Box 16700, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-0700 (801) 538-6380.

Vermont:
Before 1986, access for adoptees age 18 with birth parent consent. After 1986, full access unless a birth parent veto is on file. Waver system maintained in central registry. State Adoption Dept and Registry: Dept. of Social and Rehabilitation Services, 103 S. Main St., Waterbury, VT 05676 (802) 864-7467.

Virginia
In parental consent adoptions after July 1994, at age 18 All records are open to all involved parties. Before this date, by court order only. Intermediary system. State Adoption Dept: VA Dept. of Health, Division of Social Services, Adoption Reports Unit, 8007 Discovery Dr., Richmond, VA 23229-8699 (804) 662-9855.

Washington
At age 18 after Oct. 1, 1993 unless birth parent vetoes. By court order prior to that. Intermediary System. State Adoption Dept: Dept. of Social & Health Services: Bureau of Children's Services, Office Building #2, Olympia, WA 98504.

West Virginia
Court order. Passive registry. Social Services, 1900 Washington St. E, Charleston, WV 25305, (304) 348-4098. State Reunion Registry: Contact State Adoption Dept.

Wisconsin
Access to original birth certificate at age 18 with birth parent consent. Passive registry for birth parents, Active registry for adoptees. Health & Social Services: Division of Community Services, 1 W. Wilson St., Madison, WI 53702 Attn: Adoption Search Coordinator. (608)266-7163. Pending legislation: Assembly bill 526. An open records for adoptees age 18 and older to obtain original birth certificate, but with many restrictions.

Wyoming
By court order: Intermediary system and registry. Adoption Dept: Dept. of Health & Social Services: Division of Public Assistance & Social Services, Hathaway Bldg., Cheyenne, WY 82002 (307) 777-7656.

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