Adoption Records

In most states, a court’s adoption records are sealed and can be opened only by court order. Procedures and standards for opening records vary by state. Increasingly, states require that certain non-identifying information, such as the medical history of the biological family, be made available to the adoptive parents at the time of adoption.

Some states have registries where parties to the adoption can seek to contact each other. If, for example, a biological mother seeks to find out about her child, she may place her name, address, and telephone number with the registry. If the adopted child (or adoptive parent) seeks contact with the biological parents, they may place their names in the registry. If the registry determines there is a “match” of people seeking information about each other, the registry will provide information to facilitate the contact.

Oregon has a law that allows adopted children to obtain their adoption records even if the biological parent expected their identity would not be revealed at the time the adoption took place.