What types of information can be released from an adoption record?
For the adult adoptee, information that can be released from an adoption record depends upon when parental rights were terminated:
- If parental rights were terminated prior to May 28, 1945 but after September 12, 1980 and there is no parental statement of denial found in the Central Adoption Registry, the adopted person would be entitled to receive identifying information.
- If parental rights were terminated after May 28, 1945 but before September 12, 1980, the identifying information can only be released about the birth parent who has filed a statement of consent or of the adult birth sibling who filed a statement of consent. If the birth parent is deceased, information about that birth parent can be released. If there is no statement found, the release of information is considered the same as if the parent had filed a statement of denial.
The birth parents, adult birth sibling, and the adoptive parents of a minor child would be able to receive non-identifying information.