An adoptee can begin her search for an adoption record even if she doesn’t know her birth parent’s name. A few states will open adoption records and give you the original birth certificate. Almost all allow release of some information from the closed record. This is called the non identifying personal information file. Names are redacted. No date of birth for the natural parents is provided. The biological mother’s biographical story may be included, and the circumstances surrounding the adoption and the child’s medical history. You can order this document from the adoption agency or the state. Contact the government agency in the state where you were adopted.
- Alabama: Alabama Dept.of Human Resources
- Alaska: Alaska Office of Children’s Services
- Arizona: Arizona Division of Children, Youth, and Families
- Arkansas: Arkansas Adoption Resource Exchange
- California: Children and Family Services Division-Adoptions
- Cherokee Nation
- Colorado: Change a Life Forever
- Connecticut: Department of Children and Families
- Delaware: Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families
- District of Columbia: Child and Family Services Agency
- Florida: Florida Department of Children and Families
- Georgia: Dept. of Human Services
- Hawaii: State of Hawaii – Dept. of Human Services
- Idaho: Idaho Dept. of Health and Welfare
- Illinois: Adoption Information Center of Illinois
- Indiana: Indiana Dept. of Child Services
- Iowa: Iowa KidsNet
- Kansas: Kansas Children and Family Services
- Kentucky: Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
- Louisiana: Louisiana Dept. of Children and Family Services
- Maine: Maine Child and Family Services
- Maryland: Maryland Department of Human Resources
- Massachusetts: Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange
- Michigan: Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange
- Minnesota: Minnesota Adoption Resource Network
- Mississippi: Mississippi Department of Human Services
- Missouri: Missouri Dept. of Social Services
- Montana: Montana Dept of Public Health and Human Services
- Nebraska: Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services
- Nevada: Nevada Division of Child and Family Services
- New Hampshire: New Hampshire Dept. of Health and Human Services
- New Jersey: New Jersey Dept. of Children and Families
- New Mexico: New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families
- New York: New York State Adoption Service
- North Carolina: NC Kids Adoption and Foster Care Network
- North Dakota: North Dakota Department of Human Services
- Ohio: Adopt Ohio
- Oklahoma: Oklahoma Dept. of Human Services
- Oregon: Oregon Adoption Services
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network
- Rhode Island: Adoption Rhode Island
- South Carolina: South Carolina Dept. of Social Services
- South Dakota: Dept. of Social Services
- Tennessee: Dept. of Children’s Services
- Texas: Texas Adoption Resource Exchange
- Utah: Utah Adoption Connection
- Vermont: Vermont Project Family
- Virginia: Virginia Dept. of Social Services
- Washington: Washington State Dept. Of Social and Health Services
- West Virginia: Adopt a West Virginia Child
- Wisconsin: Dept. of Children and Families
- Wyoming: Dept. of Family Services