Glossary
Active Registry – An adoption registry is a database of birth family members who want to reconnect. Active registries will also do searches. One party must sign up before a registry will initiate a search. Active registries can only operate in states that allow birth family members to reconnect in this manner by law.
Affidavit – A few states that will release records employ an affidavit system. With this system birth family members can file either their consent to the release of identifying information or their non-consent to be contacted or to release identifying information. If both parties consent, the records can be released.
Amended Birth Certificate – After a child is adopted a second birth certificate is issued. This birth certificate lists the adoptive parents and appears much like any other birth certificate, except it generally does not list the hospital, birth parents and certain other information.
Confidential Intermediary – A confidential intermediary (“CI”) is a person allowed access to confidential court records in order to initiate a search on behalf of an adoptee or birth parent.
Confidential Intermediary System – A system which allows for the use of confidential intermediaries to search in states that have such a system set up and allowed by state law.
Consent for Contact – A “Consent for Contact” is a form that indicates your desire for contact, and gives your permission to release contact information.
Contact Veto – A “contact veto” is a form that a birth family member can place in an adoption file which indicates that contact is not desired. Not all states offer this option.
Contact Preference– A “contact preference” form has several options for a birth family. These choices mostly allow a birth family member to indicate that they want contact, refuse contact or approve contact only through a mediator or facilitator. This form is used only in certain states.
Identifying Information – Identifying information includes full names, addresses and other facts that might be sufficient to locate a birth family member.
Intermediary – An intermediary is any person or agency who acts as a go-between for birth family members. An untrained, but trusted friend might become an intermediary to help facilitate contact between birth family members. Some agencies and/or their employees will act as intermediaries.
Face-to-Face – This term refers to the first meeting after a reunion begins between two birth family members previously separated by a closed adoption.
© Excerpted from the Adoption.com Guide to Search and Reunion, published by Adoption Media, LLC
Credits: Jan Baker
SPONSOR
