Search Resources by State
Access to Records, Support Groups, and Other State-Specific Information
Methods for access and/or reunions include:
- 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.
- Confidential Intermediary System.
- Petitioning the court for access to adoption records.
- Registries – either active or passive.
States shown with an asterisk (*) indicate Open Records States, states where adoptees can receive copies of original birth documents on request.
Please note: Legislation is underway to change adoption access laws in several states. States may become open, add registries or CI programs. Your state Web site or state adoption reform group is the best place to verify the accuracy of any laws regarding access to adoption records. For a quick overview of the laws for all states, see Reunion.Adoption.com’s clickable map.
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