For decades, adoptees in the United States have had limited access to their original birth certificates (OBCs), which contain the names of their biological parents and details about their birth. These records were typically sealed once an adoption was finalized. However, there has been a gradual shift in laws and policies across states, with increasing efforts to provide adoptees with more direct access to their birth information.
If you’re an adoptee wondering whether you can access your original birth certificate, what your rights are, and how to get a copy, this blog will cover that. We’ll walk you through what you need to know.
Why Original Birth Certificates Were Restricted — And How That’s Changing
For decades, original birth certificates (OBCs) were routinely sealed once an adoption was finalized. This practice began in the early to mid-20th century, mainly as a way to protect the privacy of birth parents—especially unwed mothers—at a time when adoption carried significant social stigma. Laws were designed to shield birth families from potential intrusion and to support adoptive families in raising a child “as if born to them.” In most cases, adoptees were issued an amended birth certificate listing only their adoptive parents, while the original was sealed and made inaccessible without a court order.
These laws emphasized birth parent confidentiality, but they often did so at the expense of adoptee rights—leaving many without basic information about their origins, medical history, or identity. Over time, this legal imbalance has come under scrutiny, particularly as societal views on adoption have evolved and transparency has gained greater value.
States with Access
As of 2025, the following states allow adult adoptees to obtain their original birth certificates without the need for a court order or the consent of birth parents:
Alabama
Who can request: Adult adoptee (19+), born in Alabama, whose OBC was sealed due to adoption/legitimation/paternity. Only the adoptee, no one else.
Required documents: A written request form (with original signature), ID, current name, date and place of birth, parents’ names as on the current certificate, mailing address, and fee.
Notarization / Court order: No notarization needed. Court order not required for OBC access—only needed for court adoption records or identifying info if the birth parent hasn’t consented.
Other: The Contact Preference Form and medical history (if submitted by birth parents) are released if they are on file.
Alaska
Who can request: Adult adoptee (18+).
Required documents: Application with full name (as on current certificate), date/place of birth, parents’ names, mailing address, phone number, notarized signature, and $30 fee.
Notarization / Court order: Notarized signature required. No court order needed.
Colorado
Who can request: Adoptees (18 years and older), descendants of a deceased adoptee, and other relatives (spouse, parents, siblings, grandparents) with written permission.
Required documents: Application with current legal name, birth details, adoptive parents’ names, mailing and contact info, valid ID, proof of relationship (if applicable), and $40 fee.
Notarization/Court Order: No notarization or court order is required.
Connecticut
Who Can Request: Adult adoptee (18+) and their child or grandchild (also 18+) .
Documents Needed: Written application (on town-level registrar form), government ID, proof of relationship for descendants, and $65 fee (uncertified copy).
Notarization / Court Order: No notarization required for adoptees or descendants. A court order is needed only if you’re neither (i.e., unauthorized).
Additional Notes: OBC copies are marked as superseded; identifying info may be withheld or require birth parent consent.
Kansas
Who can request: Adult adoptee (18+).
Required documents: Notarized written request including current name, date/place of birth, adoptive mother’s maiden name, and $15 fee.
Notarization / Court order: Notarized signature required; court order not needed.
Louisiana
Who Can Request: Adult adoptee (24+) born in Louisiana
Documents Needed: Application form (or letter with complete legal information as per guidelines), current legal birth certificate details, signature, mailing address/phone number, and fee (for non-certified copy). Contact preference options available.
Notarization / Court Order: No notarization or court order required.
Additional Notes: Copy marked “not for legal uses.” Birth parent contact preferences may be filed and considered.
Maine
Who can request: Adult adoptee (18+).
Required documents: Application with name after adoption, copy of amended birth certificate, notarized signature, and $10 fee.
Notarization / Court order: Notarization required; no court order needed.
Massachusetts
Who can request: Adoptee 18+, adoptive parents for minors; descendants of deceased adoptees.
Needed documents: Notarized application, ID; different fees for in-person vs. mail ($20 vs. $32).
Notarization / Court order: Notarization required; no court order needed.
Minnesota
Who can request: Adult adoptees (18 years and older), spouses, adult children/grandchildren, or a legal representative if the adoptee is deceased.
Required documents: Written request to MN Dept. of Health, notarized and with acceptable ID, $40 fee; provides non‑certified OBC, adoption evidence, and any filed Contact Preference Form.
Notarization / Court order: Notarization required; no court order needed.
Other: Any prior consent/denial affidavits expire; cannot block release.
New Hampshire
Who can request: Adult adoptees (18 years and older), as well as their spouses, adoptive parents, siblings, and children.
Required documents: Application with current name, sex, date/place of birth, adoptive parents’ names, valid ID, and $15 fee.
Notarization/Court Order: No notarization or court order is required.
New York
Who can request: Adult adoptee (18+) and direct-line descendants.
Required documents: ID, current name, adoptive parent info, address, plus $45 fee, plus shipping/card costs.
Notarization/Court Order: No notarization or court order is required.
Oregon
Who can request: Adult adoptee (21+); legal representatives may obtain with notarized permission; court records available at 18.
Required documents: Application with current name, birth details, adoptive parents’ names, ID, mailing info, and $30 fee.
Notarization/Court Order: No court order is needed; representatives must provide notarized authorization.
Rhode Island
Who can request: Adult adoptee (25+); descendants of deceased adoptees.
Required documents: Application with current name, date/place of birth, sex, adoptive parents’ names, ID, address/contact, and $22 in-person or $25 by mail.
Notarization/Court Order: No notarization or court order is required.
South Dakota
Who Can Request: Adult adoptee (18+) only (not descendants without order) , South Dakota Department of Health,
Documents Needed: Application of adoption information,” signed in front of a notary (or include valid ID), and $15 fee.
Notarization/Court Order: Notarization is required; a court order is not needed for the adoptee. However, identifying or adopting records may require a court order.
Additional Notes: The Original certificate is released with adoption details and marked accordingly. Non-identifying info can be requested separately. A voluntary registry exists to collect mutually identifying information.
Vermont
Who Can Request: Adult adoptee (18+)—including emancipated minors under certain conditions—and direct descendants of deceased adoptees (also 18+)
Documents Needed: Completed application (signed before a Notary), $10, a copy of the amended birth certificate, or a death certificate if the adoptee is deceased
Notarization / Court Order: Notarization required. No court order needed
Additional Notes: Certified copy of OBC provided (marked non-identifying for legal use). Contact preference forms aren’t part of the OBC process—they’re kept with the registry
Each state has its process—some require notarized applications, while others charge different fees—but the core right of access is guaranteed. In many of these states, adoptees can also obtain the OBC for a deceased parent, and descendants (such as adult children of deceased adoptees) are often eligible as well.
States with Partial or Conditional Access
Not every state has embraced complete transparency. Some states offer access under certain conditions—such as only for adoptions that occurred after a specific year, or only if the birth parents haven’t filed a disclosure veto. Others may require a court petition or proof of “good cause.” For example:
Illinois allows access at age 21, but birth parents can request that identifying information be redacted if the adoptee was born after January 1, 1946.
Pennsylvania permits adult adoptees to request a non-certified copy of their OBC, which still contains original birth parent names.
Ohio provides access for adoptees born after 1964, but earlier records require additional steps.
Maryland and Michigan have varying levels of access depending on when the adoption occurred.
Washington State: Operates under a compromised-access model where release depends on whether the birth parent has filed a nondisclosure or contact preference—policies that can block access but expire on the parent’s death.
Hawaii — Access to OBCs is limited, dependent on whether adoptees were both born and adopted in the state, and the records may only be court adoption documents rather than the OBC itself.
Some of these states are in legislative limbo, with advocacy groups pushing for broader reform. Still, progress is being made.
States That Still Restrict Access
Several states still have sealed adoption records and do not allow adoptees to obtain their original birth certificates without a court order. These include:
- California
- Florida
- Georgia
- Texas
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- South Carolina
- North Carolina
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Kentucky
- Nevada
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
In these states, adoptees must petition the court and prove “good cause” to access their OBC—an often subjective and difficult standard to meet. The process is typically costly, lengthy, and emotionally taxing.
How to Request Your Original Birth Certificate (If Your State Allows It)
If you were born in a state that allows open or conditional access to original birth certificates (OBCs), you can usually request yours through the state’s Department of Vital Records. First, check if you’re eligible—most states require you to be at least 18, though some set the age at 21, and a few allow descendants of deceased adoptees to apply. You’ll need to gather documents such as a completed application, a government-issued photo ID, your legal and (if known) birth names, and pay a fee, which varies by state. Submit your request by mail or online, depending on state requirements; some may also require notarization. Processing typically takes 2 to 8 weeks, and you’ll be notified if any identifying information is withheld due to a disclosure veto or redaction.
What If My State Doesn’t Allow Access?
If you were born in a state that still seals OBCs, you still have a few options:
Petition the court in the state where the adoption occurred (though success varies widely). Contact your state legislator and support open records legislation. Join adoptee rights organizations that are working toward reform. Pursue DNA testing via services like Ancestry DNA or 23andMe to uncover biological relatives, which many adoptees have used as an alternative path to their roots.
Original Birth Certificate Access
The landscape of adoptee rights is evolving, and Vermont’s new law is a strong sign of that momentum. While access to your original birth certificate still depends mainly on where you were born or adopted, the growing number of open-access states is promising.
If you’ve been longing to learn more about your origins, you’re not alone—and you may finally have the legal right to do so. Whether you’re just starting your search or have been at it for years, know this: your story matters. And you deserve the truth written on that original piece of paper.