..."The benefits of openness in adoption for all members of the adoption triad are recognized by adoption professionals and the adoption community; and

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The societal norms which previously supported closed record laws have evolved and are no longer consistent with prioritizing the confidentiality of adoption records over the expressed need or desire of adopted persons to access their adoption records.

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THEREFORE IT IS RESOLVED, that the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys supports the inherent rights of adult adopted persons to their personal biological family information and to have access to their:

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original birth certificates;

agency records which relate to them and their biological family; and

court records of their adoption.

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IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys supports the inherent right of adult adopted persons to access and obtain these records regardless of when their adoption occurred."

 

“The interests of adopted adults in having information about their origins have come to be recognized as having critical psychological importance as well as importance in understanding their health and genetic status.  Because such information is essential to adopted adults’ identity and health needs, the agency should promote policies that provide adopted adults with direct access to identifying information.” (Standards of Excellence in Adoption Services, 2000) 

 

"When a child is adopted, the child has rights to connections with and awareness of both the original family and the adoptive family." (Excerpted from National Blueprint for Excellence in Child Welfare, Sections 1.3-1.5, 2013)  

 

 

 

"The need and right of adoptees to know their birth origin should be recognized and respected. This right extends to requests from adult adoptees for identifying information."  - February 1, 2012

 

 

 

CUB supports adult adoptees' right to access their records, without restrictions or qualifications. Knowing one's identity is a civil right which is consistently being abused by the practice of sealed records in adoptions. All human beings have a right to know their genetic identity, which includes their genetic roots, their medical history and biological history. 

"NACAC has long support the right of adoptees to have access to their original birth certificates. As our position statements below reflect, NACAC continues to believe that adoptees are well served by having access to information about their birth families, and are entitled to that information. 

 

Access to Original Birth Certificates — April 11, 1992 Recognizing that many adult adoptees have a need for more complete information about their birth families, NACAC supports their right to this information and supports access to original birth certificates to any adult adoptee at age of majority.

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Access to Original Birth Certificates — December 5, 1986 NACAC supports access to original birth certificates to any adult adoptee at age of majority."

 

 

 

124.15 - Adoptee Access to Original Birth Certificates and Information about their Origins

• Whereas many adult adoptees do not have access to their original birth certificates and are deprived the knowledge of their genetic background, medical information and equal rights provided to non-adopted persons 

• Whereas adoptees deserve to have accurate information about their origins

•  Whereas the medical, psychological and emotional well-being of adoptees is a high concern and

• Whereas there are adoptees who without knowing their medical, genetic, and ethnic history may face early death, prolonged pain and suffering or great physical or intellectual disadvantages and

•  Whereas , these rights are granted to all non-adopted persons

• Be it Resolved that the National Foster Parent Association supports open access to original birth certificates for adult adoptees in the United States.  Also be it Resolved that the National Foster Parent Association calls for all adoptees to receive information about their genetic, medical and ethnic identity.

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