we will update as we publish at AMERICAN INDIAN ADOPTEES WEBSITE - some issues with blogger are preventing this

Friday, February 1, 2013

Utah adoptees need court order to get adoption records

Go here:
http://www.utdcfsad opt.org/search_ reunion.shtml
The Utah Mutual-Consent Voluntary Adoption Registry
http://health. utah.gov/ vitalrecords/ pictures/ forms/adopt. pdf

Utah law permits adult adoptees the right to obtain non-identifying,
detailed genetic and social history with regard to their biological family.
Adoptive parents should receive the state forms entitled "Birth Father's
(and/or) Birth Mothers Non-identifying Information for Adoption Registry" at
the time of finalization. Copies of the completed forms may be obtained for
a nominal fee from the Office of Vital Statistics. In 1987 the state of Utah
established a "Mutual Consent Voluntary Adoption Registry." This registry is
administered by the Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics and is available
to adult adoptees (21 years or older who were born in Utah), their
biological brothers and sisters, and their birth parents. If both the adult
adoptee and an adult member of the biological family register, then
identifying information will be released to both parties.
See links below.

A Few Tips:

* Request non-identifying information from the agency that handled the
adoption. Contact the Department of Vital Statistic for the state you were
born in and they should be able to direct you to the agency.
* Review the laws and what is available for the state where you were
adopted.
* Sign up with the state registry. Contact the Department of Vital
Statistics for the state where the adoptee was born and where the adoption
was finalized.
* Sign up with the International Soundex Reunion Registry.
* Speak with your adoptive parents. Many adoptive parents have
additional information that they were waiting for the "right time" to share
with their children.
* Join a support group.

Utah Dept. of Vital Statistics
288 N. 1460 W.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Telephone: (801) 538-3916

Overview of Utah Adoption Information

In Utah, records are sealed and may be opened only by court order upon a showing of good cause. Requests to open sealed adoption records are initiated by formal petition in the court in the county where the adoption took place. Where a petitioner is seeking medical information to aid in the preservation of his or her health, petitioner must contact the bureau of vital statistics and the agency involved in the adoption to request non-identifying information, accompanied by a letter from a physician stating the need, and whether the information requested is necessary for the preservation of the health of petitioner. Where petitioner is seeking something other than medical information from the adoption records, he or she must register with the Voluntary Adoption Registry. Identifying information will be released when a registration is received by a court or licensed child placing agency from an adult adoptee (age 21) and a birth parent. Information will not be released if the adult adoptee has a biological sibling who was raised in the same family and who has not yet reached age 21. Adult biological siblings of adoptees may also register. If a registration has been received from both the adult adoptee and his or her biological sibling, such information may be released.

Utah Code Ann. 78-30-15; 78-30-18.

For registry information, contact:
Adoption Reunion Registry
Department of Health
Vital Statistics
288 N. 1460 W.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Telephone: (801) 538-3916

Only 8 states have opened adoption records. Utah, who has a very high percentage of Native adoptees, needs to open them immediately... Trace

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