Several changes to the Illinois Adoption Act went into effect on 1 January 2015. One change allows birth parents who are named on the original birth certificate (OBC) to obtain a copy of the OBC of the child they placed for adoption. See my earlier blog post on the topic for additional changes.
The original birth certificate is the pre-adoption birth certificate. It lists the child with their birth name, the birth parents whose names were provided, and the child’s date and place of birth. The non-certified OBCs issued will not include certificate numbers. The OBC will not list the child’s post-adoption name.
An OBC order form for birth parents is available on the Illinois Department of Public Health website. A copy of a government-issued photo ID and a $15 check must accompany the request.
If you have trouble with the pdf order form from the posted link, head to this IDPH page and right click the OBC request pdf link and choose “Save Link As” to download and save the order form. One form is for an adoptee to use to order an OBC, and the other form is for a birth parent to use to order an OBC.
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I was adopted and couldn’t get my original birthrecord even though it wasn’t a closed adoption. Several years ago the state of Illinois was doing a health survey about siblings. Since I knew who my siblings were, my brother sent in his health survey as did I. Because of that info I was able to get my original birth certificate. I don’t know if they are still doing that though.
Illinois original birth records were sealed for decades, but in 2011 they opened to all adult adoptees. The birth parent could sign permission to the adoption registry for an OBC to be released before then. I am glad that you were able to get your certificate. Many states are working on legislation to allow adoptees to obtain their OBCs.
I’m an adult. I’m beyond dismayed about how the system works. There is SO much information missing on my post adoption birth certificate that I have been accused of faking the document. This has cost me more than one job. Potential employers have mentioned this to me before. The state of Illinois should be EMBARRASSED by their lack of professionalism. I don’t know enough about ME to file for an original copy. My “family” is incredibly good at keeping secrets. I’m angry, sad, confused, and frustrated with the way your system works. My life shouldn’t have to be disrupted because a government worker was lazy with my paperwork in the 1980s. I was a baby when this transpired. I was totally innocent . I’m tired of the state telling me that they “can’t help without more information .” The irony? The information you ask for is the information I NEED.
All that you need to supply for your original birth certificate is what you know. Your name from the amended certificate (adopted name). Birthday. Where you were born, if known — even if as vague as county. That should be enough for them to link your amended birth certificate to your original birth certificate.