Connecticut Opens Original Birth Certificates to Some Adoptees on 1 July 2015

In just over a week, Connecticut’s Public Act 14-133 will be in effect. That law allows some Connecticut adoptees to obtain original birth certificates.¹

On 1 July 2015, adoptees who are at least age 18 and whose adoptions were finalized on or after 1 October 1983 are able to request original birth certificates (OBC) from the state’s department of public health. Requests are to be made via mail using a specific order form. A copy of a photo ID and a check for $65 are to accompany the request.²

By law, an adopted person’s adult child or grandchild is also eligible to request the record.³ At first glance that may appear unlikely given the 1 October 1983 date restriction, but if an adoption was finalized when a child was older, they could potentially be of an age to have adult offspring.

If a birth parent contact preference form or medical history form are on file with the state, relevant information will be shared with the applicant.⁴

OBCs were not always closed in Connecticut. Before 1975, adult adoptees seeking them had access, but changes in the law restricted that access.⁵

Visit Access Connecticut for additional background and updates on efforts to restore open records, or follow Access Connecticut Adoptee Rights on Facebook.

1. Connecticut General Assembly, Public Act 14-133 (http://www.cga.ct.gov/2014/act/pa/pdf/2014PA-00133-R00HB-05144-PA.pdf : accessed 23 June 2015).

2. Connecticut Department of Public Health, “Request Form for Copy of Original Birth Certificate of Adopted Person” (http://www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/hisr/vr/request_for_orig_bc_2015.pdf : accessed 23 June 2015).

3. Ibid.

4. Connecticut General Assembly, Public Act 14-133, section 2(c).

5. Access Connecticut (http://accessconnecticut.org/ : accessed 23 June 2015).