i want to pay an attorney to unseal adoption records for my kids. Can this be done before they turn 18?
Sunday, April 25th, 2010 at
2:21 am
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Depending on the state you’re in, you might be able to do it without an attorney by petitioning the court. But they would only do so for a medical need to know. Do your kids need pertinent medical information?
Don’t waste your time and money on an attorney for this – he/she would have even less luck than you alone, because judges are more apt to say no to a lawyer to avoid setting any kind of legal precedence.
Find out the specific adoption laws in your state and then proceed.
In the least, you should sign your children up on the ISRR which is a national passive registry for natural parents and their children. Also, get their names on any state registries… that way if their fmom is also looking for information about them, it will all be there.
If the adoptions were handled through an agency, make sure you file a Waiver of Confidentiality with that agency and also the court.
Your going to have your work cut out for you! Going to court and having a judge unseal adoption records is no walk in the park! They very rarely do that , and I guess it depends what state you live in, as well. Also, please note… that in most cases the only information they will allow you to have is the non identifying info….. ( medical history). good luck..
Depending on where the birth and adoption took place, yes the adoptive parents can apply to the Court that finalized the adoption to have the records unsealed.
If you edit your question to indicate where the birth and adoption took place, you will get more accurate answers
No, that is very unlikely to happen. Rarely do Judges unseal adoption records. And definitely not for minor children unless there is a real serious illness. Then all you would be getting would be less than foster parents get when they get a child placed in foster care.