Release Original Birth Certificates for Adoptees

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United States Government: State and Federal Government Officials

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We signed the "Release Original Birth Certificates for Adoptees" petition!

# 214:

8:31 pm PST, Nov 18, Heather Tye, New Jersey
I have already found my original birth certificate and they refuse to give me any information or refuse to give me another copy after I lost mine in a fire. That's not right and my father just died

You should be able to have access for the void that some people feel not knowing who they truly are or where they came from. If you don't know who you are, you are living a lie!

# 213:

6:24 pm PST, Nov 17, Karin Burtscher, Canada
It is my fundamental right to know where my roots are it is the only way I can grow and move on. What protection of birht parents? I am not a stalker just a human being who would love to know where they originated , please allow access to original birth records and information

# 212:

12:21 pm PST, Nov 14, Name not displayed, Oregon
In some states those who are adopted can get their original birth certificate and in other states the original birth certificate cannot be released without a court order. It should be the same for everyone. The law isn't fare to those who have to go through the court to get what should rightfully belongs to them.

# 211:

6:05 pm PST, Nov 9, Name not displayed, California
I am not allowed to have MY INFORMATION or my Birth Father's INFORMATION.

It is my information.

# 210:

9:16 am PST, Nov 9, ANN SCOTT, Florida

# 209:

4:13 am PST, Nov 7, Name not displayed, Washington
My mom was adopted and I have been trying to find out specifically what tribe i am from. for now I go to other tribes and share thier culture with my son......it s better than nothing. but it kinda like hangin out with your grandparents until i find mine. they know i am not thiers. I Know Im not thiers. Ya we are all very nice and its a pleasent time... but i kinda want my culture, my family, I dont need to see move in, just wanna know why i have ADHD, am I at risk four breast Cancer....For GOSH SAKE Ya what race am I and my children.....and thier children?

# 208:

1:37 pm PDT, Oct 30, Jonathan Hetherington, Kentucky
i was adopted in july of 1989 and i would love to go back to linville my birth name. reason my adoptive father done some thing wrong to my sister when she was 10

allow the adoptee have a choice in which name that want to go by when they are 18 years or older

# 207:

12:28 pm PDT, Oct 22, Sarah Marr, Texas
I just want to know. I was contacted by my birthmother about 12 years ago. I still want to see my orginal birthcertifate.

# 206:

3:07 pm PDT, Oct 19, Amanda Woolston, Pennsylvania
Complete and open access is the only way to go. To those who are willing to "compromise" with legally binding contact vetos, I can assure you as an adoptee born/adopted in a state (TN) who does such a thing, that possessing a restraining order because of the nature of your birth is NOT the way to go. Adoptees are not monsters who, when given access to THEIR information, will use it to harass their original families. In any other situation, regardless of family circumstance, an individual has to do something wrong in order to receive a restraining order. What has an adoptee done other than be born? Adoptees should not experience the legal restraint of any law unless they've done something wrong. I've never, ever seen a relinquishment paper that said a first mother is guaranteed privacy. Secrecy is rediculous and privacy is a preference but open access to one's heritage, medical information and non-falsified birth certificate? That's a civil and constitutional RIGHT.

# 205:

7:28 am PDT, Oct 14, Kieran Maltz, Wisconsin

# 204:

6:19 am PDT, Oct 14, Timothy Eng Hung, Illinois
This is a civil rights issue. Birth information, ancestory, and all that is connected to it is the right of the child.

# 203:

3:48 pm PDT, Oct 13, Amy Luettgen, Wisconsin
I am an adult adoptee and I have been denied access to my original birth certificate by my birth mother. As a tax paying citizen I feel that this action violates my civil rights. It is also a painful second abandonment on the part of my birth mother. No birth parents were guaranteed confidentiality. they were guaranteed privacy to avoid public stigma due to societal mores at the time but that is a very minor issue in the 21st century

I feel that I should have access because it is my right as a citizen and as a human being to have access to my biological identity.

# 202:

11:27 am PDT, Oct 13, Tineke White, Texas
I think this is something that is mine. I know nothing of my medical history. Every time they ask you at the doctor's office if you have something in your family history, all you can say is...I don't know!! It sucks! Most states are opening up the birth records to adoptee's and California should too!!!

# 201:

4:03 pm PDT, Oct 12, Ellen Lieberman, Illinois
As a 55 year old adoptee, I've experienced years of not knowing my ethnicity, medical history, or even the names of my original family. What other U.S. citizen is denied this basic information? At my age, it is especially critical to be aware of my family medical history, so that I can take preventative measures. It is equally vital that I know my identity and have a connection to my ancestors and relatives.

I urge Congress to open adoption records, so that other adoptees are not denied the fundamental human right of knowing their identity and medical history.

# 200:

10:18 am PDT, Oct 11, Emma Derry, California
I have been trying for years to have what I consider is mine. I have my health issues but do not know what has been passed on to me. I am a mom with four grandchildren. This effects them also. I feel empty inside knowing a part of me has been taken away without my permission.

Everyone has the right to know about themselves.They should be able to obtain their bith certificates and medical records.

# 199:

11:11 am PDT, Sep 24, Ima Jean Walker, California
One of the most important reasons I feel, is that they would be able to have knowledge of their ansestors medical history in case of problems with their health. Also, I can't imagine not knowing if you have siblings and other family and never knowing them or at least knowing about them.

# 198:

9:29 am PDT, Sep 22, Patricia Lowe, Oregon
My adopted son is mentally ill. It was hinted at the time of adoption the maternal aunt had "hayfeaver", I now find out there is possibly more to the story as in a "mentally retarted Aunt" I need to find the birth parents to see if they gave the "retarted Aunt" information to the adoption agency and the agency hid it from me. My son needs to know of his orgin, he needs to know if he has siblings. How totally unfair to keep this information from us. It only protects the birth parents and they deserve to be disclosed.

My son needs to know if he has siblings. I need to know if there any other inheritable diseases he may or may not have.

# 197:

4:20 am PDT, Sep 22, Jeff Ready, Indiana
I am 39 years old, lived with my biological father from age 15, served in the military under my biological name, but since the records were sealed I cannot get a birth certificate or even a judge to hear the request and I cant get an adopted birth certificate because I have never used that name so I cannot verify identity for either name now. Served my country in a time of war but cant get a drivers license or vote due to a sealed adoption when all parties are not secret, go figure

# 196:

11:37 pm PDT, Sep 21, Name not displayed, California

# 195:

11:04 am PDT, Sep 18, Michele Cohen, Connecticut
I have to go through a ridiculous amount of just in case medical testing because I have no idea about my background. Adoptees deserve the right to know who they are and where they came from.

# 194:

3:19 pm PDT, Sep 14, Elycia Bair, Idaho
I am 38 and have to have a mamogram for breast cancer and it would be nice to know if it is part of my family's medical history but I can't get that information because I am an adoptee!!!!!!!11

# 193:

3:06 am PDT, Sep 14, Name not displayed, Oregon
I was born in California in 1947. I was adopted in Washington state in 1955. In 1977, I started a search to locate my birth family. I found my oldest half brother, the people who were my foster parents and one policeman who was involved the night my two half brothers and me were taken away from our birth mother for the last time. After that, I stopped my search and started it up again in 1987. At that time, I located my birth mother and the rest of my relatives on my birth mother's side. I stopped the search again after that and started it up again in 1997. At that time, I located relatives on my birth father's side. I have all the information about my birth family on both sides. I have all this information in a notebook, which covers well over 100 pages. I know who everyone is. I know everything that happened leading up to my adoption. My youngest half brother was adopted by a family in Seattle, Washington. His name was changed at the adoption. I know his birth date, place of birth, birth name, adopted name, adopted parent's names and that his adopted mother died when he was ten years old. My birth parents (father and mother) and my adopted parents (father and mother) are all dead. Even with all of this, I cannot obtain my original birth certificate because of the closed adoption records.

Now for the reason why I feel adult adoptee's should be able to obtain their original birth certificate. I found out no one in my birth family has a copy of my original birth certificate. Since my adopted birth certificate is dated 1955, it looks fake and they think it is phoney. I have to tell them I am adopted. It isn't excepted when trying to obtain a passport, or other documents. I found out that adopted adults who were adopted years after birth do not have the same rights as those who are not adopted. It would be nice if we, as adopted adults, could obtain our original birth certificates, so we can be like the rest of the population who are not adopted. I think this is discrimination for adult adoptee's. I would like to be a spokesperson for anyone trying to get their original birth certificate after being adopted, especially several years after their birth, such as I was. It isn't fare that adult adoptee's should be treated differently because they are adopted. We are adults just like the rest of the population that aren't adopted. I know there are people who work in government who have not walked in the shoes of an adult adoptee, so it is hard for them to understand. Please, think about this and open up the records, so we, as adult adoptee's, can obtain our original birth certificate. It would be nice as an adult adoptee to be like everyone who is not adopted.

# 192:

9:37 am PDT, Sep 13, Charlise Kindsfather, Texas

# 191:

6:35 pm PDT, Sep 12, Name not displayed, South Carolina
My adoption was in Indiana, and because of the laws to "protect birthmothers" I cannot get my orginial birth certificate like a normal person can. My adoption file says I am Hispanic or Italian, well which one is it? I have the right to know as a human. What about the "protection" for adoptees, keeping all of our info away from us is HURTING us not helping or protecting us in anyway. just because a birthmother cannot or doesn't want to raise her child should not make it impossible for us adoptees to have our information and backgrounds like a non adopted person has. WE ARE NOT TREATED LIKE A NORMAL HUMAN, ALL OF OUR INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE A RIGHT TO IS SEALED FROM US, OPEN IT UP.

# 190:

1:59 pm PDT, Sep 9, Nyla Lengacher, Texas
I can't think of a more basic human right than to know who you are!

# 189:

7:49 am PDT, Sep 5, David Hatten, South Carolina

# 188:

6:03 am PDT, Aug 31, Name not displayed, Philippines
I have the right to know my medical history.

# 187:

9:51 am PDT, Aug 25, Suzanne Johnson, Kansas
Gone are the days in which adoptees do not have a voice. Adoptees around the world will unite until govenments change the outdated laws that deny us the rights to have access to our family history.

Adoptees did not ask to be born into their circumstance, but have every right to know their family, history and origin.

# 186:

5:50 pm PDT, Aug 18, Sheri Strobaugh, Washington
Why is it someone's else's choice not to allow me to see my own birth certificate? I am a grown woman, have met my birth family and now know my history. My birth mother wants nothing to do with me so she will not sign an agreement for release. My birth father has passed away. I want my original birth certificate...It's my right!

There are so many reasons that adoptees should have access to their birth records. One huge reason is health. I want to know if I have cancer in the family, or diabetes, or heart failure etc.

# 185:

8:01 pm PDT, Aug 15, Gary Nihsen, Iowa
I have been searching for my birth parents for over 30 years. Since my birth mother has since died, the avenue is now closed for me to go through the agency as my birth grandmother refuses to release any information. Whose history is this? How can you deny a person their entire origins? Tomorrow is my birthday. This day continues to be a source of pain and grief for me. Every person should have a right to their own records. What is so difficult to understand about that?

# 184:

9:55 pm PDT, Aug 12, Dona Skaggs, Indiana
Everyone should have the right to determine where they are going. Everyone should also have the right to know from whence they came .

# 183:

6:31 am PDT, Aug 5, Name not displayed, New Jersey
I learned, by pure accident when I was 50 yrs old, that I had been adopted as a toddler. I have my adoption papers, all involved are dead, I have my birth mother's death certificate. She died giving birth to me and her grave had gone unmarked until we found her grave and installed a stone to honor her.

I went through a lot from the time I came home from the hospital as a newborn...abused and molested. My biological father tried to sell me. He left me with an alcoholic uncle who also abused me. Then I was abused by adoptive family, fine pillars of their church, from toddler hood until I met my gentle husband in 1964, and raped (by a church member when I was a teen). I feel I and every other adoptee should have the right to their original birth certificate, if they so choose. Thank you for any help

# 182:

4:49 pm PDT, Aug 4, MARGARET BROOKS, Massachusetts

# 181:

1:32 pm PDT, Aug 1, Lynne Mattner, New York
I was adopted and becuase of your Indiana laws I cannot receive any info about my orginal birth certificate. I am running out of time, and there is no reason I should not have as much background as I can. What about my rights

Everyone has a right to know their roots, their medical history, and to know who they are.

# 180:

9:30 am PDT, Jul 12, Tyrza Blake, North Carolina

# 179:

10:16 am PDT, Jul 5, Robert Doren, California
Adoptee's should have the same rights as everyone else. Our constitution does not say "Unless Adopted"! What is the real impact of hiding this information? Is the individual Native American, descended from Nobility, the rightful Heir to (?), or just "Heinz 57".

# 178:

3:34 pm PDT, Jul 2, Tim Hamill, California
I was only informed that I had been adopted when I was 51 years old and after the death of both my adoptive parents. It came about after I spent weeks putting together a genealogy for my daughter of what I thought at the time was my family tree. Now I feel like I have no history whatsoever. I don't know what my ancestry is, where I actually came from, if I have any living family or relatives, what medical conditions I may need to be aware of.....nothing.

Because everyone has a right to know where they came from, what their heritage is, what their medical history is. No one should be denied their history and no one should have the right to deny me that information.

# 177:

12:03 pm PDT, Jun 28, Stephanie Strickland, Florida
For more impact, add a personal comment here

Why do you think adoptees should have their original birth certificates and adoption records?

# 176:

1:31 am PDT, Jun 25, Name not displayed, United Kingdom
I am an adoptee in the UK and I know how important it was to me to know the names of my natural parents. I am now in contact with both of them and their families. My natural families and my adoptive family have welcomed each other and myself with open arms. All adoptees should have this opportunity. Everyone should have the right to know where they come from and the names of their own parents. I believe that no one has the right to withhold that knowledge.

# 175:

11:12 pm PDT, Jun 22, Laura Wellons, Georgia
I am adoptee. I think every person should know who their biological parents are. Maybe not a relationship; but medical information and siblingship.

To get much need medical information and to know their roots/ heritage. So, they don't end up marrying their brother or sister.

# 174:

12:58 pm PDT, Jun 21, Tina Mosbrucker, Arizona
I am a birth parent, and I hope my son will one day reach out for me, and he will have all the access he wants to finding me, if he chooses to do so.

# 173:

11:04 am PDT, Jun 15, Mirah Riben, New Jersey
Follow the money. Adoption is a multi-billion dollar industry. Records were never sealed to protect adoptees or their natural/original mothers or families. Secrets and lies protect baby brokers who operate in quasi legal gray/black shadows skirting laws. The history of sealed adoption records dates back to Georgia Tann and other notorious baby thieves. It continues to protect their lucrative businesses of filling demand with a human product and and those who pay their fees to do so. As the economy falters more and more married couples lose children to adoption. No child needs protection from their "illegitimate" status. That is an assumption, a generalization, and thus a PREJUDICE against all adoptees! Falsified and sealed away truths do not stop discrimination, they legalize, and confirm SHAME onto mothers and fathers whose children have been adopted out for a multitude of reasons and pressures....seldom because of their unfitness or uncaring as parents as they are adjudged in the yes of the public. False BC's make us all "dirty little secrets" - they stamp US as illegitimate when it is our birth certificates that are illegitimate!

Why should all adoption separated people have equal access to an original birth certificate that applies to them? Because they are human beings and citizens of a country that values equality, truth and justice for ALL. Why should one class of people be discriminated against because of their alleged birth status or mothers denied access to the certificates of children they bore because subsequent to that birth a legal change in custody took place? They were still mothers of these children at the time of birth. Marriage doesn't erase one's original family ties. Divorce does not erase marriage. Adoption is nothing more than a legal change in custody. There is no other circumstance of a law protecting a lie! The current situation pits adopted persons and their family of origins as enemies against one another which is absolutely not the case. Mothers have been portrayed as wanting to protect their anonymity or having been promised it. These are all lies put forth by the moneyed adoption industry and their spokespersons /lobbyists. An assumption or desire of CONFIDENTIALITY from public scrutiny is quite different from anonymity form one's own flesh and blood. When given the opportunity the vast majority - up to90% of mothers seek to know their child. Laws protect the majority, not the few. We do not legislate to protect those who want to smoke or not wear helmets on bikes and motorcycles or seat-belts in cars. These people's rights are abrogated for the best for ALL....for health reasons. What bout the health risks of people not having access to their true ancestry and heredity? The few who do not want any contact have many legal options already in place to prevent it if saying no is not enough. We are all protected against harassment.

# 172:

4:54 pm PDT, Jun 13, Rosalind Maaka, New Zealand
I am an adoptee who until I was in my early thirties was refused knowledge of who my birth family was. Thank goodness NZ passed the Ault Adoption Information Act in 1985 which gave me the right to access the information I needed. However, it was another several years before I could discover who my birth-father was because there was a restriction on this information. HE is now on my 'Original Birth Certificate'.

Everyone in the world has a right to know there blood family. Only someone who has been refused this knowledge can fully understand just how essential it is.

# 171:

12:21 pm PDT, Jun 11, Jennifer J McAuley, Kansas
I need it now--not later when everyone is gone or sick. We have a right to find our biological family. I have missed 47 yrs of my heritage!!!

Anyone over the age of 18 should be able to find out where they came from. We are not protected--we are in "jail" for being innocent of any action--just by being born-we have our rights taken away.

# 170:

10:43 pm PDT, Jun 10, Jennifer Leininger, Idaho
Because everyone else has what they are entitled to, what belongs to them. Adoptees should not be treated second class to everyone else and not be permitted to know their own identity. duh!

# 169:

6:00 pm PDT, Jun 10, Angela Persinger, Indiana

# 168:

4:36 pm PDT, Jun 9, Name not displayed, Oregon
i think that it is absolutely ridiculous that i cannot find out my heritage or my medical history. i have done nothing wrong and yet im still being punished. and its just not right.

why not. honestly who is it gonna hurt..

# 167:

5:06 pm PDT, Jun 8, Troy Hahn, Indiana

# 166:

2:23 pm PDT, May 13, Name not displayed, California
As a 64 year old woman, I think it is absurd that the only birth certificate I possess is a falsified one which states that I was born to my adopted parents. I even have a copy of my adoptions papers! It will be a great day when adoptees can have a clue about their biological heritage!

# 165:

3:04 pm PDT, May 5, Donald George Bittick, Hawaii
It's absurd that I should have to pay to know who I am. There must be some way of making it so that I cannot legally contact my birth parents without their consent, yet at the same time provide me the info so that I may know my geneology and family medical history.

# 164:

6:10 pm PDT, May 2, Billy Payne, Virginia
make it better for adopties to know where they came from.

they just sbould they have a right to know

# 163:

11:02 am PDT, May 1, James Mckenney, Virginia

# 162:

6:00 pm PDT, Apr 29, Lorenzo Recollis, Indiana
I was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and lived in the area until my mid-twenties. I paid a lawyer to represent me in procuring my unredacted adoption file from the Massachusetts Department of Social Service which the adoption coordinator Sheila Frankel encouraged me to do. However, once the court order came out she and anyone in her department refused to answer any questions about my file. In fact, it was over a month before their lawyer would release the documents. In fact it was not until my lawyer threatened him with a contempt of court citation. Consequently, it is going on seven years; yet they will not answer an questions about my biological father James Kelley. I turned 81 in February, but the Massachusetts Department of Social Services still refuses to relent.

The main reason why I wanted my adoption file is that it was very important to find if there were any health issues that I and my family should know about, whether it be on my biological mother's side or on my biological father's side. As it is, I learned that my half-sister died of cancer, that there had been TB on my mother's side, and that she died of heart disease.

# 161:

11:15 am PDT, Apr 29, Ali Burns, New York
I am an adoptee looking for birth parents

Adoptees should have access to these records because nobody should be denied knowledge of their roots and the ability to meet or even just talk to the people who brought them into the world.

# 160:

5:43 pm PDT, Apr 23, Mike Wire, California

# 158:

10:07 am PDT, Apr 15, Desirea Carver, Indiana
Every person should have the right to pursue their biological parents, as well as have access to their own personal information!

# 157:

9:23 am PDT, Apr 13, Name not displayed, Ohio

# 156:

1:25 am PDT, Apr 7, Kate Luippold, California
Kate luippold

i cant get my adoption records. I'm 24 and Still can't get threw the many protection laws they have for it. I always reach a dead end. I deserve to know my health risk, my heritage, my name.... i cant even be given that. This is against my civil rights and I demand them given back to me!

# 155:

2:22 pm PDT, Mar 31, Heidi Owens, Arkansas
as mother who children where adopted if they want birth certificate they should right it

too find info on stuff.they have right

# 154:

11:09 am PDT, Mar 30, Hallie Grimes, Mississippi

# 153:

4:37 am PDT, Mar 30, Tiffany Hustad, Minnesota
I was named at birth but when adopted my name was changed. I want to know my birth name.Since they allow you to be named at birth you should be allowed to know your first given name. I don't think adoptive parents should be able to change your name or if they do they should keep the original birth name with the adopted name. Biological birth mothers/fathers who chose to engage in sex and not keep the product or consequence of that decision shouldn't be protected from being found or known.

Not knowing medical backgrounds is not right or fair for me or my biological children. We should be able to know if we are more likely to develop diseases and illnesses such as high cholesterol, diabetes, asthma and many others. By knowing our biological families medical background we have a better chance to stay healthy or have an idea what to look for if struck with medical issues.

# 152:

11:56 pm PDT, Mar 29, Cecilia Caldwell, Alabama

# 151:

9:12 am PDT, Mar 20, Margaret Kuni, California
Adoptees without their original birth certificates are denied the same rights as other US-born citizens. They are denied to the right to know their Medical History and their heritage. In some states they are denied their right to know the city or county of their birth.

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