What are the laws regarding adoption records?

In Pennsylvania, the laws regarding adoption records are very protective of the adoptee, birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoption agencies. All records pertaining to an adoption are to remain confidential and all identifying information is to remain private. The only time that identifying information is released is if one of the parties involved in the adoption files a petition for contact with the court, or if the court grants access to the records. Once an adoptee is 18 years old, they can access their own adoption records. There is no special process or form to fill out to receive these records. The adoptee must submit a request to the court that issued the adoption decree and the court will provide the appropriate records. If an adoptee is searching for their birth parents, they must fill out a petition for contact with the court. The court will then review the request and determine if the request should be granted. If the request is granted, the court will then release the adoption records to the adoptee which may lead to contact with their birth parents. It is important to remember that all of these records are confidential and all identifying information is protected. It is particularly important for adoptees to remember that their adoption records must remain confidential and they cannot share any information with anyone unless it has been granted by the court.

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What are the laws regarding adoption records?

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