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Adoptee access to original birth records

​A law passed by the Minnesota Legislature in 2023 modified access to original birth records and adoption records for people adopted in Minnesota. Adopted people born in Minnesota who are 18 or older will be able to request a non-certified copy of their original birth records from the Minnesota Department of Health beginning July 1, 2024. Also beginning July 1, adopted people 18 and older born outside Minnesota, but adopted in Minnesota, will be able to request information from the agency responsible for supervising their adoption.

For parents whose child was placed for adoption any time

  • You are strongly encouraged to complete a Birth Parent Contact Preference form (PDF) by July 1, 2024, to indicate whether you’d like to be contacted by the adoption person and to provide additional information. The form will be released to the adopted person if they request their original birth records.
  • Any affidavit you completed in the past to provide or restrict access to the birth records will expire on June 30, 2024.
  • Be aware you may be contacted by the adopted person, even if you indicate a preference not to be contacted.

For adopted people

  • As of July 1, 2024, adopted people 18 and older may request a copy of their original birth certificate through the Minnesota Department of Health by completing the original birth record form.
  • Additionally, adopted people 18 and older may now initiate search and connective services from the adoption placing agency.  Prior to July 1, 2024, an adopted person needed to be 19 to receive these services.
  • More information may be found Minnesota Department of Health (state.mn.us) Birth Records and Adoption.

For adoptive parents

  • It is important for you to know about the changes in the law, so you are aware of the potential impact for your child and family.

For siblings of an adopted person

  • July 1, 2024, the age changed from 19 to age 18 for siblings who were adopted or, because of a termination of parental rights, were committed to the guardianship of the commissioner of human services, whether adopted or not, may request information from the responsible child placing agency about other siblings who were adopted or who were committed to the guardianship of the commissioner of human services and not adopted.  Siblings age 18 and older may also request identifying information and contact. These services may only be provided with mutual consent of both people,

For Relatives of Adopted Person (if deceased)

  • Beginning July 1, 2024, an adopted person’s original birth record may also be requested by people related to the adoptee, if the adoptee is deceased. These individuals include: the adoptee’s spouse, child, grandchild, great-grandchild of the adoptee.
  • More information may be found at Minnesota Department of Health Birth Records and Adoption.

Funding Assistance

  • The Department of Human Services and Foster Adopt Minnesota may be able to provide funding assistance to eligible requestors. This assistance is available to cover fees for a variety of post adoption services and is funded through the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. For information on how to apply for funding please email search@fosteradoptmn.org.

Resources to request post adoption services from other states

Please contact the following the following organizations if your adoption was facilitated or finalized in a DIFFERENT state from Minnesota

Please note: each state has their own statutes and rules regarding original birth record and adoption information disclosure. Please contact the state that facilitated your adoption/where your adoption was finalized to learn more about the state statutes and rules.

FAQs

What is the fee for an original birth record?
A fee of $40 is due at the time of submitting an application for a non-certified original birth record to the Minnesota Department of Health

Will birth parents get notified if their biological child requests their original birth record?
No, birth parents will not be notified if their biological child requests a non-certified copy of the original birth record

I was not born in the state of Minnesota, but my adoption was finalized in Minnesota.  How can I request a copy of my birth parent identifying information?
After July 1, 2024 an adopted adult who was not born in the state of Minnesota, can place a request in writing to the Minnesota agency who facilitated the adoption, requesting birth parent identifying information.

What information is included on the original birth record?
This will vary depending on the year the individual was born. Dependent on the year of birth, the amount of identifying information will vary. Any health information about the birth parent will be redacted. The original birth record is NOT the same as the adoption record.  Adoption records will remain confidential per MN Statutes.

What are the expected timelines once a request is submitted for an Original Birth Record?
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) anticipates a high volume of requests. Processing dates (estimated wait time) will be posted on the MDH website.

Will I receive my adoption record too?
No, adoption records remain confidential. You may contact the placing agency for information on search and intermediary services.

What is the difference between my adoption record and my original birth record?
Adoption records are maintained by the agency that placed a child for adoption and the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. This may include:

  • Child placement records
  • Social and medical histories
  • Information and documentation about the placement decisions.
  • Personal effects – Items such as photos, documents, letters

The original birth record is maintained by the Minnesota Department of Health and includes the record of birth.

I was adopted internationally. Can I request a copy of my original birth record?

  • After July 1, 2024 an adopted adult who was not born in the state of Minnesota, can place a request in writing to the Minnesota agency who facilitated the adoption, requesting birth parent identifying information.
    We would encourage you to also contact your adoption agency or the central authority in your birth country, as well as filing a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) via USCIS
  • MDH creates birth records for people born outside the U.S. who are adopted in Minnesota. MDH may have evidence of adoption for such records established in 2001 or later. (Evidence of adoption is not available for records established before 2001.) As of July 2024, foreign-born adopted people age 18 or older may request evidence of adoption from MDH. Contact the Office of Vital Records (651-201-5970, health.vitalrecords@state.mn.us) for more information.
  • Please check out the Post Search Resource section for some Intercountry Adoption Post Search Resources. If resources from your birth country are not listed, please feel free to contact search@fosteradoptmn.org and we would be happy to chat further with you about additional resources.

My parent was adopted. They have now passed away. Can I request a copy of their original birth record or Post Adoption Services?
Yes—a child of an adoptee can request a non-certified copy of their parent’s original birth record from the Minnesota Department of Health—Office of Vital Records.
A child can also request Post Adoption Services (Social / Medical History (Non-identifying Background Report), assistance with search/outreach), etc.) from the agency/county that facilitated the adoption.

Will my birth father’s name be listed on the original birth record?
It is not guaranteed that the birth father will be listed on the original birth record

If my birth father’s name is not on the original birth record, how can I receive his name or information about him?
The adoption agency may have information about the birth father (alleged or adjudicated). You can contact the adoption agency to receive non-identifying information or to see if it is possible to search for your birth father.

What does “no evidence of adoption” mean when I receive this response from the Minnesota Department of Health?

That statement means that the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) does not have documents that confirm an adoption occurred. If there was a finalized adoption and you received a letter with that statement, it may be because the adoption agency did not send the finalized adoption documents to MDH. Although MDH did not find documentation on file showing evidence that an adoption occurred, please note that does not mean an adoption did not occur. It means that the documentation was never filed with MDH or it may suggest that the adoption was finalized in another state other than Minnesota.

If you are looking for confirmation (or verification) that an adoption occurred, you may contact the adoption agency that facilitated the adoption directly. If you do not know the adoption agency or county that facilitated the adoption, you can complete the Foster Adopt Minnesota Search form to get the name of the placing agency and the district court where the adoption was finalized (if finalization occurred in the state of Minnesota).

Resources

  • Minnesota Department of Health
    Information about accessing original birth records, and the new Birth Parent Contact preference form, is available on the Minnesota Department Health website
  • PODCAST – Adoptee Access to Original Birth Records (June 5, 2024)
  • Preparing for Search and Reunion | C.A.S.E (adoptionsupport.org)
  • Foster Adopt Minnesota Post Search Form
  • Foster Adopt Minnesota Therapist Search
    Foster Adopt Minnesota’s HELP Program screens Minnesota therapists who show competence with adoptive/foster/kinship families. Our HELP Therapist Network search tool can reduce some of the ‘guess-work’ out of choosing the right provider for your family.
  • HELP Program ; help@fosteradoptmn.org; 1-855-670-HELP; 612-746-5137
    HELP Program services are free and available to any Minnesota adoptive, kinship, or foster family; adopted persons; birth/first family members and community professionals.
    Services include:
     – Phone and email-based support from a team of HELP Specialists with advanced training in supporting adoptive, foster and kinship families;
    – Connecting families with adoption/trauma/attachment-competent therapists, appropriate community resources, as well as educational offerings;
    – Assisting eligible families with funding to help with the cost of therapy with HELP Program vetted therapists, Foster Adopt Minnesota educational offerings and eligible supports.

MN Statutes

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