Full question:
Is it legally possible for an adopted child get to know his/her birth parents?
- Category: Adoption
- Date:
- State: Colorado
Answer:
Recent court decisions suggest that an adoptee may access the names of their birth parents and adoption records, typically with a court order demonstrating good cause. In Colorado, the relevant statute (C.R.S. 19-5-305) states that the state registrar provides a contact preference form to any birth parent listed on the original birth certificate. This form allows the birth parent to express their preference regarding future contact with the adult adoptee or their legal representative.
When the state registrar receives this form or an updated medical history statement from a birth parent, they will match it with the adoptee's sealed original birth certificate and update their records accordingly. The registrar can also verify submissions and share the contact preference form with a confidential intermediary or designated agency employee searching for adoption records.
For adoptions finalized on or after September 1, 1999, birth parents can access adoption records and contact the adoptee or adoptive family as permitted by law. If a birth parent is deceased, the adult adoptee, their adoptive parent, or their legal representative can access the adoption records. If one birth parent is deceased and the other is living but does not consent, access to records will be granted without revealing the name of the non-consenting parent.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.