Adoptees born in Pennsylvania now have access to their original birth record information.
The law, signed by the governor on November 3, 2016, allows adult adoptees to apply to the Department of Health for a non-certified copy of their original birth record.
Birth parents can choose to have their name redacted from the original birth information. However, if a birth parent chooses to have his or her information redacted, the information may still be provided after the parent’s death.
The Department of Health has established forms and procedures for these requests, available here: http://www.health.pa.gov/MyRecords/Certificates/Pages/Adoption.aspx#.Wfy50uLD_cs
heARTbeat is a publication of KingSpry’s Adoption Law and Assisted Reproductive Technology Law Practice Group. It is meant to be informational and does not constitute legal advice.
