SEARCH INFORMATION

Effective January 1, 2008 North Carolina House Bill 445 made changes to adoption statutes G. S. 48-9-101, 48-9-109, and 48-9-104 allowing adult adoptees, biological parents, adoptive parents of children under the age of 18, and lineal descendents of deceased adoptees (known here after as “Requesters”) to seek updated family health information through agencies referred to as Confidential Intermediaries. Adult adoptees, biological parents, and lineal descendents may also share identifying information and/or meet each other, if all parties are consenting. This is only through the search and supportive services of a Confidential Intermediary. Review Confidential Intermediary statues at http://www.ncleg.net/sessions/2007/bills/house/pdf/h445v4.pdf .

Adoption records in North Carolina are sealed, by statute, at the time the adoption is finalized and remain closed to the public. However, Confidential Intermediaries have access to adoption records to allow searches on behalf of adult adoptees age 21 and over, biological parents, adoptive parents of children under the age of 18, and lineal descendents of a deceased adoptee and share adoptive information when parties consent.

Non-identifying information, health history, from the adoption record can be shared with an adoptee by the approving agency without Confidential Intermediary service. Non-identifying information that may be released includes the date, time of birth, and weight at the time of birth of the adoptee and the reason the adoptee was placed for adoption. In addition, background information about the birth family, including age, nationality, ethnic background, race, religious preference, educational level, general physical description and any other general information may be provided. The health history of the birth parents and other relatives that might have an affect on the adoptee's mental or physical health, which is gathered at the time of the adoption, may be contained in the case record. If an individual desires updated health/social history, this information can be gathered and shared by a Confidential Intermediary upon consent. Non–identifying information about the present circumstances of an adult adoptee can be shared with the adoptee’s adult biological sibling, the guardian of a minor sibling, or the adoptee’s former parent on request according to G.S. 48-9-103(f).

If a requester is seeking this information and knows which county Department of Social Services or private child-placing agency placed the adoptee for adoption or supervised their adoption, he/she should contact that particular agency in writing and request their non-identifying health and/or social history information, and/or Confidential Intermediary Services. Requesters that do not know which agency was involved, may contact the North Carolina State Division of Social Services at 325 N. Salisbury Street, 2425 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-2425 in writing, with a photocopy I.D., and request this information. The State Office will identify the approving agency and refer the requester for non-identifying information and Confidential Intermediary services if desired. If the approving adoption agency is not providing Confidential Intermediary Services, this agency should refer the requester to another licensed Confidential Intermediary provider.

If the approving adoption agency receives information from an adoptee's birth parent or from an adoptee's birth relative about a health or genetic condition that may affect the health of the adoptee or the adoptee's child, an appropriate agency employee shall make a reasonable effort to contact and forward the information to an adoptee who is 18 or more years of age, or an adoptive parent of an adoptee who is under 18 years of age.

Pursuant to G. S. 48-9-105, an adoptee, birth parent, or biological sibling may file a motion with the Clerk of Superior Court of original jurisdiction (county in which adoption proceeding filed) to have the adoptee’s record opened. Pursuant to G. S. 48-9-106, an adoptee, birth parent, or birth sibling may file a motion with the Clerk of Superior Court of original jurisdiction (county in which adoption proceeding filed) to obtain a certified copy of the adoptee’s original birth certificate from North Carolina Vital Records. If it is not known in which county the adoption was filed, the Division of Social Services can be contacted at the address above to provide that information. This is usually done after an adoptee has been given all available non-identifying information and any health and/or social history that is permitted by statute. Access to birth relatives who are able to provide updated medical history may be crucial in treatment or preventive medical care. If the adoptee continues to feel the need for identifying information, he/she should draft a motion giving his/her reason for wanting the adoption record opened. A hearing is then held and a decision is made based on “primary consideration to the best interest of the adoptee” with due consideration to the interest of other family members. If the court issues an order to release identifying information from the adoption record to the adoptee, the order is directed to the approving adoption agency and to the North Carolina Division of Social Services.

In summary, since North Carolina adoption laws changed effective January 1, 2008, Social Services agencies and licensed private adoption agencies may assist the requester in the search for updated health and/or social information from biological relatives. There is also the Confidential Intermediary statutory provision to assist adoptees, birth parents, and lineal descendents of deceased adoptees in their efforts to contact each other. The following link will take you to a list of Confidential Intermediary agencies in North Carolina: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dss/adoption/agencies_and_counties_with_ci_services.pdf.

You may access a question and answer document regarding the Confidential Intermediary process at the following:
http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dss/adoption/qa_confidential_intermediary.pdf

North Carolina Based Search/Registry Groups

• Kinsolving Investigations
P. 0. Box 1917
Matthews, North Carolina 28106
Christine Lee, President
(704) 537-5919

• Adoption Information Exchange
P. 0. Box 1917
Matthews, North Carolina 28106
Christine Lee, President
(704) 846-8025

Nationally-Based Adoption Search/Registry Resources
• International Soundex Reunion Registry
P.O. BOX 371179
Las Vegas, NV 89137
(775) 882-7755
• www.isrr.net/registration.shtml

• The ALMA Society
P.O.Box 85
Denville, NJ 07834
www.almasociety.org/

• Concerned United Birthparents (CUB)
2000 Walker Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50317
1-800-822-2777

• American Adoption Congress
1000 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 9
Washington, D. C. 20036
(202) 483-3399