SOP 2.10.2

R. 8/1/03

REQUESTING NON-IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ABOUT BIRTHBIOLOGICAL RELATIVES FROM CLOSED ADOPTION RECORDS

COA STANDARDS:

  • G1.5 Confidentiality and Privacy Protections

LEGAL AUTHORITY

  • KRS 199.520(4) Judgement-Prerequisites-Orders-Name and legal status of child-Health history and other nonidentifying information of biological parents and relatives to be given to adoptive parents.
  • KRS 199.570 Adoption records confidential - Exception - New birth certificate.
  • KRS 199.572 Inspection of adoption records - Limitations.
  • 922 KAR 1:100 Agency adoptions

PROCEDURES:

  1. The adoption must have been finalized in Kentucky in order for the Cabinet to provide non-identifying information
  2. Requests for information from closed adoptive records may come from adopteesadult adopted persons,adoptive parents,adult adoptable persons (termination of parental rights was granted, but no finalized adoption occurred), birth relatives attorneys, and Courts.
  3. All requests for non-identifying information from closed adoption records are submitted in writing to the AdoptionCentral office Permanency Services Branch. If the local SSW receives a request for information, he or she should provide the requestor with a current informational brochure and refer the requestor to Central office, Adult Adoptee ProgramPermanency Services Branch for guidance.
  4. Non-identifying information can only be provided to the adult adopteeadopted person (age eighteen years or older),upon their written request to the Cabinet. Non-identifying information can also be provided to the adoptive parents of an adopted child prior to the finalization of the adoption. adopteeor adult adoptable person. Information provided to birth relatives is limited to confirmation of the child's adoption and whether the adult adopted child has ever filed a Petition to Inspect Adoption Records.
  5. Attorneys and Courts may access information from adoption records only with a specific order issued from the Court that finalized the adoption. Non-identifying information that may be provided by written request includes medical/health, educational, cultural, and family background information, as available in the record.

All written requests should include the following information, if known:

  1. The adoptive name of the adopteeadopted person (not married name or nicknames);
  2. The adoptee’sadopted person’s birth date - month, day and year;
  3. The birth name of the adoptee;adopted person;
  4. The names of the adoptive parents;
  5. The county in which the adoption was finalized, usually the county in which the adoptive parents lived at finalization;
  6. The birthbiological mother and birthbiological father's names;
  7. The requester’s name, address, telephone number, and relationship to the adoptee adopted person.
  8. A photocopy of a valid, government-issued ID card.

The record is reviewed by the Adult Adoptee ProgramSpecialistCentral office Permanency Services Branch and the available non-identifying information is summarized and forwarded to the requestor. No copies of any information contained in the record that tends to identify individuals, other than the adopted person, shallcan be provided without a specific court order.