Pennsylvania may soon allow adult adopted children access to birth certificates
A proposed bill that would allow adult adopted children access to their birth certificates without redactions is currently making its way through the state legislature.
March 11, 2014
Pennsylvania may soon allow adult adopted children access to birth certificatesArticle provided by Gary R. Swavely, Jr.
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Adoption is a rewarding but sometimes taxing process. As all families are unique, so too are adoptions. A stepparent may wish to formally adopt a stepchild. Grandparents may wish to adopt a minor whose parents may not be capable of caring for the child. Couples unable to conceive may wish to raise a child whose biological parents do not have the means to do so.
Once completed, an adopted child can grow in a healthy and loving environment. The adoption process itself can be long and complex, however, and unexpected issues may arise. One such issue is receiving attention in the Pennsylvania legislature: what happens when an adopted child becomes an adult and wishes to discover his or her biological parents?
Some adult adopted children looking to increase access rights
In Pennsylvania parents who give up their children for adoption can redact their names from the child's birth certificate. This means that adult adopted children may not be able to discover their biological parents without resorting to private investigators or ancestry websites. An adult adopted child may wish to discover his or her biological parents for health or emotional reasons.
A proposed bill that would allow adult adopted children access to their birth certificates without redactions is currently making its way through the state legislature. The bill passed the House unanimously in October of 2013 and is currently in the Senate Committee on Youth and Aging. The committee will hold a public hearing on March 18. If it passes the committee it could head to the Senate floor for a vote before reaching Governor Tom Corbett to sign or veto, although no new law is expected to pass until the summer at the earliest.
Pennsylvania originally sealed the records of birth certificates for parents who gave up their children for adoption in 1925, in the interest of preserving privacy rights.
The bill under consideration is finding opposition with several influential groups. The American Civil Liberties Union opposes the bill because of privacy concerns. Pro-life organizations also worry that more transparency would deter parents from giving up their children for adoption and increase the likelihood of an expecting mother choosing abortion.
Proponents of the bill argue that only a relative few parents wish to remain anonymous and that adults should have access to their genetic history.
Legal help with adoptions
Adoption is complicated and sometimes painful. But every year tens of thousands of adoptions in the U.S. create loving homes for children who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to grow in a family. Pennsylvania residents looking to adopt should consult a family law attorney experienced in all forms of adoption to discuss their options.