Help us spread the word: Ohio adoption records law has changed in 2014. If you placed a child for adoption between January 1964 and September 1996, you have until March 20, 2015 to let the state of Ohio know where your child can reach your or, in the alternative, that you do not want to be contacted.
You can also ask that your name be redacted from the original birth certificate. If you do, you will instead provide a social and medical history that will be added to the original adoption file.
After March 2015, the original birth certificates for adoptions between 1964 and 1996 will be considered public record, available for release at the request of the adopted child.
All of this came from Senate Bill 23, which passed in December 2013 by a large majority of both houses of the Ohio General Assembly and Governor Kasich. The bill aims to close the gap between 1964 and 1996 created by several other laws that opened up adoption records before and after that period.
Now that Senate Bill 23 is in effect, this is how Ohio Adoption Records Law currently stands on adoption records:
- For Ohio adoption records prior to 1964, adults born and adopted in Ohio, and their lineal descendants, may access their records with proper identification.
- For Ohio adoption records between January 1, 1964 and September 18, 1996, adults born and adopted in Ohio can access their records starting on March 20, 2015. Until then, parents who placed a child for adoption during this time period and who wish to remain anonymous must document those wishes in the adoption file.
- For adoptions on or after September 18, 1996, adults born and adopted in Ohio who have reached the age of 21 may access their records, as long as their birth parents consented and the consents are on file. When the adopted person is between ages 18-21, his or her adoptive parents may access the adoption records.
Contact Ohio Department of Health Adoption Records
All of this information is available through the Ohio Department of Health Adoption Records, and any records requests must be made through ODH. You can call the Ohio Department of Health Adoption Records at 614-466-2531, or access more information on its website here.
Call our Adoption Lawyer Today
As always, if our Columbus adoption lawyer can assist you in any Ohio adoption records matters, please get in touch at 614-678-8848.