HB 1237 -- Adoption Records

Sponsor:  Davis

Currently, the State Registrar can only open an adoption file if
a certified copy of a court order has been issued.  This bill
allows any adopted person who is 21 years of age or older to
submit an application to the State Registrar and, upon receiving
the application, be issued a certified copy of his or her
original, unaltered birth certificate and adoption records.

Any adopted person who is 21 years of age or older will be
allowed to inspect or copy any files and court records of his or
her adoption proceedings and obtain his or her original birth
certificate contained in any permanent record or file.  Persons
who permit inspection or copying by any unauthorized individual
will be guilty of a class C misdemeanor.

The bill changes the laws regarding the release of identifying
information by:

(1)  Allowing a court to release it to an adopted adult without
the consent of the biological parents in certain instances;

(2)  Requiring a biological parent to file an affidavit that
refuses to authorize the release of his or her identifying
information with the court in order for the information not to be
released to the adopted child.  Currently, a biological parent
must file an affidavit to allow his or her identifying
information to be released;

(3)  Allowing identifying information to be released if the
biological parent is deceased and removes the requirement that
the information is necessary for health-related purposes;

(4)  Allowing release of identifying information concerning an
adult sibling without the consent of the adult sibling and
without a court finding that the information is needed for
health-related purposes; and

(5)  Repealing the requirement that the Children's Division
within the Department of Social Services attempt to make
confidential contact with a biological parent or adult sibling
who has not given consent of the release of identifying
information when a possible match has been made in the adoption
registry.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:10 pm