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State Laws on Postadoption

Postadoption legal issues include the right of an adult adopted person to access his or her adoption records, contact between the birth and adoptive families after the adoption has been finalized, and the inheritance rights of adopted children.

	State statutes index and search Access the Child Welfare Information Gateway State Statutes Series by title, or search statutes by individual States on issues related to child abuse and neglect, child welfare, and adoption.

State Statutes Series

Access to Adoption Records
Child Welfare Information Gateway (2009)
Reviews State laws that specify the types of records and information that may be accessed by adult adopted persons, adoptive parents, or members of the birth family. (PDF - 166 KB)

Intestate Inheritance Rights for Adopted Persons
Child Welfare Information Gateway (2009)
Discusses inheritance rights of adopted persons when the adoptive parent dies without a will. (PDF - 170 KB)

Postadoption Contact Agreements Between Birth and Adoptive Families
Child Welfare Information Gateway (2008)
Reviews State laws that permit enforceable agreements for postadoption contact between birth and adoptive family members. (PDF - 170 KB)

	Related Information Gateway Topics Adoption: Postadoption services

Updated on February 24, 2010