Access to Adoption Records - American Samoa

Date: December 2019

Who May Access Information

Citation: Ann. Code § 45.0414

Any party to an adoption proceeding may see the written report filed by the Department of Health or child-placing agency.

Access to Nonidentifying Information

Citation: Ann. Code § 45.0414

Accessible nonidentifying information includes the child's family background and reasons for the adoption.

Mutual Access to Identifying Information

Citation: Ann. Code § 45.0414

The names of the birth parents and the adoptive parents, and any means of identifying either, are not available except upon order of the court.

Access to Original Birth Certificate

Citation: Ann. Code § 45.0424

The original birth certificate is sealed and may not be released without a court order.

Where the Information Can Be Located

American Samoa Office of Vital Statistics