Access to Adoption Records - Arizona

Who May Access Information

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 8-129

The following persons may have access to family information:

• The adoptive parents or a guardian of the adoptee
• The adoptee who is age 18 or older
• If the adoptee has died, the adoptee's spouse, if he or she is the legal parent of the adoptee's child or the guardian of any child of the adoptee
• If the adoptee has died, any child of the adoptee who is age 18 or older
• The birth parents or other birth children of the birth parents

Access to Nonidentifying Information

Citation: Rev. Stat. §§ 8-121; 8-129

Nonidentifying information may be released upon request to any of the persons listed above. Nonidentifying information may include the health and genetic history of the birth parents and members of the birth parents' families.

Mutual Access to Identifying Information

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 8-121

Court personnel, the Department of Child Safety, an attorney assisting in a direct-placement adoption, or an agency may provide partial or complete identifying information between a birth parent and adoptive parent when the parties mutually agree to share specific identifying information and make a written request to the court, the department, or the agency.

A person may petition the court to obtain information relating to an adoption that is in the possession of the court, the department, or any agency or attorney involved in the adoption. The court shall not release identifying information unless the person requesting the information has established a compelling need for disclosure or consent has been obtained.

An adoptee age 18 or older or a birth parent may file at any time a notarized statement granting consent, withholding consent, or withdrawing a consent previously given for the release of confidential information with the court and the agency, department, or attorney who participated in the adoption. If an adoptee who is 18 or older and the birth mother or birth father have filed consent to the release of confidential information, the court may disclose the information, except identifying information relating to a birth parent who did not grant written consent.

Access to Original Birth Certificate

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 36-337

The original birth certificate can be made available only upon a court order or as prescribed by rule.

Where the Information Can Be Located

Arizona Confidential Intermediary Program, Arizona Supreme Court