Access to Adoption Records - Iowa

Who May Access Information

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 144.43A

The following persons may register with the mutual consent voluntary adoption registry:

• The adult adoptee
• An adult sibling
• The birth parents

Access to Nonidentifying Information

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 600.16

Any information compiled relating to medical history, developmental history, and social history of the person to be adopted shall be made available at any time by the clerk of court, the Department of Public Health, or adoption service provider that made the placement to the following:

• The adopting parents
• The adoptee who is age 21 or older
• Any person approved by the department if the person uses this information solely for the purposes of conducting a legitimate medical research project or of treating a patient in a medical facility
• A descendant of an adoptee

The identity of the adoptee's birth parents shall not be disclosed.

Mutual Access to Identifying Information

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 144.43A

The State registrar shall reveal the identity of the birth parent to the adult adoptee or the identity of the adult adoptee to the birth parent, shall notify the parties that the requests have been matched, and shall disclose the identifying information to those parties if all of the following conditions are met:

• A birth parent has filed a request and provided consent to the disclosure of his or her identity to the adult adoptee upon request of the adult adoptee.
• An adult adoptee has filed a request and provided consent to the disclosure of his or her identity to a birth parent upon request of the birth parent.
• The State registrar has been provided sufficient information to make the requested match.

If the adult adoptee has a sibling who is a minor and who also has been adopted, the request will be denied.

The State registrar shall reveal the identity of the adult adoptee to an adult sibling if the following conditions are met:

• An adult adoptee has filed a request and provided consent to the disclosure of his or her identity to an adult sibling.
• The adult sibling has filed a request and provided consent to the revelation of his or her identity to the adult adoptee.
• The State registrar has been provided with sufficient information to make the requested match.

A person who has filed a request or provided consent may withdraw the consent at any time prior to the release of any information by filing a written withdrawal-of-consent statement with the State registrar. The adult adoptee, adult sibling, and birth parent shall notify the State registrar of any change in the information contained in a filed request or consent.

Access to Original Birth Certificate

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 144.24

The original birth certificate may not be inspected except under order of a court. The State registrar shall, upon the application of an adult adoptee, a birth parent, an adoptive parent, or the legal representative of the any of the former, inspect the original birth certificate and reveal to the applicant the date of the adoption and the name and address of the court that issued the adoption decree.

Where the Information Can Be Located

Iowa Mutual Consent Voluntary Adoption Registry