Access to Adoption Records - Oregon

Who May Access Information

Citation: Ann. Stat. §§ 109.455; 109.500

The voluntary adoption registry may be used to obtain identifying information by the following persons:

• A birth parent
• An adult adoptee
• An adult genetic sibling of an adoptee
• A parent or guardian of a minor adoptee
• A minor genetic sibling of an adoptee
• The adoptive parent of a deceased adoptee
• The parents or adult siblings of a deceased birth parent

A putative father may not use the registry to obtain identifying information but may register to authorize release of identifying information under § 109.460.

Nonidentifying information may be released to the following:

• The adoptive parents of the child or the child's guardian
• The birth parent of the adoptee
• An adult adoptee
• The following persons if the adoptee is deceased:
  • The adoptee's spouse if the spouse is the birth parent of the adoptee's child or the guardian of any child of the adoptee
  • Any progeny of the adoptee who is age 18 or older

Access to Nonidentifying Information

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 109.500

A genetic, social, and health history that excludes information identifying any birth parent or putative father, member of a birth parent's or putative father's family, the adoptee, or the adoptive parents of the adoptee may be provided, if available, from an agency upon request to the persons listed above.

Mutual Access to Identifying Information

Citation: Ann. Stat. §§ 109.455; 109.460

The persons listed above may use the voluntary adoption registry for obtaining identifying information about birth parents, putative fathers, adoptees, and genetic siblings of adoptees.

An adult adoptee, a birth parent, a putative father, an adult genetic sibling of an adoptee, a parent or guardian of a minor adoptee or of a minor genetic sibling of an adoptee, an adoptive parent of a deceased adoptee, and a parent or adult sibling of a deceased birth parent may register with a registry by submitting a signed affidavit to the appropriate registry. The affidavit shall contain the information listed in § 109.465 and a statement of the registrant's willingness to be identified to the other relevant persons who register. The affidavit gives authority to the registry to release to the other relevant persons who register identifying information related to the registrant or, if the registrant is registering on behalf of a minor adoptee or a minor genetic sibling, identifying information related to the minor adoptee or sibling. Each registration shall be accompanied by the registrant's, or if the registrant is registering on behalf of a minor adoptee or a minor genetic sibling, the minor's, certified copy of the record of live birth.

At the discretion of the agency operating the registry, the adult progeny, or the parent or guardian of minor progeny, of a deceased adoptee, a deceased genetic sibling of an adoptee, or a deceased birth parent of an adoptee may register to have specific identifying and contact information disclosed by submitting a signed affidavit and a statement of the registrant's willingness to be identified to other relevant persons who register.

An adoptee or the parent or guardian of a minor adoptee may register to have specific identifying information disclosed to Indian Tribes or to governmental agencies in order to establish the adoptee's eligibility for Tribal membership or for benefits or to a person settling an estate. The information shall be limited to a true copy of documents that prove the adoptee's lineage. Information disclosed in accordance with this subsection shall not be disclosed to the adoptee or the parent or guardian of the minor adoptee by the registry or employee or agency operating a registry nor by the Indian Tribe, governmental agency, or person receiving the information.

Registration by the parent or guardian of a minor adoptee or of a minor genetic sibling of an adoptee expires when the minor reaches age 18. The adoptee or sibling must reregister with a registry as an adult in accordance with this section for identifying information to be released to relevant persons who are registered. If the adoptee or sibling reregisters, the registration fee will be waived.

Access to Original Birth Certificate

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 432.228

Upon receipt of a written application to the State registrar, any adoptee age 21 and older born in the State of Oregon shall be issued a certified copy of his or her unaltered, original, and unamended certificate of birth that is in the custody of the State registrar, with procedures, filing fees, and waiting periods identical to those imposed upon nonadopted citizens.

A birth parent may, at any time, request from the State registrar or from a voluntary adoption registry a contact preference form that shall accompany a birth certificate issued under the section above. The contact preference form shall provide the following information, to be completed at the option of the birth parent:

• I would like to be contacted.
• I would prefer to be contacted only through an intermediary.
• I prefer not to be contacted at this time. If I decide later that I would like to be contacted, I will register with the voluntary adoption registry. I have completed an updated medical history and have filed it with the voluntary adoption registry.

The certificate from the voluntary adoption registry verifying receipt of an updated medical history shall be in a form prescribed by the Oregon Health Authority and shall be supplied upon request of the birth parent by the voluntary adoption registry.

When the State registrar receives a completed contact preference form from a birth parent, the State registrar shall match the contact preference form with the adoptee's sealed file. The contact preference form shall be placed in the adoptee's sealed file when a match is made. A completed contact preference form shall be confidential.

Where the Information Can Be Located

Oregon Adoption Search and Registry Program