ILLINOIS ADOPTION RECORDS

Obtaining non-identifying information and adoption search assistance

What adoption records are available in Illinois?

At the time of an adoption, the original birth certificate of the child and all the documents pertaining to the legal process of adoption are “impounded” by the Court. The legal documents are held by the Court and he original birth certificate is held by the Department of Vital Records. Court records are not available except by order of the Court. Recent changes in the Illinois Adoption Act provide for certain circumstances in which the original birth certificate may be released upon mutual consent of the parties named.

The Court adoption files do not usually contain any social or medical information pertaining to the child or to the birth family. A copy of the original birth certificate is only rarely included.

Some adoptions in Illinois were facilitated by a licensed child welfare agency, often referred to as the “adoption agency”. These agencies must maintain adoption records, which may include social and medical information concerning the birth family collected at the time of the placement, birth information, details of the circumstances of the placement and information about the adopting family. Copies of legal documents may also be included. In some instances, the files may contain correspondence received after the adoption from the birth family, the adoptive parents or the adoptee.

If the adoption was not handled by a licensed child welfare agency, it is known as a “private placement”. These were often arranged by physicians, attorneys, relatives or other individuals connected in some way to the birth or adoptive family. Beginning in the 1960’s, the Courts ordered that social and medical information pertaining to the birth family be collected prior to the adoption. Since the method varied from county to county, the Circuit Court in which the adoption was finalized should be able to provide information as to whether this information is available and how it may be accessed.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services only maintains records pertaining to adoptions in which the child was a ward of DCFS at the time of the adoption. Since the Department was not formed until the mid-1960’s, there are few files from before 1964. No information pertaining to adoptions which were not handled by DCFS is available from the Department.

How can “non-identifying” or medical information be obtained?

1.The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services offers post-adoption service to adoptees, adoptive parents and birth family members seeking non-identifying information from their files. This program is only available to individuals party to an adoption in which the child was a ward of DCFS at the time of the adoption.

The program is delivered under contract with the Midwest Adoption Center. There is no fee for service through this program. If you believe the adoption was handled by DCFS, request a service request form by contacting:

IDCFS Post-adoption Program

3158 South River Road - suite 120

DesPlaines, Illinois 60018

847-298-9096

www.macadopt.org (service request may be downloaded)

2. If there was a private adoption agency involved in the adoption, the adoptee may request “non-identifying” medical and social background information from the agency. This is usually defined as descriptive information such as physical characteristics, education, heath, nationality, etc. This information must be provided, if available, to adult adoptees and to adoptive parents of minors upon request In addition, some agencies will agree to attempt to locate the birth family on behalf of the adoptee. There may be a fee for this service.

3. The adoptee may request that the Judge open the adoption file. While a judge may honor such a request, it is extremely unlikely that the Court file will contain any medical or social information.

4. The adoptee may file a petition with the Court for the appointment of a Confidential Intermediary. The Intermediary will have access to all the sealed information and to any adoption agency files and attempt to locate the birth family on behalf of the adoptee in order to obtain the needed information. This is a particularly good option if there was no adoption agency involved in the placement.

What options are there for Illinois adoptees and birth parents who want to “search”?

1. The state of Illinois maintains an adoption registry. The Illinois Adoption Registry is a confidential cross-reference file of birth parents, adult adoptees and siblings. Individuals provide identifying information and medical information and may authorize its release to the other parties to the adoption. A computer searches the registry for individuals whose information matches and then handles the release of identifying and medical information. Additional information and registration forms may be obtained:

Department of Public Health

Division of Vital Records

605 West Jefferson Street

Springfield, Illinois 62702

217-782-6553

2. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services offers post-adoption search and/or reunion service to adoptees, adoptive parents and birth family members who hope to locate a relative. This program is only available to individuals party to an adoption in which the child was a ward of DCFS at the time of the adoption. The program is delivered under contract with the Midwest Adoption Center. There is no fee for service through this program. If you believe the adoption was handled by DCFS, request a service request form:

IDCFS Post-adoption Program

3158 South River Road - suite 120

DesPlaines, Illinois 60018

847-298-9096

www.macadopt.org (service request form may be downloaded)

3. If there was a licensed child welfare agency, an adoption agency, involved in the adoption, that agency may have files pertaining to the placement. Many agencies are now offering search service to adoptees and birth parents who received service through their programs. They may charge a fee.

4. Adoptees, adoptive parents of minors and birth parents may petition the Court for the appointment of a Confidential Intermediary. This may be a good option if the placement was not completed through an agency or if the adoption agency involved in the placement does not offer search service.

5. There are many private adoption search consultants and adoption registries providing assistance to adoptees and birth family members who decide to search. There are usually fees for these services.

6. Illinois law (750 ILCS 50/ 18.3) now provides a way for adoptees, adoptive parents, birth parents and other birth relatives to connect. A Confidential Intermediary (CI), trained and certified to provide this service, is appointed by the Court to locate a sought after relative. When the relative is located, the CI explains the reason for the contact, describes the options available and helps facilitate a mutually agreeable outcome. Each person’s privacy and confidentiality is protected during the process.

Who can request the appointment of a Confidential Intermediary?

If the adoption was completed in Illinois, an adult adopted person, adoptive parent of a minor or a birth parent can file a petition for the appointment of a Confidential Intermediary in order to locate one or more relatives. A petition may be filed for any reason. There is no need to prove a need for medical information.

What can a Confidential Intermediary accomplish for an adoptee or birth parent?

The CI will, by order of the Court, have access to court records, the original birth certificate and information from agency records in order to identify and locate the person(s) being sought. If the person(s) being sought are located, the CI will initiate contact and negotiate any communication or contact desired by both parties. At all times, the confidentiality of each person is protected.

Who will be appointed as Confidential Intermediary?

Each certified Confidential Intermediary has completed an in-depth training session and passed an examination before being certified.

What is the service fee and what does it include?

All certified CIs throughout the state charge a standard fee depending on services provided. (payment may be made by credit card) The CI will attempt to locate the person(s) being sought and will continue to search until a basic search protocol has been completed and all reasonable leads have been exhausted. The fee includes compensation to the CI and search related expenses such as mileage, document retrieval, databases, and telephone. There are no additional charges.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

MIDWEST ADOPTION CENTER

Confidential Intermediary Service

3158 South River Road - suite 120

Des Plaines, Illinois 60018

847-298-9096

email: mac@macadopt.org www.CI-Illinois.org

email: mac@macadopt.org www.macadopt.org