Illinois: Access to OBCs and Non-ID
ILLINOIS
UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO OBC FOR THOSE BORN BEFORE JANUARY 1, 1946
DENIES UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO THOSE BORN ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 1946 (Adoptees
may apply for their OBCs, however birth parents may request redaction of identifying information)
Who May Access Information
Citation: Comp. Stat. Ch. 750, §§ 50/18.1; 50/18.4
The following persons may apply to the Illinois Adoption Registry:
•Either birth parent
•If the birth parent is deceased, the adopted person’s adult birth sibling, birth aunt, or birth uncle
•Any adult adopted person or any adoptive parent or legal guardian of an adopted person under age 21
•If the adopted person is deceased, any surviving spouse, adult child, or adult grandchild
•Any adoptive parent or legal guardian of a deceased adult adopted person
The services of a confidential intermediary may be utilized by the following persons:
•Any adopted person age 21 or older
•Any adoptive parent or legal guardian of an adopted person under age 21
•Any birth parent of an adopted person who is age 21 or older
•Any adult child or adult grandchild of a deceased adopted person•Any adoptive parent or surviving spouse of a deceased adopted person
•Any adult birth sibling of the adult adopted person, unless the birth parent has checked Option E on the Birth Parent Preference Form or has filed a Denial of Information Exchange with the Adoption Registry and is not deceased
•Any adult adopted birth sibling of an adult adopted person•Any adult birth sibling of the birth parent if the birth parent is deceased
Non-identifying information may be provided to the adoptive parents, the adopted person, or legal guardian who is a registrant of the Illinois Adoption Registry.
Access to Original Birth Certificate
Citation: Comp. Stat. Ch. 750, § 50/18.1b
Any adopted person who was born in Illinois prior to January 1, 1946, may file with the Illinois Adoption Registry a request for a non-certified copy of an original birth certificate. The registry shall provide the adopted person with an unaltered, non-certified copy of his or her original birth certificate upon receipt of the request. In cases in which an adopted person born prior to January 1, 1946, is deceased, and one of his or her surviving adult children, adult grandchildren, or spouse has registered with the registry, he or she may complete and file with the registry a request for a copy of the birth certificate. The registry shall provide such surviving adult child, adult grandchild, or spouse with an unaltered, non-certified copy of the adopted person’s original birth certificate upon receipt of the request.
Beginning November 15, 2011, any adult adopted person who was born in Illinois on or after January 1, 1946, may file with the registry a request for a non-certified copy of an original birth certificate. In cases in which the adopted person is deceased, his or her surviving adult child, adult grandchild, or spouse who has registered with the registry may request a non-certified copy of the original birth certificate.
If the registry confirms that a requesting adult adopted person, the parent of a requesting adult child of a deceased adopted person, or the husband or wife of a requesting surviving spouse was not the object of a Denial of Information Exchange filed by a birth parent on or before January 1, 2011, and that no birth parent named on the original birth certificate has filed a Birth Parent Preference Form where Option E (prohibiting the release of identifying information) was selected prior to the receipt of a request for an original birth certificate, the registry shall provide the adult adopted person or his or her surviving adult child or spouse with an unaltered non-certified copy of the adopted person’s original birth certificate.
Access to Non-identifying Information
Citation: Comp. Stat. Ch. 750, § 50/18.4
The adoptive parents shall receive in writing the following non-identifying information, if known, not later than the date of placement of the child:
•The birth parents’ age•The birth parents’ race, religion, and ethnic background
•The general physical appearance of the birth parents
•The birth parents’ education, occupation, hobbies, interests, and talents
•The existence of any other children born to the birth parents•Information about birth grandparents, their reason for emigrating into the United States, if applicable, and country of origin
•The relationship between the birth parents
•Detailed medical and mental health histories of the child, the birth parents, and their immediate relatives•The actual date and place of birth of the adopted person
No information provided under this subsection shall disclose the name or last known address of the birth parents, grandparents, the siblings of the birth parents, the adopted person, or any other relative of the adopted person.
Any adopted person age 18 or older shall be given the information listed above upon request.
The Illinois Adoption Registry shall release any of the non-identifying information above that appears on the certified copy of the original birth certificate or the Certificate of Adoption to an adopted person, adoptive parent, or legal guardian who is a registrant of the Illinois Adoption Registry.
Mutual Access to Identifying Information
Citation: Comp. Stat. Ch. 750, §§ 50/18.1; 50/18.3a
The Department of Public Health shall establish and maintain a registry for the purpose of allowing mutually consenting members of birth and adoptive families to exchange identifying and medical information. Identifying information includes any one or more of the following:
•The name and last known address of the consenting person or persons
•A copy of the Illinois Adoption Registry Application of the consenting person or persons
•A non-certified copy of the original birth certificate of an adult adopted person
Written authorization from all parties identified must be received prior to disclosure of any identifying information, with the exception of non-certified copies of original birth certificates released to adult adopted persons or to surviving adult children and spouses of deceased adopted persons.
At any time after a child is surrendered for adoption, any time during the adoption proceedings, or at any time thereafter, either birth parent or both of them may file with the registry a birth parent registration identification form.
The department shall supply identifying information to the adopted person or his or her adoptive parents, legal guardians, adult children, adult grandchildren, or surviving spouse, and to a birth aunt or uncle only if both the adopted person and one of his or her eligible relatives have filed with the registry an information exchange authorization.
Any person listed above may petition the court for the appointment of a confidential intermediary for the purpose of exchanging medical information, obtaining identifying information, or arranging contact with one or more mutually consenting biological relatives. The petitioner shall be required to accompany his or her petition with proof of registration with the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange.
Where the Information Can Be Located
•Illinois Adoption Registry, Illinois Department of Public Health
•Confidential Intermediary Service of Illinois, Midwest Adoption Center (MAC)