NEBRASKA

DENIES UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO OBC (Access contingent upon date of adoption and parents' consent)

 

Who May Access Information
Citation: Rev. Stat. §§ 43-128; 43-130; 43-146.02; 43-146.04
Medical history shall be provided to:
• The adoptive parents
• The adopted person
Identifying information is available to:
• An adopted person who is age 25 or older for adoptions finalized prior to September 1, 1998
• An adopted person who is age 21 or older for adoptions finalized on or after September 1, 1998

 

Access to Original Birth Certificate

Citation: Rev. Stat. §§ 43-130; 43-136; 43-143; 43-146.04

For adoptions finalized prior to September 1, 1998, an adopted person who is age 25 or older may file a written request for the original birth certificate. For adoptions finalized on or after September 1, 1998, an adopted person who is age 21 or older may request the original birth certificate. If a consent form has been signed and filed by both birth parents, or by the birth mother of a child born out of wedlock, and no non-consent form has been filed, a copy of the adopted person’s original birth certificate shall be provided to the adopted person.For adoptions finalized prior to July 20, 2002, an adoptive parent or parents may at any time file a notice of non-consent stating that at no time prior to his or her death, or the death of both parents if each signed the form, may any information on the adopted person’s original birth certificate be released to such adopted person.

 

Access to Nonidentifying Information
Citation: Rev. Stat. §§ 43-128; 43-146.02
A child-placing agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, or a private agency handling the adoption, as the case may
be, shall maintain and shall provide to the adopting parents upon placement of the child and to the adopted person, upon his or
her request, the available medical history of the adopted person and of the birth parents. The medical history shall not include the
names of the birth parents, the child’s place of birth, or any other identifying information.

 

Mutual Access to Identifying Information
Citation: Rev. Stat. §§ 43-131; 43-146.05
For adoptions finalized prior to September 1, 1998: Upon a request for information, the department shall check the records of
the adopted person to determine whether a consent form has been signed and filed by any relative and whether an unrevoked
non-consent form is on file from a birth parent or an adoptive parent.
If the consent form has been signed and filed and not been revoked, and if no non-consent form has been filed by an adoptive parent,
the department shall release the information to the adopted person.
If no consent forms have been filed or if the consent form has been revoked, and if no non-consent form has been filed, the following
information shall be released to the adopted person:
• The name and address of the court that issued the adoption decree
• The name and address of any child-placing agency involved in the adoption
• The fact that an agency may assist the adopted person in searching for relatives
For adoptions finalized on or after September 1, 1998: Upon a request for information, the department shall check the records of the
adopted person to determine whether an unrevoked non-consent form is on file from a birth parent. If no non-consent form has been
filed, the following information shall be released to the adopted person:
• The name and address of the court that issued the adoption decree
• The name and address of any child-placing agency involved in the adoption
• The fact that an agency or the department may assist the adopted person in searching for relatives
• A copy of the adopted person’s original birth certificate
• A copy of the adopted person’s medical history and any medical records on file
If an unrevoked non-consent form has been filed, no information may be released to the adopted person except a copy of his or her
medical history, if requested. The medical history shall not include the names of the birth parents or relatives of the adopted person
or any other identifying information.

Where the Information Can Be Located
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Children and Family Services—Adoption Searches

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