NORTH DAKOTA

DENIES UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO OBC (Court order required)

 

Who May Access Information
Citation: Cent. Code § 14-15-16
Nonidentifying information must be provided to:
• The adoptive parents
• The adult adopted person
• The birth parent
Identifying information may be provided to:
• The birth parents
• The adoptive parents
• The adopted person
• Adult birth siblings
• The adult child of an adopted person

 

Access to Original Birth Certificate
Citation: Cent. Code § 23-02.1-18
The original birth record is available only upon order of a court or as provided by rules and regulations.

 

Access to Non-identifying Information
Citation: Cent. Code § 14-15-16; 14-15-01(12)
Non-identifying information, if known, concerning undisclosed birth parents must be furnished upon written request to the
individuals listed above. The term ‘non-identifying adoptive information’ includes:
• The age of the birth parent at the time of the child’s birth
• The heritage and religion of the birth parent
• The education completed by the birth parent at the time of the child’s birth
• The general physical appearance of birth parent at the time of the child’s birth, including the height, weight, color of hair,

eyes, skin, and other information of a similar nature

• The talents, hobbies, and special interests of the birth parents
• The existence of any other children born to either birth parent
• The reasons for the child being placed for adoption
• The vocation of the birth parent in general terms
• The health history of the birth parents and blood relatives

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Mutual Access to Identifying Information
Citation: Cent. Code § 14-15-16

Before the child reaches adulthood, exchanges of identifying information may take place between the birth parents, adoptive
parents, and adopted person. Disclosure of a party’s identifying information may not occur unless the party consents to disclosure. If
one parent objects, the identifying information disclosed by the agency may only relate to the consenting parent or parents.
An adopted person who is age 18 or older may request the department to initiate the disclosure of information identifying his or
her birth parents or adult birth sibling. A birth parent or adult birth sibling may request the department to initiate the disclosure of
information identifying that individual. An adult child of an adopted person may request the department to initiate the disclosure of
information identifying the adopted person’s birth parents.
Within 90 days after receiving a request, the child-placing agency shall make complete and reasonable efforts to notify the individual
or individuals that a disclosure of identifying information has been requested. An adopted person, birth parent, or birth sibling may
authorize disclosure, refuse to authorize disclosure, or take no action. If no action is taken in response to a request, the child-placing
agency must treat that as a refusal to authorize disclosure, except that it does not preclude disclosure after the person’s death.
Upon application to the department by an adult adopted person or the parent or guardian of a minor adopted person, the
department may investigate to determine the adopted person’s eligibility for enrollment as a member of an Indian Tribe.

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Where the Information Can Be Located
North Dakota Department of Human Services, Adoption Search/Disclosure

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FIND YOUR BIRTH PARENTS