Helping Clients Open Adoption Records
There are a number of personal or medical reasons why a child or adoptive parents may want to seek out a birth parent. Ronnie Fishbein invites adoptive parents and individuals who were adopted to contact her to discuss the process and review options regarding the opening of adoption records.
The Georgia Adoption Reunion Registry
An adopted child may be able to obtain identifying information about birth parents through the Georgia Adoption Reunion Registry once they reach the age of 21. Non-identifying information can be released to the child or adoptive parents at any time.
The child at age 21 may have access to identifying information, may initiate a confidential search for a birth parent, or may obtain sibling information. To obtain information through the registry process, the biological parent or sibling must have consented to the child obtaining such information. Georgia law provides that mutual consent is required to open adoption records. Many times, birth parents do not have information about the registry and have therefore not signed the consent form. The social workers at the registry may initiate a confidential search for the birth parents to determine if they want contact.
For individuals who have accessed the registry and have not had success, Ronnie can assist by petitioning the appropriate court to request that the adoption record be opened and released. Ronnie will explain this process and the requirements to prospective clients so that they can make the decision whether to proceed with the filing of the court action.
Birth Parents Seeking Biological Children
Recent changes in Georgia law allow birth parents to open adoption records of children who have been adopted in the Georgia courts. Again, there must be mutual consent. Birth parents searching for a biological child who has been adopted can also contact the Georgia Adoption Reunion Registry for guidance and information.
