Legal Definitions - adoption-registry statute

An adoption-registry statute is a law that allows for the release of information related to an adoption if certain conditions are met. These conditions typically involve the biological parent, adoptive parent, and adoptee all expressing a desire for the information to be released.

There are two types of adoption-registry statutes:

• Active adoption-registry statute: This type of statute allows a state authority to actively seek out parties' desires to obtain or release adoption information when one party expresses a desire for that information.
• Passive adoption-registry statute: This type of statute allows parties to register their desires for release of adoption information after an adopted child reaches a specified age.

For example, let's say that an adopted child reaches the age of 18 and wants to know more about their biological parents. If the biological parent and adoptive parent have also expressed a desire for the information to be released, then the adoption-registry statute would allow for the release of that information.

Another example would be if a biological parent wants to find their child who was put up for adoption. If the adoptee has also expressed a desire for contact, then the adoption-registry statute would allow for the release of contact information.