Legal Definitions - sealed-record statute

A sealed-record statute is a law that keeps adoption records confidential. This means that an adopted child cannot find out who their biological parents are, and the biological parents cannot find out who the adoptive parents are.

For example, in some states in the United States, adoption records are sealed and cannot be accessed by the adopted child or their biological parents. This is done to protect the privacy of everyone involved in the adoption process.

Another example is in South Korea, where adoption records have been sealed since the 1980s. This has made it difficult for adopted Koreans to find their birth families.

Overall, a sealed-record statute is a legal measure that aims to protect the privacy of those involved in the adoption process.