Here you will find some links to information for finding adoption-related records and vital records. Many of the links are to state government websites with information about what is available for the adoptee (or others) for that state.
Alabama…
- Alabama Vital Records: Adoption Information from the Alabama Center for Health Statistics
Arizona…
Arkansas…
- Arkansas Mutual Consent Voluntary Adoption Registry from the Arkansas Department of Human Services
California…
- California: Frequently Asked Questions on Obtaining Information About Your Adoption from the California Department of Social Services – Children and Family Services Division
- California Vital Records Indexes – Online Birth, Marriage & Death Records includes information on ordering vital records
Colorado…
- Colorado Adoption Search & Reunion Resources includes information about Colorado’s confidential intermediary service and a Colorado adoption registry
Connecticut…
Delaware…
- Delaware Birth & Death Records – Office of Vital Statisticsincludes information for obtaining an Adoptee’s birth certificate
Florida…
Georgia…
- Georgia Adoption Reunion Registry from the Georgia Department of Human Resources
Idaho…
- Idaho Voluntary Adoption Registry from the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare
Illinois…
- Illinois Vital Records – Adoption Records Illinois Department of Public Health
- Confidential Intermediary Service of Illinois
Indiana…
- Medical History Registry for Adopted Persons from the Indiana State Department of Health
Iowa…
Kansas…
Kentucky…
Louisiana…
- Louisiana Adoption Registry from the Louisiana Department of Social Services
Maine…
- Maine Adoption Reunion Registry Information from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services
Maryland…
Massachusetts…
- Application for a Record of Birth Prior to Adoption, Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics PDF form – includes instructions and restrictions
Michigan…
- Michigan Department of Human Services – Closed Adoption Record Informationincludes information about Michigan’s confidential intermediary program
Minnesota…
Missouri…
- Missouri Adoption Information Registry from the Missouri Department of Social Services
- State Historical Society of Missouri – Adoption Records Information
- Online Missouri Vital Records Indexes – Birth, Marriage and Death Records
- St. Louis Genealogy Resources and Records
Nebraska…
Nevada…
- Nevada Adoption Registry from the Nevada Division of Child and Family Services
New Hampshire…
New Jersey…
- New Jersey Adoption Registry from the New Jersey Department of Human Services – Division of Youth and Family Services
- New Jersey Adoption Records Information Pre-1940 from the New Jersey State Archives
New York…
- New York Vital Records Indexes & Genealogy Records on the Internet includes information on ordering vital records
North Carolina…
- North Carolina Adoption Search Information from the North Carolina Department of Social Services
North Dakota…
- North Dakota Adoption Search and Disclosure information from the North Dakota Department of Human Services
Ohio…
Oklahoma…
- Oklahoma DHS Adoption Reunion Registry and Confidential Intermediary Search Program from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Oregon…
- Oregon Center for Health Statistics – How to Order Pre-Adoption Birth Recordsfrom the Oregon Department of Human Services
- Historical Database: Oregon Adoptions and Name Changes, 1876-1918 (requires payment – part of an Ancestry subscription)
Pennsylvania…
- Information About Pennsylvania’s Adoption Registries from the Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Vital Records
Rhode Island…
- Rhode Island: Vital Records Information for Adult Adoptees from the State of Rhode Island Department of Health/State Office of Vital Records
South Carolina…
Tennessee…
Texas…
- Online Texas Vital Records Indexes – Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death includes information on ordering vital records
Utah…
- Utah Historical Adoption Records and Adoption Reunion Registry includes a link to a downloadable PDF file for the adoption reunion registry from the Utah Bureau of Vital Records
Vermont…
- Vermont Adoption Registry information from Vermont Department for Children and Families – Family Services Division
Virginia…
- Virginia Adoptee and Birth Parent Applications for Disclosure Form downloadable PDF forms from the Virginia Department of Social Services
Washington…
- Adoption Records Search from the Washington Department of Social and Health Services includes confidential intermediary program information
Wisconsin…
Wyoming…
- Wyoming Confidential Adoption Intermediary Services and Accessing Adoption Records Information from the Wyoming Department of Family Services
Additional Resources
Online Death Records Indexes, Obituaries and Cemeteries
Online Birth and Marriage Records Indexes