Ohio Adoptee’s Original Birth Certificates are Soon Accessible

The New Ohio Adoption Law

Ohio-born adoptees adopted from January 1, 1964 to September 18, 1996 and their lineal descendants can access their original (pre-adoption) birth certificate starting on March 20, 2015.

The Vital Statistics file is already available under Ohio law to adoptees adopted before January 1, 1964 and their lineal descendants. In adoptions after September 18, 1996, the file is also available to the adoptee (at age 21, and to the adoptive parents of an adoptee age 18-20) unless the birthparent has asked that it be withheld.

Upon request, an Ohio born adoptee (age 18 or older), will receive their original birth certificate and adoption decree. If the birthparent has filed a Contact Preference Form ( CPF) and updated medical history, those will be released along with the record. In addition, if there are any old Ohio Adoption Registry release forms in the file, those will also be released.

The Contact Preference Form created in the new law creates a mechanism for birthparents to express their wishes about contact. It is a voluntary form that has three options for birthparents to choose from: 1) A birthparent can express a desire for contact and provide personal contact information; 2) A birthparent can express desire for contact and provide contact information for a third party of their choosing. The adoptee can contact the birthparent through the third party; 3) A birthparent can express their desire not to be contacted. The form also has an area for the birthparent to write a narrative comment. The form encourages a birthparent to file a medical history form, and indicates to the adoptee if this has been done. If a CPF is on file at Vital Statistics, it will be released to the adoptee with the contents of their adoption file. Birthparents can only submit this form for themselves, they cannot submit it on behalf of the other birthparent. A birthparent can file a CPF at any time.

How Ohio Adoptees Can Access Their OBC

The adoptee records request form will be form available at the office of Vital Statistics in Columbus and on their website beginning on March 20, 2015. If you are attending the  Adoption Network Cleveland’s “Opening Day” Party in Columbus on Thursday evening March 19 they will have the forms, etc you need, Click here for information about the “Opening Day” Party.
The request form must be notarized and be accompanied by two forms of acceptable identification. Items of identification include, but are not limited to, a motor vehicle operator’s license or chauffeur’s license, marriage record (to provide linkage between the maiden name and married name), social security card, military identification card, or employee’s identification card.
At the Opening Day party notaries will be on hand. Please bring your needed identification with you when you come!
Requests can be filed at Vital Statistics in Columbus in person at the window or through the mail.

The cost will be $20.

Your OBC will be MAILED to you!

All requests will be fulfilled through the mail. Adoptees will not be handed their records at the Vital Statistics window. Requests will be processed in the order in which they are received.

The Issue of Birth Parent Redactions

There is an option for a birthparent redaction. Senate Bill 23 was originally crafted with only the birthparent Contact Preference Form. This original version of the bill was the subject of the hearings in the House and the Senate through the spring of 2013. The bill then stalled and looked like it would not pass the Senate unless further provisions were added. At that point, a birthparent redaction provision was added.
The birthparent redaction provision gives a one-year period in which a birthparent can voluntarily come forward to file a form requesting that their name be removed from the version of the original birth certificate that is released to the adoptee. For the redaction form to be accepted by Vital Statistics it must be notarized and the birthparent must also complete a current medical history form.
     This provision expires March 19, 2015 before the records become available to the adoptee – a birthparent can no longer file a redaction form after that point. A birthparent who had filed a reaction form can come back at any time to remove it.

If a redaction form is present and the adoptee requests their birth certificate, the full birth certificate will be released, minus the birthparent’s name. The medical history form provided by the birthparent will also be released to the adoptee.  So you still get an OBC no matter what, and IF the name has not been redacted by the 19th, then that option is closed. You WILL get your OBC and chances are you will have ALL the info on it. End of story.

Birthparents do NOT have any provision to obtain an OBC at this time for a child relinquished.

Party On in Ohio! #ohadopteelaw

Adoption network Cleveland  is throwing a party and YOU are invited!!

Adoption Network Cleveland is hosting a celebration Thursday evening March 19, 2015 from 6:30 – 9:30 pm as part of “Opening Day” – when 1964-1996 Ohio adoptees can first apply for their vital statistics records – NEW LOCATION: Crowne Plaza Ballroom, 33 Nationwide Blvd., Columbus, Ohio 

The records request form from the Ohio Department of Health will be available and notaries will be on hand.  You must have two forms of acceptable identification with you.  Items of identification include, but are not limited to, a motor vehicle operator’s license or chauffeur’s license, marriage record (to provide linkage between the maiden name and married name), social security card, military identification card, or employee’s identification card.

We plan to have lots of opportunities at the event to commemorate the moment and build community, including a photo station and social media engagement. The film An Adoptee ROARed in Ohio: the Betsie Norris Story will be shown, and there will be opportunities for attendees to speak. If you would like to attend this event, please RSVP to Sarah Hastings.

There will be a photo station, as part of our Selfie Project, at our Opening Day Celebration on the 19th.  Click here for more details.

On Friday the 20th, adoptees will be able to submit their paperwork to the office of Vital Statistics and their original birth record will subsequently be mailed to them. We will be meeting at the Drury Inn at 7:30 am to walk over as a group to the The Office of Vital Statistics, which opens at 8:00 am. There will be notaries on hand there as well.

At 1:00 pm on the 20th, join the Ohio Department of Health for an event to mark Ohio’s opening of records to adult adoptees from Ohio’s previously closed records period. Hear from public officials and advocates, and witness the ceremonial release of the first records to four adoptees – Senator Dave Burke, Wendy Barkett, Jeff Costello, and Steve Kelly.  The media will be invited. If you would like to attend this event, please RSVP to Sarah Hastings.

I want to SEE THE SELFIES! Use #ohadopteelaw on Twitter!!