- Date, time and place of birth of the adoptee including the hospital, city, county and
state
- An account of the health, psychological and genetic history of the adoptee
- An account of the health, psychological and genetic history of biological parents and
siblings.
- Description of the adoptee and the adoptee's birth famiy including:
- given first name of adoptee at birth,
- age and sex of siblings of adoptee,
- adoptee's enrollment and performance in school, educational testing results and special
education needs,
- adoptee's racial, ethnic and religious background,
- general description of birth parents including age at termination of parental rights and
length of time parents had been married at time of placement,
- account of adoptee's past and existing relationship with any relative, foster parent or
other individual or facility with whom the adoptee had lived or visited on a regular
basis,
- educational, occupational, professional, athletic or artistic achievement of birth
family,
- hobbies, special interests and school activities of the birth family,
- circumstances of any court order terminating parental rights of birth parent.
- Length of time between termination of parental rights and child's placement
- Status of termination, voluntary or court ordered
- Any information necessary to determine child's eligibility for state or federal
benefits.
The agency or court may supplement this information with appropriate additional
non-identifying information.
IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
Identifying information is defined as:
- Name of child before placement in adoption
- Name of each biological parent at the time of termination of parental rights
- Most recent name and address of each biological parent
- Names of biological siblings at the time of termination
You must submit a request for identifying information in writing. Forms for requesting
identifying information are available at local probate courts, local department of social
services and adoption agencies.
Release of identifying information is differsnt depending on when parental rights were
terminated:
AFTER MAY 28, 1945 BUT BEFORE
SEPTEMBER 12, 1980
You can obtain your name, (descendants may receive the adoptee's name before adoptive
placement), the names of biological siblings at the time of termination and identifying
information on both birth parents if both parents have filed statements of consent to
release identifying information in the Central Adoption Registry.
You can obtain your name (descendant's maay receive the adoptee's name before adoptive
placement), the names of biological siblings at the time of termination and identifying
information on one birth parent if that parent has filed a statement of consent in the
Central Adoption Registry.
You can obtain your name, (descendants may receive the adoptee's name before adoptive
placement), the names of biological siblings at the time of termination and the name of a
deceased birth parent.
BEFORE MAY 28, 1945 OR ON OR AFTER
SEPTEMBER 12, 1980
You or a descendant can obtain your name, (descendants may receive the adoptee's name
before adoptive placement), and the names of biological siblings at the time of
termination if a birth parent has not filed a statement of denial with the Central
Adoption Registry.
You can obtain identifying information on any birth parent who has not filed a
statement of denial with the Central Adoption Registry.
CENTRAL ADOPTION REGISTRY
The Central Adoption Registry is a file kept by the Department of Social Services of
statements of birth parents and adult birth siblings' consenting to or denying the release
of identifying information. These statements will be forwarded to adoption agencies and
courts upon request so they can determine whether or not identifying information can be
released to an adult adoptee or an adult adoptee's direct descendents. The Central
Adoption Registry is accessed by the court or agency; individuals cannot contact the
Central Adoption Registry to learn if statements are filed.
-- Use of the Central Adoption Registry by Biological Parents And Adult Birth Siblings
--
A birth parent and adult birth siblings may consent or deny to an adult adoptee by
submitting a statement to the Central Adoption Registry. A statement of denial is not
effective after the death of a birth parent or an adult birth sibling.
The "Parent's Consent/Denial to Release Information to Adult Adoptee"
(DSS-1919) can be used to indicate consent or denial. An adult birth sibling may register
with the Central Adoption Registry by completing the "Adult Birth Sibling Statement
to Release Information to Adult Adoptee" (DSS-1917). These forms may be revoked or
used to update information such as name or address change, by completing a new form and
submitting it to the Central Adoption Registry. Forms are available from the courts, local
office of department of social services, adoption agencies and the Central Adoption
Registry. The address of the Central Adoption Registry is:
- MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES CENTRAL ADOPTION REGISTRY
- PO BOX 30037
- LANSING, MI 48909
RELEASE OF INFORMATION FROM ADOPTION RECORD
TO BIRTH PARENT OR TO AN ADULT SIBLING
Non-identifying information may be released upon request. The name and address of an
adult adoptee may be released by an adoption agency or probate court to a biological
parent or an adult sibling if the adoptee has authorized the release in writing. Forms for
adult adoptees to authorize release of identifying information must be filed with the
agency that completed the adoption and the court that finalized the adoption.
RELEASE OF INFORMATION TO ADOPTIVE
PARENTS
Non-identifying information contained in adoption records must be given to adoptive
parents at the time of placement and upon request thereafter.
LOCATING ADOPTION RECORDS
All adoptions have a court record and may have an agency record too. There is no one
central location of adoption records. The court record of adoption is usually located in
the probate court located in the county where the adoptive parents lived when the adoption
took place. A court, upon receiving a request for information from an adoption record in
its possession from an adult adoptee, birth parent or adult sibling of the adoptee, must
identify the placing agency. An agency receiving a request for information from an
adoption record in its possession must identify the court that finalized the adoption. A
court, upon receiving a request from former parents or adult former siblings of an adult
adoptee for the identity of the agency, court or department to which the child was
committed, shall provide the information if it is in its' possession.
CONFIDENTIAL INTERMEDIARY SERVICES
An adult adoptee, adoptive parent of a minor adoptee or an adult child of a deceased
adoptee seeking contact with a former family member may petition the court where the
adoption was finalized for the appoinment of a confidential intermediary. A former family
member including biological parent, birth grandparent or adult sibling seeking contact
with an adult adoptee or an adult child of a deceased adoptee may petition the court where
the adoption was finalized for the appointment of a confidential intermediary. A
confidential intermediary shall make a reasonable search for an individual whose identity
is sought by the petitioner Check with the probate court in the county of adoption for
information on intermediary services and fees.
ADDED FEATURES OF THE ADOPTION LAW
A petition to gain access to adoption records may be filed in probate court that
finalized the adoption. Such a petition may be advisable if the information sought cannot
be obtained any other way.
The law applies to all adoptions including relative and stepparent adoptions.
A court, agency or the department of social services, may charge $60 or the actual cost
of releasing information whichever is less. Part or all of the fee may be waived in case
of indigency or hardship.
In some instances, an adult adoptee may obtain a copy of his/her original certificate
of live birth by presenting a copy of the Central Adoption Registry clearance reply form
to the State Registrar's Office. The Central Adoption Registry clearance reply form is
obtained from the court that finalized the adoption or the agency that handled the
adoption.
Former family members, the adult adoptee, and adoptive parents may place current
information in the adoption record by providing the information in writing to the court
that finalized the adoption and/or the agency that handled the adoption.
PUB-439(Rev. 5-95) Previous edition obsolete