Indiana: Access to OBCs and Non-ID
INDIANA
DENIES UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO OBC (Adoptees 21 and older may apply via state registry; birth parents
may redact indentifying information)
Who May Access Information
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 31-19-22-2
The following persons may request the release of identifying information:
•An adult adopted person•A birth parent
•An adoptive parent
•The spouse or relative of a deceased adopted person•The spouse or relative of a deceased birth parent
Access to Original Birth Certificate
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 31-19-13-2
The original birth certificate is withheld from inspection except for a child adopted by a stepparent or as provided in statutes pertaining to release of identifying information. [Adoptees 21 years of age or older, may request identifying information (which includes the OBC) through the Indiana Adoption Matching Registry, but the release of information is subject to a corrupt contact preference form, which if filed, can be used to prohibit disclosure of any information, even if the birth parent requests contact through an intermediary.
A birth parent may also request that identifying information be withheld even after their death.]
Access to Non-identifying Information
Citation: Ann. Stat. §§ 31-19-17-3; 31-19-17-5
The person, licensed child-placing agency, or county office shall release all available social, medical, psychological, and educational records concerning the child to:
•The prospective adoptive parent or adoptive parent
•Upon request, the adopted person who is at least age 21 and provides proof of identification
The report shall exclude information that would identify the birth parents unless the adoptive parent, prospective adoptive parent, or adopted person who requests the information knows the identity of the birth parents.
For an adoption that was granted before July 1, 1993: Upon the request of an adopted person who is at least age 21, the licensed child-placing agency or a county office shall provide to the adopted person available information from social, medical, psychological, and educational records and reports. Information that would identify the birth parents shall be excluded from the report unless an adopted person already knows the identity of the birth parents.
Mutual Access to Identifying Information
Citation: Ann. Stat. §§ 31-19-22-2; 31-19-25-2; 31-19-25-2.5; 31-19-25-3
Identifying information may not be released unless the adult adopted person and the birth parent have submitted a written consent to the State Registrar or the person from whom the identifying information is requested that allows the release of the information to the individual requesting the information.
Identifying information for an adopted person who is younger than age 21 may not be released unless the adopted person’s adoptive parent has submitted a written consent for the release of identifying information.For adoptions after December 31, 1993: Identifying information shall be released only if the adopted person has submitted a written consent to the State Registrar or the person who has requested the release of identifying information. If the adopted person is younger than age 21, identifying information may not be released unless the adopted person’s adoptive parent has submitted a written consent for the release of identifying information.
A birth parent may restrict access to his or her identifying information by filing a written non-release form with the State Registrar. The non-release form:
•Remains in effect during the period indicated by the individual submitting the form
•Is renewable
•May be withdrawn at any time by the individual who submitted the form
The non-release form is no longer in effect if the birth parent consents in writing to the release of identifying information and has not withdrawn that consent. A non-release form is no longer in effect if the birth parent who filed the non-release form is deceased, unless the non-release form specifically states that the non-release form remains in effect after the birth parent’s death.
Where the Information Can Be Located
Indiana Adoption History Registry, Indiana State Department of Health, Vital Statistics