ALABAMA CELEBRATES OPEN RECORDS
AUGUST 1, 2000

On August 1, 2000, Alabama restored to Alabama-born adoptees their right to request and receive unconditionally copies of their original birth certificates and accompanying documents in the sealed file housed at the Center for Health Statistics.

This historic legislation was brought about by the energetic and dedicated grassroots organization known as AWARE, Alabamians Working for Adoption Reform and Education. This group was dedicated to ensuring that the adoption laws of Alabama conform to the principle of equal treatment under the law as mandated by the United States Constitution and the Alabama State Constitution. AWARE continues to support full human and civil rights for all members of the adoption triad.

Bastard Nation: The Adoptee Rights Organization vigorously supported AWARE in its efforts to obtain equal rights for all Alabama adoptees.

Since August 1, 2000, Alabama-born adoptees can request and receive copies of their original birth certificates and accompanying documents in the sealed file housed at the Center for Health Statistics. They can find out more information and download a copy of the request form at the Alabama Public Health Department website. They do not need to know their original name at birth to request these documents because the records are located by the name given to them by their adoptive parents.

As part of the new law, birth parents can submit a contact preference/medical information form, which will be filed with the adoptee's original birth certificate in the Center for Health Statistics sealed file. This form will be sent to the adoptee if and when he or she requests the original birth certificate. Birth parents can find out more information about the form and download a request form to receive a copy of these forms from the Alabama Public Health Department website. Birth parents do not need to know the post-adoption name of their birth son or daughter to have this form filed; however, they do need to know the exact date and place of birth. As of December 31, 2002, over 2000 Alabama adoptees have received their original birth certificates.

AWARE home page: http://www.alabama-adoption.org

ALABAMA OPEN RECORDS -- FAQs: http://www.alabama-adoption.org/hb690FAQ.htm