State Adoption Laws


Check out the adoption laws of your state and county at: US ADOPTION LAWS BY STATE & NAIC AdoptInfo - Searching for Birth Relatives

Other government info can be found at:
StateLaw: State & Local Government ***FLORIDA Adoption records are sealed and may be opened only upon *order of the court*. However, FL Statute 63.162 Non-Identifying Information mandates that agencies provide non identifying information to adoptees, birth parents and adoptive parents of minors. Let the agency know that you are aware of this law. The information will not give you names, addresses or any other information that might be considered "identifying." Adoptees should ask about birth parents nationality, ages at time of birth, education, hobbies, medical history, professions and anything else that may be important to you and your situation. Ask for the "relinquishment date", the case number and the finalization of adoption date and court.

*You can petition the court that handled your Final Adoption for a court order to un-seal your adoption records. In some counties, this is a simple matter of writing a letter of request to the court and in Dade County Florida, did not cost any money. However it has been very difficult to get them opened, but the judge will take into consideration any serious medical concerns if you can get your doctor to document them in a letter enclosed with your petition.

Under the Sunshine Law, hospitals are mandated to release all records to a patient. A birth mother should have no problem getting her records, however, the records for an adoptee must be requested in the birth name only. Don't mention adoption to the hospital, or they will insist on a court order before giving you the records. Some hospitals will tell you they no longer have your records for one reason or another, don't accept this from a clerk, ask to speak with someone in administration.

Many of you have asked about Florida Birth Indexes. Florida does not have "Birth Indexes" at least non that are open to the public. Florida record books are called: Docket Books, which describe events from the date of petition to the date of adoption finalization. They include the agency and/or attorney of record. Your birth name will not be listed. Sometime, a birth relative may be listed. This book includes the Chancery Order Book number and the page where the birth name and birth parents are listed and are rarely in the public domain. The Adoption Book, lists all of the information and is NEVER in the public domain. The Civil Index lists adoptive parents names.

Some young women went to Florida to deliver their babies and then "went home". Some of these babies were adopted out of state and many to families in NY. Adoptees born in Florida and adopted in another state can sometime get the same information by contacting HRS at the FARR address. But before contacting FARR, write to HRS (at the address below) for your birth certificate as some out of state adoptees have not had their birth certificates sealed. If you were adopted in NY, try the information here: Vital Records Information/NY & NY.Birth Index & Information. Also check out: Sylvia's NY Adoption Page

See page 3 for BLACK MARKET BABY SELLERS~

For those of you who are known as "Cole Babies" this is a great link. Colebaby.html

Florida Adoption Hotline at (904)353-0679 is available to answer many of your questions and put you in touch with support groups throughout the country.~

Resources
Beginners Guide To Adoption Searches on the Internet
United States Vital Records Information
How to Obtain Your Personal Vital Record
United States Counties
Important Florida Information
Florida Department of State Library Info
State of Florida Telephone Directory
Florida City Directories at the State
Vital Records Information - United States

Vital records are normally available at county courthouses. (As of this date, there is no way to access them on the Internet.) They contain basic information such as birth, marriage, and death dates, plus occupations and parents' names. They do not contain names of adoptees, as those records are sealed. They may however contain the names of adoptees who were born in Florida and adopted out of state.

Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services (HRS)
Office of Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 210
1217 Pearl Street
Jacksonville, FL32231

Marriage, Divorce, Birth or Death Records

Most of the above records date from January 1917. Fee includes one certification of record if found or certified statement stating record not on file.

Check or money order should be made payable to Office of Vital Statistics. Verify current fees by calling: (904) 359-6900.