About Oregon Adoption Registries
Oregon adoption registries have three components
-
Consent for mutual contact (or identifying information)
-
Non-identifying health and social information
-
Assisted search
Private adoption agencies maintain their own registries. If you are not sure if your adoption was through a private adoption agency, contact the
ODHS Adoption Search and Registry program.
Under Oregon law, many people involved in an adoption can receive a copy of documents from the Oregon court where the adoption finalized. The
Oregon Courts website gives contact information for each of the Oregon county courts. Contact the court where the adoption finalized to ask how to release the records. If you don’t know the county, you can contact the registry.
1. Mutual Consent Registry (Identifying Information)
Who can register
- An adult adoptee (aged 18 or older)
- An adoptive parent or guardian of a minor adoptee
- A birth parent
- A putative (alleged) father
- An adult genetic sibling of an adoptee
- An adoptive parent of a deceased adoptee
- A parent of guardian of a minor genetic sibling of an adoptee
- A parent or adult sibling of a deceased birth parent
Process for release of information
Both parties must independently register before information is released.
- Parties will be contacted immediately by the registry if a family member has registered.
- The registry will contact each person individually to see how they would like to initiate contact with the other person.
- The registry will only release information that you are comfortable releasing.
- At any time, you can request that your name be removed from the registry.
How to register
If you want to have contact with an adoptee or eligible family member, send the following:
- The completed,
notarized Affidavit for Release of Identifying Information form
- A copy of the applicant's birth certificate
- A $25 check or money order payable to ODHS Adoption Registry
2. Non-Identifying Health and Social Information
Although many parties to Oregon adoptions can request information from the court where the adoption finalized, agency files may include additional social and health information that was gathered at the time of adoption.
Who can request non-identifying information
The following people can ask the registry for non-identifying information about the adoptee and the birth family that was gathered at the time of the adoption.
- An adult adoptee
- An adoptive parent of a minor adoptee
- A guardian of a minor adoptee
- A birth parent of an adoptee
- Adult offspring of a deceased adoptee
- A spouse of a deceased adoptee, if the spouse is the birth parent or guardian of any child of the adoptee
How to request non-identifying information
Send the following:
- The Non-Identifying Information Form
- A copy of the applicant's birth certificate or photo identification
- A $45 check or money order made payable to ODHS Adoption Registry
3. Assisted Search
The registry can help locate parties involved in an adoption that was finalized in Oregon. Use the Assisted Search Application (below) to request an assisted search.
Who can request an assisted search
An adoptee or the adoptive parent of a minor adoptee or the adoptive parent of deceased adoptee may search for:
- A birth parent
- An adult genetic sibling of the adoptee
- A putative father who is named in the records
The following people can search for an adult adoptee:
- A birth parent
- An adult genetic sibling of the adoptee
- A parent or adult sibling of a deceased birth parent
Process for assisted search
The registry contracts with a searcher who attempts to locate the party to let them know that someone is looking for them and would like to have contact.
If they want to have contact:
- The searcher will notify the Registry and forms will be sent to the located party to register, at no charge.
- Information will not be released to either party until both parties have completed the Affidavit for Release of Identifying Information form.
If they do not want to have contact:
- The registry will close the search file.
- The requesting party will be told that the person has been located and does not wish to have contact, but no other information about them will be released.
- The requestor’s registration remains open until such time as a written request is received indicating otherwise.
How to request an assisted search
Send the following:
- The Assisted Search Application
- The Affidavit for Release of Identifying Information form
- A copy of the applicant’s birth certificate
- A $400 check or money order made payable to ODHS Adoption Registry (additional searches are $200 each)
Laws and Rules
Contact Us
Adoption Search and Registry Program
Stephanie Nikoleishvili
503-945-6643
adoption.registry@odhsoha.oregon.gov