NEWS / Minnesota to open original birth certificate records to adaptees

A bill passed earlier this year by the Minnesota State Senate and House of Representatives will allow previously adopted individuals aged 18 or older—or their immediate family if they are deceased—to access their original birth certificate records showing their biological parents.

The state has issued a new form that would allow biological parents giving their children out for adoption to indicate if they would like to give their biological children an option to contact them later in their lives. Even if the parents indicate that they do not want to be contacted, their biological children will still have access to the original birth certificates with their names.

The change will take effect on July 1, 2024. Only Minnesota birth certificates would be accessible, and the biological parents will not be able to access the post-adoption birth certificate of their offspring.

According to State Registrar Molly Crawford, the State of Minnesota sees thousands of adoptions on an annual basis.

“Birth parents may not expect this to happen,” Crawford was quoted by MPR News as saying, “I think it’s important that they they learn that this legislation will take effect, opening records next year. It’s important that they have an opportunity to indicate their preference, if they wish.”