Access to Adoption Records

Who May Access Information
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 59-2122

The files and records of the court in adoption proceedings shall not be open to inspection or copy by persons other than the parties in interest and their attorneys, representatives of the State Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, and the Commission on Judicial Performance in the discharge of the commission's duties, except upon an order of the court expressly permitting the same. As used in this section, parties in interest shall not include genetic parents once a decree of adoption is entered.

Access to Nonidentifying Information
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 59-2122

The Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services may contact the adoptive parents of the minor child or the adult adoptee at the request of the genetic parents in the event of a health or medical need. The department may contact the adult adoptee at the request of the genetic parents for any reason.

Mutual Access to Identifying Information
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 59-2122

Identifying information shall not be shared with the genetic parents without the permission of the adoptive parents of the minor child or the adult adoptee.

Access to Original Birth Certificate
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 65-2423

The original birth certificate is a sealed document that may be opened by the State Registrar only upon the demand of the adult adoptee or by an order of the court.

Where the Information Can Be Located

Kansas Department of Children and Family Services, Post Adoption Search and Records

An adopted adult may receive all information in the file.

Kansas State Vital Records Office
Office of Vital Statistics
900 SW Jackson
Topeka, KS 66612-2221
(785) 296-1400

Credits: Child Welfare Information Gateway (http://www.childwelfare.gov)