Access to Adoption Records

Who May Access Information
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 9:3-41.1

The adoptive parent may have access to nonidentifying information.

Access to Nonidentifying Information
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 9:3-41.1

Prior to placement, the adoptive parent will be provided with all available information relevant to the child's development, including:

• The child's developmental and medical history
• The child's personality and temperament
• The birth parents' complete medical histories, including conditions or diseases that are believed to be hereditary
• Any drugs or medications taken during pregnancy
• Any other health conditions of the birth parents that may influence the child's present or future health

Information that would identify or permit the identification of the birth parents of the child shall be excluded.

Mutual Access to Identifying Information
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 9:3-52

All records of proceedings related to the adoption shall be filed under seal by the clerk of the court and shall at no time be open to inspection or copying unless the court, upon good cause shown, shall otherwise order.

Access to Original Birth Certificate
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 26:8-40.1

The original birth certificate is available only upon order of the court.

Where the Information Can Be Located

New Jersey Department of Human Services, Adoption Registry Coordinator

The New Jersey State Registry

This registry is only for public agency adoptions through DFYS or its predecessors: BCS, SBCW, SBCG.

Contact:

New Jersey Department of Human Services
(for public agency adoptions only)
Division of Youth and Family Services
Adoption Registry Coordinator
PO Box 717
Trenton, NJ 08625
(609) 984-6800
(609) 292-8816
http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/adoption/registryframe.html

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