Birth certificates of Illinois adoptees available starting Tuesday

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Updated: December 16, 2011 8:16AM

For a quarter of a million adopted Illinoisans, Tuesday could be nothing short of life-changing.

Starting Tuesday, Illinois will authorize the release of non-certified original birth certificates to adopted persons over the age of 21. The release of the birth certificates is directly related to a law passed in May 2010.

“The law allows adopted adults to … review important personal information, helping them learn about their birth families,” said State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). Feigenholtz, who sponsored the law, is an adoptee.

While adoptees born before 1946 were able to access their birth records right after the passage of the law, adopted persons born after 1946 had to wait 18 months for access to their records. The 18-month waiting period was to allow original parents time to give consent on how much information they wanted to share with the adopted persons. So far, most parents have agreed to let their information be released to their birth children.

“The response of the birth parents has been overwhelming and positive,” said Feigenholtz. “Nearly 95% of these birth parents have opted for some degree of transparency with their surrendered children.”

Adopted persons over the age of 21 who wish to see a copy of their birth certificates must fill out an application found on newillinoisadoptionlaw.com. The application must be mailed to the Illinois Department of Public Heath in Springfield with a $15 check and a copy of a government-issued ID.