535 West Jefferson Street
Springfield, Illinois 62761
Phone 217-782-4977
Fax 217-782-3987
TTY 800-547-0466
Questions or Comments
SPRINGFIELD, ILL. – Under the amended Illinois Adoption Act (750 ILCS 50), starting November 15, 2011, adults born on or after January 1, 1946 in Illinois who were surrendered or adopted, can request a non-certified copy of their original Illinois birth certificate, which typically includes the birth parents’ name(s), age(s) and place(s) of birth. To allow birth parents who surrendered their children in Illinois for adoption to convey their wishes regarding the release of their identifying information to their surrendered child or children, the Illinois Department of Public Health is providing a Birth Parent Preference Form that will allow birth parents to request their identifying information remain confidential.
“While being able to obtain a non-certified copy of their original birth certificate can be wonderful for a person who was adopted or surrendered, birth parents may have concerns,” Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Damon T. Arnold said. “To respect the wishes of all birth parents, the Birth Parent Preference Form allows birth parents to notify the Illinois Department of Public Health of their choice regarding the release of their identifying information.
“Lutheran Social Services of Illinois is pleased that the original birth certificate law has allowed many adopted persons access to something that is very important and dear to them,” Lutheran Social Services of Illinois Statewide Search and Records Coordinator Mary Wake said. “At the same time, LSSI wants to be sure that all birth parents, particularly those living outside of Illinois, are aware of the new law. This law was carefully crafted to take into account the needs of both adopted persons and birth parents. Any birth parent who has placed a child for adoption should be fully informed of the changes in the law and their rights and options under the new law.”
On November 15, 2011, the Department will begin accepting applications for non-certified copies of original birth certificates from adult surrendered or adopted persons. Birth parents who wish their identifying information to remain confidential during their lifetime should submit a completed Birth Parent Preference Form before this date. While the Department will continue to accept Birth Parent Preference Forms after November 15, 2011, there will be no way to ensure information was not already released prior to processing the Birth Parent Preference Form after that date.
Birth parents who prefer not to have their identifying information released can still confidentially provide medical information, such as genetically-transmitted disease, to the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange (IARMIE) to be released to an adopted or surrendered child. Providing medical information may help an adopted or surrender person be proactive about health issues and live a longer, healthier life.
The Birth Parent Preference Form, medical questionnaire forms and the request form for an adopted or surrendered person to obtain a non-certified copy of their birth certificate, can be found at http://www.idph.state.il.us/vitalrecords/vital/non_certified.htm or by calling the Illinois Adoption Registry at 877-323-5299. The fee for submitting either form is $15, however, the fee will be waived for birth parents who complete the IARMIE medical questionnaire forms. All forms should be submitted to the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange. Adopted or surrendered persons must be 21 before receiving a non-certified copy of their original birth certificate.
| | | Illinois Department of Public Health 535 West Jefferson Street Springfield, Illinois 62761 Phone 217-782-4977 Fax 217-782-3987 TTY 800-547-0466 Questions or Comments |
