Is My State An Open Or Closed Record State?

by Nicole Humphrey | More from this Blogger

28 Jul 2006 05:10 PM

Often we run into problems while searching. Especially if the state in question is a closed record state. What is the difference between an open record and a closed record state? Easy really.

An open record state means that anyone involved in the triad may request the information in the file.

A closed record state means that the state closed its adoption records to public inspection.

Here is a quick list of who's open and who's closed:

Alabama - OPEN

Alaska - OPEN

Arizona - CLOSED, Year - Unknown

Arkansas - CLOSED, Year - 1935

California - CLOSED, Year - 1935

Colorado - CLOSED, Year - 1942

Connecticut - CLOSED, Year - 1974

Delaware - CLOSED, Year - 1913

District of Columbia - CLOSED, Year - 1935

Florida - CLOSED, Year - 1930's

Georgia - CLOSED, Year - 1935

Hawaii - CLOSED, Year - 1945 - Limited Access in effect 1/1/91

Idaho - CLOSED, Year - Unknown

Illinois - CLOSED, Year - 1945

Indiana - CLOSED, Year - 1941

Iowa - CLOSED, Year - 1945

Kansas - OPEN

Kentucky - CLOSED, Year - 1940 (if finalized prior to 1940 case records are available)

Louisiana - CLOSED, Year - 1977

Maine - CLOSED, Year - 1953, Before Aug.8, 1953 records available at Probate Court

Maryland - CLOSED, Year - 1948, Before July 1, 1947 records are open and available from the state archives

Massachusetts - CLOSED, Year - 1972

Michigan - CLOSED, Year - 1925

Minnesota - CLOSED, Year - 1941

Mississippi - CLOSED, Year - unknown

Missouri - CLOSED, Year - 1917

Montana - CLOSED, Year - 1973

Nebraska - CLOSED, Year - 1941

Nevada - CLOSED, Year - Unknown

New Hampshire - CLOSED, Year - 1938

New Jersey - CLOSED, Year - 1941, Prior to 1941 records are open

New Mexico - CLOSED, Year - 1950

New York - CLOSED, Year - 1938

North Carolina - CLOSED, Year - 1938

North Dakota - CLOSED, Year - Unknown

Ohio - CLOSED, Year - 1964

Oklahoma - CLOSED, Year - 1953

Oregon - CLOSED, Year - 1957

Pennsylvania - CLOSED, Year - Unknown

Rhode Island - CLOSED, Year - 1930

South Carolina - CLOSED, Year - 1963

South Dakota - CLOSED, Year - Unknown

Tennessee - CLOSED, Year - 1950

Texas - CLOSED, Year - 1935

Utah - CLOSED, Year - Always

Vermont - CLOSED, Year - 1946

Virginia - CLOSED, Year - unknown

Washington - CLOSED, Year - 1953

West Virginia - CLOSED, Year - unknown

Wisconsin - CLOSED, Year - 1929

Wyoming - CLOSED, Year - unknown

Learn more about Nicole Humphrey

Nicole Humphrey is a freelance writer, consultant for CTMH and a Sr. Blogger for families.com. She resides in St. Charles, Missouri with Mike and their five children and two furbabies.

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Anna Glendenning (4234) 31 Jul 2006 01:02 PM

Actually, Oregon Voters passed law years ago which open the records. Anyone over the age of either 18 or 21 has the right to request a copy of their original unamended birth certificate. Oregon also has a state managed Adoption Registry where birth parents and adopted people can leave contact information or special requests. My ex-husband was able to obtain his within days and found his birthparents within weeks following the passage of the new laws.

Nicole Humphrey (15757) 31 Jul 2006 06:37 PM

Anna you were right about Oregon. I don't know why I didn't catch that when I was typing it. Thank you for the information. I do know about the registries. I have another entry to go up in August about the different state registries :)

Anna Glendenning (4234) 31 Jul 2006 09:19 PM

Nichole--no problem! :)

And great idea for blogs some of the registry programs are so new I don't think many people know about some of the changes over the years.