UNDER NEW IL ADOPTION LAW, Those Adopted Can Now Find Out More About Their Biological Parents
FOR MOST, NEITHER PARENT MAY HAVE REQUESTED ANONYMITY!
Here in IL, if you were adopted as a child, finding your birth parents identities has often been hit and miss. Often, the process requires considerable research, without a positive outcome.
One of the reasons - statewide, all adoption cases, and original birth certificates showing the biological parents, are sealed, unless one of the parents authorizes release of their names.
Now, IL Governor Pat Quinn just signed a new law making it easier for those adopted to identify their biological parents. As reported in the Chicago Tribune by Monique Garcia, those born in 1945 or before will soon be able to get a copy of their original birth certificate by filing an application with the IL Adoption Registry.
Adopted children born after January, 1946 will also be able to apply for the original certificate, provided they are over the age of 21, and neither birth parent has objected. The new law gives parents who gave their children for adoption until January 1, 2011 to request their personal information not be shared.
The new IL Adoption Bill was sponsored by State Representative from Chicago, Democrat Sara Feigenholtz, who was an adopted child. She contends it is a basic human right to know who your biological parents are.
Although the bill passed both houses of the IL Legislature, the process was not without objection. Many parents who gave their children for adoption many years ago assumed their identities would never be revealed.
DEAN MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
