I'll try to keep this simple. My MIL divorced her husband, my wife's biological father, when my wife was only two years old. As part of the divorce, he gave up all rights his daughter (my wife). Fast forward a few more years and my MIL remarried and the new man adopted her daughter (my wife). My FIL is passed away recently and my MIL and her biological father are still alive, but my wife would like to get a copy of her Original biologically correct birth certificate just because. She wants no relationship with her biological father and has not for nearly 40 years. To my knowledge the records are sealed. Can this happen without going through court and notifying the biological father? BTW...this is in Ohio.

Maybe this will be some help. Also did she contact Vital Records in Columbus?
https://adopteerightslaw.com/ohio-obc/

Google 'how to get a copy of my birth certificate in Ohio' , and follow the instructions.

Where was she born at? Has she tried to request her birth certificate from the county she was born in?

I think it depends on state law.

I tried to find out more about my biological father (in Idaho) and was told that the records were sealed by state law. Even traveled a good bit to contact the local authority where he was supposed to have been born. No luck there, either. According to what I was told that birth certificates were modified to reflect the name of the adoptive father. By an officer of the court. Probably a state level law, though

quote:

Originally posted by shovelhead:
Maybe this will be some help. Also did she contact Vital Records in Columbus?
https://adopteerightslaw.com/ohio-obc/

That link was helpful, thanks!

A guy I use to work with had to go to court to get his records unsealed, that's how his adoptive mother found out and she was absolutely livid. We don't want to go down that road. With that said, I strongly disagree with changing names on birth certificates from biological to adoptive parents. In "my" view the birth certificate should be biological only. If an adoption takes place, then some other form needs to be used showing such. Every child has the right to know at some point and certainly has the right to a copy for their own personal records.

Depends upon the state. Mass changed the law in about 2007; now all parties to adoption can request copies of the birth certificate prior to adoption. You do need to send a notarized application to the state and then they need to search for that certificate. Apparently, they can’t always find it. They did in my case.

Sure, the state is required to provide you with a copy of the original birth certificate. According to mine from Illinois, my birth parents were Ms. Jeanne Edwards and Mr. Legally Omitted. Neither Ancestry nor any of the others has jack on either one.

I have 6 adopted children. My lawyer told me that once the adoption is final the record is sealed forever. It takes just less than an actual act of Congress to unseal the original birth certificate. This is in Alabama. Ymmv