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Some people think that adoption records are a strange and mysterious thing. Many of us also wonder what is included in these papers, as well as what their function is. Basically, these records contain all the paperwork regarding an adoption. These are the legal records of the adoption and are designed to protect everyone involved in the process. While controversial, most states have laws to keep these types of records sealed. This means that the public and even the people involved in the adoption cannot access these records.

During the adoption process, a judge will review the paperwork submitted to ensure that the law was followed correctly during parental termination and the granting of custody to the adoptive parents.

These records usually include items such as the original birth certificate of the child, information about both the birth and adoptive parents and records of the termination of parental rights. The records will also include the petition of adoption and the final adoption degree.

These records are put into place to try to make sure that all rights of all parties are protected. Birth parents should not have their parental rights taken away without the proper due process. Additionally, adoptive parents must be secure knowing that the adoption is forever and cannot be rescinded.

However, because so many of these records are seals, adult adoptees may not have access to the most basic information about themselves. This can be a detriment in some cases, such as background health conditions of birth parents that may be affecting the individual.