Adopted people can start getting N.J. birth records revealing their parents next month

Adopted people can start getting N.J. birth records revealing their parents next month

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/12/long-awaited_law_opening_adoption_records_begins_j.html

TRENTON — A law passed after 34 years of relentless lobbying that will allow adopted people to obtain their original birth certificates containing information about their parents, their medical history and identity will take effect in January.

State Health Commissioner Cathleen Bennett released an announcement late Friday as a reminder that birth parents who wish to have these documents redacted of their name must make that request by no later than Dec. 31, 2016.

So far, 166 birth parents have filed a request to hide their name and identifying information, 77 have requested direct contact, and six have requested to be contacted through an intermediary, such as an adoption agency, health department spokeswoman Donna Leusner said.

The department has received 476 applications from adopted people seeking their birth certificates.