When adoptees seek their birth families we generally think of young people in their 20’s and 30’s. But what about adoptees who are over 50? What about an adoptee who’s 92, seeking closure on her origins before she dies?
While nine states have reversed sealed records laws in the past twelve years (and two never sealed them), thirty-nine states in America continue to hide an adoptee’s birth information from them – forever. Legislation is currently being debated in several states that would provide access to records for adopted citizens. Opponents argue that birthmothers were promised confidentiality, while supporters point out that there is no statutory guarantee of privacy. As the debate goes on, adoptees – and birthparents – are dying without closure about one of the most significant events and relationships of their lives.
