History of Adoption Legislation

Should adult adoptees be given open access to their birth records? Perhaps one of the most controversial issues in the adoption debate is that concerning access to birth records. What are the drawbacks and benefits of allowing this information to be given to adoptees? In order to understand the issue it is important to understand the history of adoption laws in the United States as well as consider both sides of the argument. In this report, I will set out to explain the underlying history and principles behind adoption laws examine the cause and effects of closed adoption records and compare the impact of both open and closed adoptions on all parties.

The word adoption is an adjective with Latin roots. The Miriam-Webster dictionary provides several different definitions for the word "adopt,” all of them involve accepting a person, thing or idea as your own. Used in the context of politics and everyday life, it could also signify acceptance of certain situations, usually related to law or politics. The term "adopt a policy”, for example, means to willingly accept a certain way of doing things. Sometimes, it also means taking something that belongs to another and revising it to suit your own needs. The meaning of the word adoption can also pertain to family ties and relationships. It defines the act of taking a child not related to his or her parents by blood into their family and giving the child a legal right to carry the surname of the adoptive parents. An adopted child is therefore granted the same rights as a blood related offspring under the laws governing family rights. In the eyes of the law there is no difference between an adopted child and a birth child because the adoptive parents have legally agreed to treat the c...

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...es involved. Unfortunately legislation has not kept up with modern attitudes leaving millions of people without access to their roots. Whether or not contact is ever made or what the intentions are everyone is entitled to know where they come from and what their roots are. Currently many states do offer state intermediary services; when there is mutual consent between the adult adoptee and birth families the state intermediary will help facilitate a reunion. The intermediary services are offered on a voluntary basis, all parties must be registered with the state in order to receive help. However, many parties are not aware of such services so the success rate is minimal. As with all choices there are both positive and negative outcomes. Hopefully anyone that becomes involved in the adoption process will consider and make the best choice for the child involved.