Starting July 1, 2023, Vermont’s new adoption law will allow adopted persons 18 and over (and their direct descendants) to get:
- Their original birth certificate — if they were born in Vermont.
- Identifying information about their biological/former parents — if the adoption was finalized in Vermont and the parents did not file a request for nondisclosure.
The biological/former parents:
- May file a form with the Vermont Adoption Registry to indicate whether they’d like to have contact and, if so, how they’d like it to happen: directly or through an intermediary.
- Have until July 1, 2023 to file a request with the Vermont Adoption Registry that their identifying information not be disclosed. Doing so will not change the adopted person/direct descendant’s right to a copy of:
- The original birth certificate, and
- Any adoption-related document filed with the birth certificate (e.g., adoption report or adoption decree).
Resources:
- To learn more and get copies of the forms, go to https://dcf.vermont.gov/registry/adoption.
- If you still have questions or would like to discuss your options for contact in the future, call (802) 241-0906 or email christina.shuma@partner.vermont.gov.
- If you are a biological/former parent that needs counseling support, please contact katev@lundvt.org.
