Who can use the registry?

• Non-identifying information for adoptive parents or adopted persons 18 or older
• Searches on behalf of adult adopted persons, birth parents and siblings
• Requests by birth parents or adult adopted persons to release or withhold identifying information
• Information and referral to support / search groups in Georgia and out-of-state
• Counseling and intermediary services

If you are an adoptive parent or an adopted person who is 18 years or older, background history of the birth parents and their families may be available from the sealed adoption record. This usually includes physical descriptions, early childhood development data and reasons for the plan of adoption.

What identifying information can be released?

This may include the name, date of birth, address and any other information that might be useful in finding a birth parent, adult sibling or adult adopted person. If the person being sought is deceased, and their death verified, the name and place of burial is released to the requesting party. An adult adopted after 1941 may receive identifying information only with the written consent of the person being sought. Any person being sought must sign a Consent to Contact form before the Registry can release any identifying information.

The Georgia Adoption Registry can also release identifying information if the person requesting the information has a court order to open the adoption record.

What if I don’t want to be contacted by the party searching for me?

The Georgia Adoption Reunion Registry cannot release identifying information without your written consent. If you want to protect your right to privacy, you must file an Affidavit of Non-Disclosure form with the Georgia Adoption Reunion Registry. If there is a court hearing, you may be contacted if you have not filed this affidavit.

However, signing the affidavit does not mean that you will never be located or have your identity become known. Today there are many informal means of locating people without the help of the Registry, adoption agencies or court.

What if I want to be found or waive my rights to confidentiality?

If you want to be contacted, you may file a Consent to Contact form with the Georgia Adoption Reunion Registry. If you address changes, you need to let the Registry know where you are.

This allows people involved in a search to exchange information confidentially until the can decide whether to waive their rights to privacy. This may include exchanging letters or photographs.

There are no fees to register your name, location and decision as to whether to waive your rights to confidentiality. There are reasonable fees for non-identifying information and adoption searches. The Georgia Adoption Reunion Registry will waive the fee for services under certain circumstances.