Maryland Adoption Records
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Accessing Maryland Adoption Records
For decades, Maryland has had sealed adoption records, making them inaccessible without a court order. Some adoptees can access their original birth certificates, but not everyone has this option.
While Maryland prohibits access to adoption records, the state offers two alternative pathways for people looking for their biological relatives. However, both programs have their limitations. If you’re searching for Maryland adoption records, Adopted.com offers an easier solution.
We provide a voluntary adoption reunion registry where anyone impacted by an adoption can search for information. It doesn’t matter when the adoption occurred, and there’s no need to file a court petition. You just need to answer ten simple questions about the adoption that most people know – even without access to state records.
The Adopted.com registry spans the state of Maryland, from Hagerstown to Baltimore and everywhere in between. If you’ve hit a roadblock looking for adoption records in Maryland, register with Adopted.com. Join a community where reunions happen every day.
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4,333 Are Maryland Adoption Records Public?
No. Maryland adoption records have been sealed since July 1, 1947. You cannot access adoption records in Maryland without a court order.
If you were adopted in Maryland in 2000 or later, you can obtain your original birth certificate once you turn 21. However, if the adoption occurred between 1947 and 2000, you cannot get this document without petitioning the court.
How to Access Adoption Records in Maryland?
While accessing adoption records in Maryland is difficult, the state offers a confidential intermediary program for post-adoption reunion services. Confidential intermediaries can access sealed adoption records to search for adoptees or their biological relatives.
You can request a search through Maryland’s confidential intermediary program if you’re:
- An adult adoptee (21 or older)
- A birth parent who voluntarily terminated your parental rights
- A birth sibling or half-sibling (21 or older) if you were also adopted
To request a search, you need to complete several forms from the Maryland Department of Human Services. Complete Application Form 2062 with as much information as you can provide, though you can leave questions blank if you don’t know the answers. You also need to complete a notarized consent form and a statistical survey. Return the forms to the department with a copy of your driver’s license or other photo ID.
Once you request a search, you’ll be assigned an intermediary and sign a service agreement. While the intermediary cannot give you copies of your adoption records, they’ll attempt to locate your relatives. If successful, the intermediary will ask if they want to have contact with you. If they do, the intermediary will arrange a reunion.
In addition to the confidential intermediary program, Maryland also has a Mutual Consent Voluntary Adoption Registry. You can join this registry if you’re an adult adoptee, a birth parent, or a biological sibling. If one of your family members also registers, the state will alert you to the match so you can connect. However, the registry has not resulted in many matches, according to the state.
How Do I Get My Adoption Records Unsealed in Maryland?
You’ll need to petition the court to get adoption records unsealed. If you were adopted between 1947 and 1999, you can file a request for your original birth certificate. Petition the court to authorize the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to release the record to you.
You can get a copy of your original birth certificate if you’re at least 21 and were adopted after 2000. This document will list your birth parents’ names, unless they’ve submitted a disclosure veto to remain anonymous.
Birth parents can also request amended birth certificates for adoptions that occurred in 2000 or later, as long as the adoptee is over 21 years old. Adoptees can file a disclosure veto if they don’t want identifying information released.
What Happens to the Original Birth Certificate After Adoption in Maryland?
After an adoption, the adoptee’s birth certificate is changed to list their adoptive parents. The original birth certificate, which has the birth parents’ names, is sealed as part of the adoption record.
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Let Adopted.com help you find your lost family today!
Adopted.com is a powerful adoption reunion registry designed to help you reconnect with your birth parents. By registering, you gain access to a growing database of over 1,205,526 profiles, increasing your chances of finding your biological relatives. The platform respects your privacy and allows you to update your profile anytime.
Registration is free, and the unique search tool ensures measurable match results. When you find your birth parents, remember to approach the reunion with an open heart and understanding, as it can be an emotionally significant experience for everyone involved.
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A Few of Our Members Currently Searching Within Maryland Who Chose To Be Featured
1591. Maverick127 : My older brother was given up for adoption by my mother and his father approximately a year after his birth. His name at that time was Don Russel Anthony. Hoping i can find him
1592. DestineyRoseMartinez : Looking for a sibling who is searching for me. I am Destiney Rose Martinez Fisher who was born in Iowa City Iowa. My mom is Rachel Fisher and dad is Gonzalo Martinez.
1593. Member072706030306 : Baltimore Maryland Union Memorial Hospital
1594. Angelaxr7 : My brother was born on 7/2/1976 and was taken from my mom on 7/3/1976 as part of a black-market adoption ring common during that era in San Francisco‚ CA. The baby was taken from my 14 year old mom as she was a runaway at the time. She was released from the University of California San Francisco Hospital (San Francisco County). My mom was initially allowed to see the baby (left unattended in a portable crib by her hospital bed). The next morning‚ a hospital employee informed her that her baby had died. They would not allow her to see her baby again‚ and when she asked about the burial‚ the nurse told her it was against the rules and that her child would instead be buried in mass grave. They had her sign some form resembling a "contract" that she didn’t understand. A few years ago‚ I happened to cross paths with a retired RN who happened to work in the SF area during those years with her husband who was a physician. She was quite familiar with‚ and apologetic for‚ the unfortunate practice of black-market adoptions at those hospitals‚ during that era. She was a wealth of information and informed me that we are possibly looking for a child with a birth certificate filed within a few days of 7/2/76 with the generic name "Baby Boy" on the birth certificate. The retired RN I spoke with mentioned that the hospital staff would not have filed a false death certificate for these types of situations due to the legal implications of filing a false death record. On May 27‚ 2022 - We confirmed with the vital records office in San Francisco that there is a certificate of live birth but no death record exists for my brother which confirms he did not die in the hospital on July 3‚ 1976 and that the hospital indeed lied.
1595. Lisa71291 : I was born at Union Memorial and adopted through Catholic Charities in Baltimore. The info. Is type written and could include errors. I was in foster care for several months.
1596. Aquarianeyed : At birth the adoption agency named him Matthew Lucas. The agency was called the Gentle Shepherd‚ located in Kansas City Missouri. The hospital was St.Lukes.
1597. Robinreynolds : Child was given up by my mother who has died. She was either in Pennsylvania or Maryland at the time. It was 1966 or 67. We believe they would be of mixed race. Mothers name was Nancy LaRuth Hethcox Reynolds. She and our father were divorced at the time.
1598. JanetAnnAdams : Looking for my half brother. Born as James Adams I believe. I hear he was adopted and possibly moved out to the mid west from the east coast. My fathers Name is Roger Adams. I do not know my half brothers mothers name
1599. FrancescaAniWaYa : I am in search of self‚ cultural history‚ medical history and also connecting with my paternal family members if the feeling is mutual. I have searched for a decade for my birthmother and decades now‚ for my birthfather. I don’t want to disrupt lives nor conjure up negative memories for my step-mothers‚ but I do want knowledge of where I come from‚ what kind of man my father was and my medical and cultural history if a deeper connection is not desired. I welcome sisters‚ brothers‚ aunts‚ uncles‚ grandparents and extensions thereof. I am a very loving and accepting person and would be grateful and appreciative of anyone kind enough to help me with this very important and much-needed endeavor. FATHER: Lance James Walden‚ Sr. (deceased) of Port Angeles‚ Washington and Columbia Falls/Kalispell‚ Montana SIBLINGS: Lance J. Walden‚ Jr. (deceased) Andrea Walden (WA)‚ Stephanie Walden (WA) Sean Walden(IN) COUSIN: Darla Marshall (possibly deceased) GRANDMOTHER: Lorraine E. Harrison Blackmer Purdy GRANDFATHER: George Edword (yes‚ EdwOrd) Walden POSSIBLE ASSOCIATED FAMILIES: DeLapp‚ Thompson‚ DeVinaspre‚ Wallon‚ Blackmer‚ Harrison‚ Hubbard‚ Lineback‚ Aylesworth‚ Woodruff
1600. Nellielcrigger : I was born in Baltimore city and adopted through Baltimore county. My birth name was Elizabeth Jones.Born in July of 1997. I have an older sister that I know if that lived with my maternal grandmother in Shrewberry pa.
1601. Leesed : I was born in Washington DC and adopted from Maryland Childrens Aid Society. I believe either my birth mother or biological father may have ties to the military
1602. GregMK9 : I am looking for my niece‚ Jessica Lynn Williams. Her mother was Theresa Lynn Williams. Her father was Brian Wayne Abbott. She was born in Baltimore‚ Md. she was taken from my sister by the state because she lied about to the Dr about how Jessica broke her arm in order to keep her then boyfriend from getting in trouble. My sister was a drug addict and didn’t do the things she needed to do to get Jessica back. Theresa passed of a drug overdose. As a result‚ Jessica was adopted by her foster parents. The foster parents chose to not let anyone else have contact with Jessica.
1603. Ajanderson14 : I was adopted in June and still currently live in Maryland. I don’t have much more information than that.
1604. Yvettem259 : Mothers name Is Mary. She went by Elizabeth or Betty.
1605. Yvettem259 : Baltimore my mother was 19 and had a boy and gave him up for adoption. He was adopted by a family at their church. I am unsure of the church name. My mother was Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Faber and she had two younger siblings at the time. Her half sister is Yvonne cuppett dove who still lives in Baltimore.
