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 1,205,528 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
316. Oppy : I have approximately 8-9 biological brothers and sisters all born before me. After I was born I was put into foster care at two months old BC as far as I’ve been told my mother was either unfit or just unable to take care of the amount of kids she had. All I’ve ever known is the family I’m in now BC my foster parents adopted me. I honestly never had hey desire two find my biological parents but once I found out about all my siblings I have always been pretty curious about that. It has been more on my mind the last 10 years because I had a son in 2007 and I was unable to provide any medical history so it took me this long to finally try and reach out and hopefully find at least one brother or sister who may still live in Maryland that could maybe just give me a little more information. I live in Virginia currently so I am still less than an hour away from where I grew up in Maryland. If there is anybody out there with a similar story from around Charles County area Maryland who was born before 1984 please get in contact with me. I don’t know if my biological mother had more children after me but the last I heard I was the youngest out of nine siblings maybe I was 10th so that’s a lot of brothers and sisters out there that I really love to talk to at this point my life
317. ChrisO93 : My ex threatened me when she told me that she was going to be giving birth, so I’ve been to afraid to try and get in contact with my long lost daughter. Please, help me find my little girl, I just want to know her, maybe meet her while she’s still a toddler, and have that chance to hold her while she’s still small. And if her adopted family allows it, keep in contact with her so she can know her birth daddy. My ex’s name may not be on the birth certificate, as mine is not for sure, but her name was Sadie Carpentier at the time of the birth.
318. JeffandSarahB : I am trying to help my husband find his birth parents. We unfortunately do not have any information other than he was born in Baltimore, MD and when he was adopted January 1984. His biological mother was 16 when he was born.
319. JeffandSarahB : I am helping my husband Jeff with trying to find any possible family. He was born 11/20/1983 in Baltimore, MD. His biological mother was 16? And he was adopted sometime in January 1984.
320. Sharde : Victoria Athas 09/28/2001
321. Mkirk : I was born April 15, 1977 at the calvert county hospital in Prince Frederick MD I was named Tammy Cameron (not sure if it was biological parents or the state who named me)
322. Jaidor3603 : I believe catholic charities of MD was the agency for my adoption. I’m trying to find my bio parents:) My birth was Feb. 1984. I was adopted from a foster home at approx. 6mos. My adopted mom was a school teacher.
323. Dapyee : I am the niece of Dorothy Smith Ashby Rock. My aunt had a female baby in the Washington DC area sometime in the early 40s (father of baby not married to her and was a sailor who was deployed in WWII at the time of birth). Aunt Dorthy gave the baby up for adoption. At that time my aunts name was Dorothy Ashby. I suspect the baby was adopted by a family in Maryland but not sure. My aunt’s last name would have been Dorothy Ashby at that time. She was from Singers Glen VA but working for the FBI in DC during the 40s.
324. Christopherklein : Baltimore,MD. Catholic Charities. Saint Vincent Frederick Henry Klein,Florence Marie Klein
325. Millerbrianc : Looking for birth parents
326. Jrhhg : I am looking for any of my birth family,I think my mother might be in Tennessee with family she was the youngest of 3 girl there was 14 years apart she had my birth brother you was born 6/21/1959 was adopted by her sister and husband then I came along in 3/5/1961 I was adopted this all happened in Baltimore,Maryland then am told she move to Tennessee was told she worked in the post office I think her name was Thelma any family out there I would like to get to know them(I had a really get adopted family parents are pass away but still have 2great brothers)please if anyone knowledge of this please email me)
327. Elisha224 : I was born Aug 31st in Baltimore, Md.
328. Kristine5693 : I am searching for my half brother born to my mother, Penelope Adora Godwin in the Leonardtown, MD area (St. Mary’s county). Her DOB is 8/11/1946. I believe he was born sometime between 1966 - 1969 and was named Chadwick Lee at birth.
329. Susielee23 : My nephew was adopted at birth. I believe he went to live with a very nice couple in Seaford, Delaware. He was born at Peninsula General Hospital in Salisbury, MD. I believe it was through the Catholic Adoption Agency. I am his Aunt Susie and have never stopped thinking about him. We are such a loving and close family but there is a piece missing. My son is just 6 months older than his cousin and would also love to meet him.
330. Mcduerkop : I was born in Silver Spring, MD January 1974. I was adopted thru a private adoption agency.
