Delaware Adoption Laws

Adoption Laws in Delaware

How to access adoption records?

• Obtain non identifying information:

  Non-identifying information is available to adopted adults, adoptive parents as well as the birth parents.

• Obtain identifying information:

  Identifying information may be released with the consent of all the parties involved at the time when it was deemed by the agency to be in the adopted adult's best interest or by court order.

  The agency may search for the other parties to inform them of the report, if there is a medical report that the birth parents, adopted adult or birth siblings have a family pattern of disease or genetically transmitted disorder.

  An adopted adult of the age 21 or more than that who have a copy of his/her original birth certificate and if his/her birth parents are deceased, may request to the licensed adoption agency for helping him/her to locate the birth parents, birth siblings, or any of the siblings of the birth parents.

• Obtain an original birth certificate:

  An adopted adult of age 21 or more than that may obtain his/her original birth certificate, if, within the last 3 years, the his/her birth parents have not filed the written consent statement denying the release of identifying information with the Department of Health and Social Services Office of Vital Statistics.

Advertising used and facilitators in adoptive placements

• Advertisement used : Statute: Title 13, - § 930
  • The department or licensed agency only can advertise regarding for the placement of a child for the purpose of adoption or the availability of adoption services in this state.

• Intermediaries or facilitators use : Statute: Title 13, - §- § 904; 906
  • All petitions for adoption may be attached with an affidavit attesting that no intermediary assisted in locating the child.
  • No placement approved for an identified adoption in which an intermediary has been involved.