Iowa Adoption Laws

Adoption Laws in Iowa

How to access adoption records?

• About the access to adoption records:

  It is a sealed data and opened by court only.

• Obtaining the non identifying information:

  Any one from the adopted adults as well as the natural parents can get the no identifying information of a adoptee.

• Obtaining the identifying information:

  It is possible to get the information about the natural parents or natural siblings of an adoptee by the adoptee himself or herself, but only if the he or she filed consent for releasing it.

  For any legal aspect refer website: http://www.legis.state.ia.us/IACODE/2001/600/16A.html

• Use of the adoption registry:

  It is possible to register information by the followings:

  1. Adoptee of age 18 years or more and Iowa born
  2. Natural parent(s) of child born in the state of Iowa and of age 18 and adopted
  3. Adoptee's any natural siblings of age 18 years or more
  4. Any one can register with the fees of $25 and notarized application alongwith the copy of their birth certificate.

  Contact : Iowa Department of Public Health
  Bureau of Vital Records
  Adoption Registry Program
  Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor
  Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
  (515) 281-6263

• Obtain an original birth certificate:

  It is necessary to petition the court where the adoption was preceded and finalized by the adoptee himself or herself.

Advertising used and facilitators in adoptive placements

• Advertisement used : Statute: Title 13, - § 930

  • It is not addressed in statutes reviewed in Iowa.

• Intermediaries or facilitators use : Statute: - § 4-1405(a)

  • It is not addressed in statutes reviewed in Iowa.