New Jersey Adoption Laws

Adoption Laws in New Jersey

Adoption Records Access

• Non-Identifying Information: To obtain non identifying information, a person must be of 18 years of age or older. Birth parents, adopted adults, adoptive parents of minor adoptee etc., all can obtain the non identifying information through adoptive registry.

• Identifying Information : Identifying information can be obtained through the adoption registry.

• Adoption Registry :
  The people who may use the adoption registry are listed below:
  • Adopted adults
  • Birth parents
  • Adoptive parents of a minor adopted adult
    If adopted adult or a minor adoptee (with the permission from their adoptive parents) requests the information about birth parents or relatives, then the adoptive registry will find out the information of them who have not registered.

• Contact :
  New Jersey Department of Human Services
  (for public agency adoptions only)
  Division of Youth and Family Services
  Adoption Registry Coordinator
  PO Box 717
  Trenton, NJ 08625
  (609) 984-6800
  (609) 292-8816

• Birth Certificate (Original): To obtain certificate, an adoptee must requests the court in which the adoption was finalized.

Consents

• Consent to an adoption shall be done by:
  Statute: - § 9:3-41
  • The parents of the child
  • The legal guardian of the child
  • Any legal child-placing agency

• Age Requirement for consideration of Adoptee Consent :
  Statute: - § 9:3-49
  • A child of ten years old or older needs to attend the final adoption hearing.

• When Consent is not required :
  Statute: - § 9:3-45; 9:3-46
  • If the parents loses the parental rights
  • When parents could not support or communicate the child
  • If the parents has executed the legal or valid relinquishment
  • After getting notice, if they does not file written objection to an adoption within twenty days, then consent is not required.

• Parental Consent can be executed :
  Statute: - § 9:3-41(e)
  • An alleged father is allowed to execute the consent at any time (before and after the birth of child).
  • At least 72 hours are required after the birth of child to execute the consent.

• Consent Revocation :
  Statute: - § 9:3-41(a)
  • Consent must be irrevocable
  • Relinquished to any legal agency