Are Adoption Records Accessible?
Due to the changes in the Ohio laws over the years the accessibility of adoption records depends upon the date of finalization of the adoption. Upon written request and payment of a fee, persons adopted prior to 1964 may obtain a copy of their adoption records on file with the State of Ohio, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. Adoption records for persons adopted between 1964 and September 18, 1996 on file with the State of Ohio, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics and this Court are closed. Identifying information will be released to an adopted person only if the biological parent(s) or an adult sibling has signed a Release of Information on a form prescribed by the Bureau of Vital Statistics. The adopted person seeking identifying information must file a petition in the appropriate Probate Court along with the filing fee. For adoptions occurring after September 18, 1996, a person age 21 or older or the adoptive parent of an adopted person over the age of 18
