TITLE 15

Domestic Relations

CHAPTER 15-7.2

Passive Voluntary Adoption Mutual Consent Registry Act

SECTION 15-7.2-2



   § 15-7.2-2  Policy. –

It is the policy of this state that adoption is based upon the legal

termination of parental rights and responsibilities of birth parents and the

creation of the legal relationship of parents and child between an adoptee and

the adoptive parents. These legal and social premises underlying adoption must

be maintained. The state recognizes that some adults who are adopted as

children have a strong desire to obtain identifying information about their

birth parents while other adult adoptees have no such desire. The state further

recognizes that some birth parents have a strong desire to obtain identifying

information about their biological children who were adopted, while other birth

parents have no such desire. The state fully recognizes the right to privacy

and confidentiality of birth parents whose children were adopted, the adoptees,

and the adoptive parents. The purpose of this chapter is to:



   (1) Establish a passive voluntary adoption reunion registry

where birth parents, adult adoptees, and surviving relatives of deceased birth

parents and deceased adoptees as defined in this chapter may register their

willingness of the release of identifying information to each other;



   (2) Provide for the disclosure of identifying information to

birth parents and their genetic offspring through the court if a birth parent

or parents and the adult adoptee are registered;



   (3) Provide for the transmission of non-identifying health

and social and genetic history of the adult adoptees, birth parents, and other

specified persons; and



   (4) Provide a mechanism in the court to inform registrants of

the functions and procedures of the registry at the time of registration.



History of Section.

(P.L. 1993, ch. 388, § 1.)