12/11/10

Preliminary Summary of Proposed Changes to
Connecticut’s Adoption Law and Vital Statistics Statutes

1) Law would allow only an adult adoptee born in the state of Connecticut, 18 years of age or
older to get a copy of their original birth certificate. A right that all Americans enjoy today.
• An adoptee will fill out a Pre-Adoption Birth Record Order Form
(See sample form at http://www.sos.nh.gov/vitalrecords/Publications/certificate_app.pdf)

2) The law provides birth parents the right to express their desire for contact with their
biological child by means of a contact preference form (see provided sample form). This form
will help prevent unwanted contact by allowing parents to indicate the following options for
contact: (Sample www.sos.nh.gov/vitalrecords/Publications/Contact%20Preference%20Form.pdf)
• I would like to be contacted;
• I would prefer to be contacted only through an intermediary; or
• I prefer not to be contacted at this time. If birth parent indicates no contact preference they
may complete a Birth Parent Updated Medical History form.
(See sample form at www.sos.nh.gov/vitalrecords/Publications/Medical%20History.pdf)

Adoptee will still receive the original birth certificate even if the birthparent requesst no contact.

3) Bill would become law 6-12 months after passage which will allow for:
• The Vital records office time to create forms and procedures that should help them
implement the new legislation into their policies seamlessly as did the New Hampshire and
Maine Vital Records Offices.
• Wide spread media coverage of the bills passing.
Including Television, Radio, Newspapers, Agencies, National Media, Child Welfare
League of America
• Will allow birthparents time to send in their contact preference forms indicating their
preference for contact, prior to the issuing of OBC’s to adoptees.

4) A Birthparent can change their preference for contact at any time by submitting an updated
contact preference form.

5) Does not allow adoptee access to other documents including:
• Counseling notes from work with birthmother
• Discussions related to relationships
• Terminated pregnancies
• Court records of adoption hearing

6) This change in legislation will provide a mechanism for birthparents to express their
desire for contact where one does not exist today.