Title 23, DOMESTIC RELATIONS

2010 Repeal. Section 2905 was repealed October 27, 2010, P.L.961, No.101, effective in 180 days.

Upon the filing of any decree under this part, the clerk shall enter on the docket an entry showing the date of the decree. Information identifying the natural parents shall not be entered on the docket.

The clerk shall issue to the adopting parent or parents a certificate reciting that the court has granted the adoption. The certificate shall not disclose the name of any natural parent or the original name of the person adopted. The certificate shall be accepted in any legal pro…

(a) Registration.--When a minor is adopted by a resident of this Commonwealth and a final decree of adoption is made or entered in conformity with the laws of a foreign country, the adopting parent shall file a properly authenticated copy of the foreign decree of adoption, a copy…

2010 Repeal. Section 2909 was repealed October 27, 2010, P.L.961, No.101, effective in 180 days.

Any officer or employee of the court, other than a judge thereof, the Department of Health, the Department of Public Welfare or any agency who willfully discloses impounded or otherwise confidential information relating to an adoption, other than as expressly authorized and provi…

The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Agency records." All information collected by an agency relating to a birth family, an adoptive family and an adopte…

An individual authorized to receive both nonidentifying information and identifying information may file a single written request under Subchapter D (relating to release of information).

Any court or agency may charge reasonable fees for services provided under this chapter.

(a) General rule.--A person or agency, including the Commonwealth and any of its governmental subdivisions, that participates in good faith in providing services under this chapter has immunity from civil liability that may otherwise result by reason of an action or a failure to …

(a) General rule.--All court and agency records shall be maintained as a permanent record and withheld from inspection except as provided under this chapter. (b) Who may access court or agency records.--Only the following are authorized to access court or agency records for the p…

An attorney representing a party to an adoption proceeding or acting as counsel or guardian ad litem for a child in a proceeding under this part may forward records and information relating to the child, the child's birth family and the adoptive family to the court which finalize…

The department shall do all of the following: (1) Establish a Statewide confidential registry for the receipt, filing and retention of medical and social history information and authorization forms for all adoptions finalized or registered in this Commonwealth. (2) Prescribe and …

The department shall publicize the availability of the registry and the manner in which information may be filed with and obtained from the registry.

An adoptee, an adoptive parent and a birth parent may at any time file and update medical and social history information with the registry on a form developed by the department.

The following individuals may request information from the registry: (1) An adoptee who is at least 18 years of age. (2) An adoptive parent of an adoptee who is under 18 years of age, adjudicated incapacitated or deceased. (3) A legal guardian of an adoptee who is under 18 years …

(a) Nonidentifying information.--Nonidentifying information, if available, shall be provided to the requester within 30 days of the request. (b) Identifying information.-- (1) If an authorization form is on file, the department shall notify the requester within 30 days of the req…

The department shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this subchapter. The department may request, but shall not require, an agency to submit medical and social history information for adoptions finalized or registered in this Commonwealth prior to the effe…

(a) Who may access information.--The following individuals may file a written request for nonidentifying information or identifying information or contact with the court which finalized the adoption, the agency which coordinated the adoption or a successor agency: (1) An adoptee …

(a) Notice of receipt of request.--When the court or agency receives a written request for nonidentifying information, it shall, within 30 days, notify the individual requesting the information of its receipt of the request. (b) Furnishing nonidentifying information.--The court o…

(a) Notice of availability of records.--The court or agency shall, within 120 days of receiving a written request for identifying information or contact, do all of the following: (1) Determine whether it has in its possession any records relating to the adoptee. (2) Conduct a goo…

(a) Filing places.--A statement regarding medical and social history information may be filed with the following: (1) The court that terminated parental rights. (2) The court that finalized the adoption. (3) The agency that coordinated the adoption. (4) The information registry e…

(a) General rule.--In conducting a search, the court or agency shall ensure that no individual, other than a birth parent, is informed of the adoptee's existence and relationship to the birth parent of the adoptee. (b) When inquiry not mandatory.--An authorized representative of …

(a) Agency.-- (1) If an agency is satisfied that a request could cause physical or emotional harm to the requesting individual or others, the agency may decline to conduct a search to determine whether an individual will authorize the disclosure of identifying information or cont…

(a) General rule.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an adoptee who is at least 18 years of age and who has graduated from high school, completed a General Educational Development program or has legally withdrawn from secondary schooling or, if the adoptee is deceased, …

The department shall promulgate rules and regulations implementing a standardized training program for court-appointed and agency-appointed authorized representatives conducting searches under this subchapter.