MN HF2440

Adopted persons age 18 and older gain access to their original birth records without restriction unless a birth parent filed an affidavit of nondisclosure before this bill's effective date.

Birth parents who filed affidavits of nondisclosure before the effective date may rescind them at any time, and no new affidavits of nondisclosure may be filed after the effective date.

Adopted persons or their relatives may petition district court for access to birth records subject to existing affidavits of nondisclosure; courts must grant access if disclosure is determined to be of greater benefit than nondisclosure.

New contact preference forms allow birth parents to indicate whether they want contact with the adopted person; forms are attached to original birth records and provided when adopted persons request access.

Agencies are prohibited from obtaining affidavits of disclosure or nondisclosure from birth parents beginning with the effective date; the age requirement for adopted persons to request post-adoption services is reduced from 19 to 18 years old.