Adoption Records in MO

[Grandma B]

My brother-in-law was born in St. Louis County, MO. Never had a birth certificate. Following his mother's death when he was in his forties, he was advised by an elderly aunt that he had been adopted as an infant. He knows his birth name, but not much else.

Problem: He and his wife are planning a cruise (only about a month from now) and he needs either a birth certificate or adoption records of some sort.

He talked to the vital statistics office and was told that he would have to come there in person (he lives in Florida), but didn't guarantee he would receive anything. I checked the Department of Health site for MO, and it tells how to order birth certificates--nothing about adoptions.

He doesn't want to pry into the adoption records. He just needs a piece of paper so he can go on the cruise (and not lose the money already spent on it).

Appreciate any help.

[Edited by Grandma B on 02-22-2001 at 08:12 PM]

 

[lawrat]

I am a law school graduate. What I offer is mere information, not to be construed as forming an attorney client relationship.

Never had a passport?

Okay, well,
Clerk to certify decree for vital statistics record--contents.
453.100. After the entry of the decree of adoption, the clerk of the court shall immediately send to the department of health a certificate of the decree of adoption, which shall set forth the original name, the new name, sex, date and place of birth of the person adopted, the name of his natural parents, if known, the names of the adopting parents, and any other pertinent facts set forth in the decree of adoption on forms prescribed and furnished by the state registrar pursuant to section 193.125, RSMo.






MISSOURI

Non-identifying information may be revealed by the agency or the court
upon written request by adoptive parents, or adopted adult.
Missouri law provides that adult adoptees (age 21) may petition the court
to receive information about their birth parent(s). If the adoption was
instituted prior to August 13, 1986, the court must order court personnel or a
child placing agency to contact the adoptee's adoptive parents. The court
personnel or agency may not contact the birth parent(s) without the written
permission of the adoptive parents. If the adoptive parents provide such
permission, the agency or court personnel must attempt to contact the birth
parent(s). Court personnel have three months to conduct such a search.
If a birth parent is contacted, he or she may file a consent to the
release of identifying information. If a consent is not filed or the agency
or court personnel are unable to notify the birth parent, information may not
be released. For adoptions that took place after August 13, 1986, the
permission of the adoptive parents is unnecessary. Identifying information
regarding adult biological siblings of adult adoptees may be released by a
court if it is found that such information is necessary for urgent health
related purposes or if consent is provided by the adult biological sibling.

Mo. Rev. Stat. 453.131.

What you may need is a certification by the court that no records exist and maybe certify via school records or something (social security number, etc).


http://www.attorneypages.com (an attorney in family law practicing in Missouri might be able to help get the certification you need).

 

[Grandma B]

See, that's the problem. All the laws are written protecting the natural parents when a child tries to discover his/her identity. His mother died many years ago and the father was "unknown" so there's no way to get assistance there.

I had found the sites with the information you provided, but there is nothing written about simply obtaining any kind of paper certifying your birth/adoption. He isn't trying to invade anyone's privacy or delve into the past.

I very much appreciate your taking time to research.

[Edited by Grandma B on 02-23-2001 at 10:17 AM]