COLUMBUS, Ohio – Thousands of Ohioans who were adopted between the years 1964 and 1996 can now look at their records, thanks to law signed by Gov. John Kasich a little more than a year ago.
Records are available at the Ohio Department of Health.
March 20 was be the first day that adoptees who are at least 18 years old, or their children and grandchildren, may request the adoptee’s adoption records, which usually contains the original birth certificate and may also include biological parent release forms or biological sibling release forms.
Gov. John Kasich signed a measure in December 2013 that modified state law governing records of adoptions that were finalized between Jan. 1, 1964, and Sept. 18, 1996.
Records of adoptions that occurred before Jan. 1, 1964, are open to adoptees born in Ohio, with proper identification, and to lineal descendants with proof of identity and genetic linkage.
Records for adoptions after Sept. 18, 1996, are open to adoptive parents when the adopted person is between 18-21 years of age and to the adoptee at the age of 21 or older, according to the department’s website.