Requesting an adoption disclosure in Manassas, Virginia, is not as easy as 1-2-3. It requires you to gather information and have knowledge about the several steps involved in the process. One way is to contact the adoption placement agency, and second, ask for assistance from an adoption attorney at The Irving Law Firm. They know by heart the Virginia adoption laws and the processes involved in adoption disclosure. You can talk to them about your expectations, and they will tell you about your options.
What Is An Adoption Disclosure?
Adoption Disclosure means the official release of data from a confidential adoption record about a child’s legal adoption. Under the conditions stipulated in Virginia Code Sections 63.2-1246 and 63.2-1247, an adult adoptee, adoptive parent, biological parent, and adult biological sibling may obtain identifying and non-identifying details from the adoption record.
Types Of Adoption Disclosure
Identifying and non-identifying adoption disclosures refer to the various degrees of information given to relevant parties in an adoption.
Identifying Adoption Disclosure
The revelation of information that may identify the adoptee, biological family, or adoptive family is known as identifying adoption disclosure. It may include names, contact details, birth dates, and other identifiable information. Records are shared among adoptive parents, biological parents, or adoptees and their biological families. Identifying adoption disclosure is common in open adoptions or when both parties agree to disclose information.
Non-Identifying Adoption Disclosure
Non-identifying adoption disclosure is the sharing of data that does not expose the names of the persons involved. It may hold data about the child’s medical records, biological parents’ backgrounds, or any information that may help the adoptive parents know the child’s needs. Non-identifying adoption disclosure is common in closed adoptions when the adoptive and biological families have little to no contact.
The Process Of Adoption Disclosure
More adoptive and biological parents are opting to exchange information and keep in touch with one another in recent years, signaling a trend toward more open adoption.
The first step is to submit a request to the adoption placement agency that arranged the adoption if an adopted person wishes to know more about their birth family and history. The agency may disclose information, such as their identification, birth date, and birth parents’ names. After this, the agency tries to identify the biological or adoptive parents and discuss whether they are open to sharing information or communicating with the adoptee. If they agree, the agency initiates the flow of information and communication.
If it is impossible to find the biological or adoptive parents, or they are unwilling to provide information or communicate, the adoptee is given non-identifying information. The only information the adoption placement agency may share is the family and medical history but not their birth parents’ names or contact details.
How An Adoption Can Attorney Help In An Adoption Disclosure
An adoption attorney at The Irving Law Firm can help in adoption disclosure by assisting adoptive parents or adopted individuals through the legal steps involved in getting details about their birth parents. An adoption attorney can assist you in the following ways:
Provide Knowledge
Adoption attorneys know the laws of adoption and disclosure. They can educate adoptive parents or adopted individuals on their legal duties and rights and ensure they follow the necessary legal procedures when requesting information.
Assist In Documentation
An adoption attorney can assist you in preparing and filing the appropriate legal paperwork, such as requests and affidavits, needed for the disclosure process. They may also assist in ensuring all relevant information is contained in these documents to optimize success possibilities.
Deal With Relevant Parties
An adoption attorney is a go-between between the adopted person or adoptive parents and the birth parents, speaking on their behalf and enabling communication if requested.
Negotiator & Mediator
If arguments or conflicts surrounding the disclosure process arise, an adoption attorney can serve as a mediator to assist both parties in reaching a mutually acceptable settlement.
Protector Of Rights
An adoption attorney can defend the legal rights of parties involved in the disclosure process, such as the biological family, adoptive parents, or the adopted person. They can guarantee that all parties are dealt with fairly and that their feelings are always respected.
Summary
Adoption disclosure refers to the official release of information concerning a child’s legal adoption from a protected adoption record. The adoption record can provide identifying and non-identifying information to an adoptive parent, adult adoptee, or birth family.
Adoption disclosure may be challenging and stressful, but it can also offer adoptees relevant knowledge about their family’s background and biological family. If you need more clarification about the process, you may hire an adoption attorney at The Irving Law Firm to help you. Let them talk to the adoption placement agency and wait for them to update you.