How do I get my adoption records?
Adult adoptees, adults formerly in foster care, and others can see certain information in their adoption files.
Here’s a summary of what you can learn or provide:
- Adoptive parents, adult adoptees, and adults formerly in foster care through the Department of Children and Families: You can get non-identifying and medical information. This includes the social, religious, ethnic, educational, and employment history of the biological parents and the circumstances of the birth and adoption.
- Birth parents can update their medical history information contained in their child’s adoption file.
- Birth parents can choose to give identifying information.
- Adult adoptees, adults formerly in foster care, birth parents, and birth relatives: You can search for birth family members who are 18 and older through the agency that completed the adoption or the termination of their parental rights.
See Connecticut General Statutes §§ 45a-743 through 45a-757 for details.
Request information:
- DCF-338 – Medical Information on Genetic Parents (PDF)
- DCF-3060 – Adult Adoptee Request for Information (PDF)
- DCF-3061 – Contact Preference and Reunion Registry Form for Genetic Parents (PDF)
- DCF-3062 – Request for Adoption Search and Reunion Registry (PDF): Complete this form if you want to be contacted.
- How to get a copy of your birth certificate
Find out which agency handled your adoption:
For adoptions completed since 1944 contact the Department of Children and Families (DCF):
Phone: 860-990-5135
Email: nicole.russo@ct.gov
Mail: DCF Search Unit, 505 Hudson St, Hartford, CT 06106
For adoptions before 1944 contact the Probate Court involved in the adoption. Visit the Probate Courts directory.
If you currently live outside of Connecticut:
You can get information through the mail by sending DCF a notarized letter confirming your identity.