In the District of Columbia, access to information in confidential adoption records is available by court order only.

Confidential Intermediaries must conduct the search.
Records are not publicly available.

Birth certificates.
 Upon the issuance of a final decree of adoption, an adoption form shall be sent to the Registrar pursuant to the Vital Records Act of 1981. Unless otherwise requested in the petition by the adopters, the Registrar shall cause to be made a new record of the birth in the new name with the names of the adopters and shall then cause the original birth certificate and the order of the Court to be sealed and filed. The sealed package may be opened only by order of the Court or by the Registrar to properly administer the Vital Records Act of 1981.

District of Columbia Links

Washington DC Adoption Laws

Government Page

Washington, D.C. On Line

Local Resources by State

• Courts
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Court decisions
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

• Congressional Delegation
  • U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton
• Miscellaneous
  • The Washington D.C. Regional Legal Directory
  • Law Librarians Society of Washington D.C.
  • District of Columbia Law Firms and Listservs
  • Internet Law Library Information on the District of Columbia