Janet,
Unfortunately D.C. is not open. And impersonating your child would be difficult unless you know her adopted name. Were you given a copy of her original BC when she was born? There would be a BC number on it that reamins the same with the amended version. I'm unclear which version of the BC you are wanting. The original is now sealed, from everyone. The amended is a matter of public record, but you will need to know the current name, date of birth, and possibly the county. Information below should be verified by calling the agencies involved before acting, Read below:
Overview of Washington, D.C. Adoption Information
Confidential Intermediaries must conduct the search.
Records are not publicly available.
§ 16-311. Sealing and inspection of records and papers.
From and after the filing of the petition, records and papers in adoption proceedings shall be sealed. They may not be inspected by any person, including the parties to the proceeding, except upon order of the court, and only then when the court is satisfied that the welfare of the child will thereby be promoted or protected. The clerk of the court shall keep a separate docket for adoption proceedings.
(Dec. 23, 1963, 77 Stat. 541, Pub. L. 88-241, § 1; 1973 Ed., § 16-311.)
§ 16-314. Birth certificates.
(a) 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.
(Dec. 23, 1963, 77 Stat. 541, Pub. L. 88-241, § 1; July 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 555, Pub. L. 91-358, title I, § 145(a)(2); 1973 Ed., § 16-314; Oct. 8, 1981, D.C. Law 4-34, § 29(f), 28 DCR 3271; Apr. 30, 1988, D.C. Law 7-104, § 4(e), 35 DCR 147; May 21, 1992, D.C. Law 9-101, § 2, 39 DCR 2146.)
Washington, D.C. Dept. of Vital Statistics
Vital Records Department
800 9th St. SW (9th and Maine Ave)
First Floor
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 645-5962
Make cashier's check or money order payable to DC Treasurer
Obtaining Identifying and Non-Identifying Information: There are no provisions for receiving information from files. All adoption records are sealed and cannot be opened without petitioning the court for "good cause."
ADOPTIONS FINALIZED IN WASHINGTON, DC
Adoptees, birthparents and birthfamily members may initiate a search by filing a petition (called a Motion to Break Seal) with the court that handled their adoption. You can prepare and file petition with the court. It is not necessary to hire an attorney to prepare and file the petition. Click the button below for more information.
PLEASE NOTE
If the court approves the petition, it will then direct the agency that handled the adoption to conduct the search. The charge for the search may be as high as $450-500.00.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR MOTION PREPARATION
(adoptions finalized on/after 9/17/56)
The samples provided in these pages may be used as a guide for filing your Motion to Break Seal at the DC Superior Court.
The Motion must be typed, double-spaced, on 8.5 x 11 inch white paper.
If you have your Adoption Case Number, please include it with your Motion. If you DO have your Adoption Case Number, there is a $20.00 court fee for filing your Motion to Break Seal. If you do NOT have your Adoption Case Number, the filing Fee is $80.00 (extra $60.00 for unsealing the file to obtain the Case Number). For adopted people, your adoption agency may be able to provide your Adoption Case Number at your request, free-of-charge. Not all agencies are allowed to provide Case Numbers. Make certified check or money order (no checks) payable to DC Superior Court.
Send Motion to:
D.C. Superior Court
500 Indiana Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
NEARBY SEARCH AND SUPPORT GROUPS FOR YOU
Adoptee-Birthparent Support Network (ABSN of the DC Metro Area)
P.O. Box 6485
Columbia MD 21045-6485
phone: 202 686-4611
email:
abowman@mail.loc.gov
(Anne Bowman)
(Serves DC, VA, & MD)
Metro Reunion Registry
6439 Woodridge Road
Alexandria, VA 22312-1336
e-mail:
ebarnes@erols.com
(Earle Barnes)
Registry for those searchiing in the Wash. DC., MD, VA area. Free. Send SASE for a registration form.
Adoption Connection Exchange
1301 Park Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21217
ENCORE
101 Church Lane (meeting address)
Baltimore, MD
or write:
R.D. #8 Box 419
York, PA 17403
e-mail:
EllenB717@aol.com
Support group for Baltimore metro area.
Adoptees-In-Search, Inc.
Joanne W. Small, Exec. Dir.
P.O. Box 41016
Bethesda, MD 20824
CUB
Box 15258
Chevy Chase, MD 20825
CUB
Marjorie Koch
P.O. Box 151
Mount Airy, MD 21777
Lost Or Found
7290 Shirley Dr.
Easton, MD 21601
Searchlight, Inc.
P.O. Box 441
Glen Dale, MD 20769
Adult Adoptees In Search
P.O. Box 203
Ferrum, VA 24088-0203
Adoptees & Natural Parents Org.
949 Lacon Drive
Newport News, VA 23602
Adoptees Support
8630 Granby Street
Norfolk, VA 23503
Parents & Adoptees in Search
Barbara Leonard
3932 Durette Drive
Richmond, VA 23237
Parents & Adoptees Together
7608 Hillside Avenue
Richmond, VA 23229
Adopted Bikers ASSN
P.O. Box 36317
Richmond, VA 23236-6317
Good Luck,
Ray Buffer
Keep Hope Alive,
..............................…Ray Buffer
Ray was born September 2, 1969 in West Palm Beach, FL (
http://adoptee.cjb.net) and is the Moderator of Adoptee Activists on Yahoo at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adopteeactivists
This Petition deserves your support:
http://originalbirthcertificate.cjb.net
OVER *4,900* SIGNATURES AND COUNTING!
What's this petition about? Got to:
http://civilrights.cjb.net
Download our paper petition by clicking:
http://www.change.to/paper
The Adoptees' Caucus for Truth:
http://www.caucus.cjb.net
A New Florida Registry:
http://www.reunited.cjb.net
Have an Adoption Reform Website? Join this Web Ring:
http://start.at/way
Ray's Professional Site:
http://raybuffer.com
STAND UP FOR AN INVISIBLE MINORITY! YOU HAVE THE POWER TO RESTORE ADOPTEES' RIGHTS!