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For adoption related information and records:
California Department of Social Services
Child and Youth Permanency Branch
744 P Street, MS 3-31
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-8088

Non-Identifying Information:
Contact the adoption agency that handled the adoption for this information. If it was a private adoption, or if you do not know the name of the agency, contact the office noted above.
Adopted adults age 18 or older and adoptive parents of adoptees younger than 18 may request non-identifying information from the adoption agency or from the government department that joined in the adoption petition. If the request is denied, the party seeking information may petition the court in which the adoption was finalized. Birth parents and siblings can receive information on the status of the adoption and the adoptive parents at time of placement.

Information that an adoptee can expect to receive in their non-identifying report:

A. Age of birth parents at the time of relinquishment
B. State of birth of birth parents
C. Marital status of birth parents
D. Other siblings born before the adoptee to the birth parents
E. Physical description of birth parents
F. Ethnicity of birth parents
G. Religion of birth parents
H. Occupation of birth parents
I. Education of birth parents
J. Information about aunts, uncles and grandparents such as ages and occupations
K. Reason for relinquishment



Information that a birth parent or birth sibling can expect to receive in the non-identifying report:


A. Ages of adopting parents at the time of adoption
B. Other children in the adoptive family, biological and adopted
C. Physical description, ethnicity, occupations and education of adopting parents
D. Date of birth of relinquished child



Identifying Information: If the adoption was finalized on or after January 1, 1984, the adopted adult age 18 or older can receive information on the birth parents if the birth parents have given written consent to the disclosure. Birth parents can receive information on an adopted adult age 21 or older if the adopted adult has given written consent to disclosure. Disclosures are filed with the adoption agency or the government agency that joined in the adoption petition. Adoptive parents of a person younger than 21 can receive information on the birth parents if there is a medical necessity or other extraordinary circumstances that justify the disclosure according to the State Department of Social Services or licensed adoption agency. If the adoption was finalized before January 1, 1984, with consent of both requesting parties, the agency shall arrange contact between the birth parents and adopted adult. The agency shall release the names and addresses of birth siblings age 21 or older to one another if the birth siblings have filed consent.

California Adoption Registry: Adopted adults age 18 or older and birth parents of an adopted adult may register. Siblings age 21 or older may register to meet a sibling 21 or older who was adopted.

Contact:
California Department of Social Services
Adoption Branch
744 P Street, MS 3-31
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-8088

Providing Information: The Department or licensed agency shall release any letters, photographs, or other items of personal property in its possession to an adopted adult age 18 or older, birth parents, or adoptive parents of an adoptee under 18 upon written request. Identifying information will be deleted.

Original Birth Certificate: An adoptee must petition the court in which the adoption was finalized.







Other great websites to check out:
http://www.adoptionchat.com
http://www.adoption.com
http://www.adopting.org
http://registry.adoption.com/