§ 2933 — Identifying information

Pennsylvania § 2933

• Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
• Title 23: DOMESTIC RELATIONS
• Part: PART III
• Ch. 29: DECREES AND RECORDS
• Subch.: RELEASE OF INFORMATION

Text

(a) Notice of availability of records.--The court or agency shall, within 120 days of receiving a written request for identifying information or contact, do all of the following:

(1) Determine whether it has in its possession any records relating to the adoptee.

(2) Conduct a good faith search for identifying information, which search shall be commenced within 120 days. The search for information shall only be conducted by an authorized representative appointed by:

(i) the court in which the adoption was finalized;

(ii) the agency that coordinated the adoption;

(iii) a successor, by merger or acquisition, of the agency that coordinated the adoption; or

(iv) if neither the agency nor a successor exists, by an agency authorized by the court.

The authorized representative shall review the court and agency record for identifying information regarding the birth or adoptive family and shall determine whether an authorization form has been filed with the court or agency.

(3) Notify any other court or agency listed in its records of the existence of the request for identifying information.

(4) Ask any other court or agency listed in its records to advise if an authorization form has been filed.

(5) Contact the information registry established under Subchapter C (relating to information registry), advise the registry of the request for identifying information and ask whether an authorization form has been filed.

(6) Notify the requesting individual of its findings pursuant to this subsection.

(b) No authorization form.--If an applicable authorization form is not located, all of the following apply:

(1) The authorized representative shall use reasonable efforts to locate the subject of the search.

(2) If the subject of the search is located, the authorized representative shall obtain written authorization from the subject before any identifying information is released or contact between the parties is made.

(3) If the requester is an adoptee seeking the identity of a birth parent, the identity of a deceased birth parent may be disclosed.

(4) If the requester is an adoptee seeking the identity of both birth parents and only one birth parent agrees to the disclosure, only the information relating to that birth parent shall be disclosed.

(c) Withdrawal of authorization form.--An individual may withdraw the individual's authorization form at any time.