§ 48-23-101 — Policy regarding persons obtaining identifying information after adoption

West Virginia § 48-23-101

• Jurisdiction: West Virginia
• Ch. 48: DOMESTIC RELATIONS
• Art. 23: VOLUNTARY ADOPTION REGISTRY

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(a) Adoption is based upon the legal termination of parental rights and responsibilities of birth parents and the creation of the legal relationship of parent and child between an adoptee and his or her adoptive parents. These legal and social premises underlying adoption must be maintained. The Legislature recognizes that some adults who were adopted as children have a strong desire to obtain identifying information about their birth parents while other such adult adoptees have no such desire. The Legislature further recognizes that some birth parents have a strong desire to obtain identifying information about their biological children who were surrendered for adoption, while other birth parents have no such desire.

(b) The Legislature fully recognizes the right to privacy and confidentiality of:

(1) Birth parents whose children were adopted;

(2) The adoptees; and

(3) The adoptive parents.

Legislative History

2002 Reg. Sess., SB732; 2001 Reg. Sess., HB2199