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Is My State An Open Or Closed Record State?

Often we run into problems while searching. Especially if the state in question is a closed record state. What is the difference between an open record and a closed record state? Easy really.

An open record state means that anyone involved in the triad may request the information in the file.

A closed record state means that the state closed its adoption records to public inspection.

Here is a quick list of who’s open and who’s closed:

Alabama – OPEN

Alaska – OPEN

Arizona – CLOSED, Year – Unknown

Arkansas – CLOSED, Year – 1935

California – CLOSED, Year – 1935

Colorado – CLOSED, Year – 1942

Connecticut – CLOSED, Year – 1974

Delaware – CLOSED, Year – 1913

District of Columbia – CLOSED, Year – 1935

Florida – CLOSED, Year – 1930’s

Georgia – CLOSED, Year – 1935

Hawaii – CLOSED, Year – 1945 – Limited Access in effect 1/1/91

Idaho – CLOSED, Year – Unknown

Illinois – CLOSED, Year – 1945

Indiana – CLOSED, Year – 1941

Iowa – CLOSED, Year – 1945

Kansas – OPEN

Kentucky – CLOSED, Year – 1940 (if finalized prior to 1940 case records are available)

Louisiana – CLOSED, Year – 1977

Maine – CLOSED, Year – 1953, Before Aug.8, 1953 records available at Probate Court

Maryland – CLOSED, Year – 1948, Before July 1, 1947 records are open and available from the state archives

Massachusetts – CLOSED, Year – 1972

Michigan – CLOSED, Year – 1925

Minnesota – CLOSED, Year – 1941

Mississippi – CLOSED, Year – unknown

Missouri – CLOSED, Year – 1917

Montana – CLOSED, Year – 1973

Nebraska – CLOSED, Year – 1941

Nevada – CLOSED, Year – Unknown

New Hampshire – CLOSED, Year – 1938

New Jersey – CLOSED, Year – 1941, Prior to 1941 records are open

New Mexico – CLOSED, Year – 1950

New York – CLOSED, Year – 1938

North Carolina – CLOSED, Year – 1938

North Dakota – CLOSED, Year – Unknown

Ohio – CLOSED, Year – 1964

Oklahoma – CLOSED, Year – 1953

Oregon – CLOSED, Year – 1957

Pennsylvania – CLOSED, Year – Unknown

Rhode Island – CLOSED, Year – 1930

South Carolina – CLOSED, Year – 1963

South Dakota – CLOSED, Year – Unknown

Tennessee – CLOSED, Year – 1950

Texas – CLOSED, Year – 1935

Utah – CLOSED, Year – Always

Vermont – CLOSED, Year – 1946

Virginia – CLOSED, Year – unknown

Washington – CLOSED, Year – 1953

West Virginia – CLOSED, Year – unknown

Wisconsin – CLOSED, Year – 1929

Wyoming – CLOSED, Year – unknown