The court cannot give adoption information to just anyone.  The person asking for information usually must be:

• an adoptive parent,
• a birth parent or (sometimes) a member of his or her family, or
• a person who was adopted. 

Also, if an adopted person is under 21 years old, he or she may have to get the adoptive parents’ permission.

You have to go to the court where the adoption was finalized. The court can check that you are in the right place.  Give the court the following information, as best you can:

• the adopted child’s name, either before or after the adoption;
• the child’s date of birth;
• the date of the adoption; and
• the names of the birth parents or adoptive parents

There is a process to get “nonidentifying information” from the court file.

“Nonidentifying information” is information about the birth parent or adoption that does not identify the birth parent.

Nonidentifying Information is:

• Age in years at the time of the adoption;
• Heritage, including nationality, ethnic background, and race;
• Education, including number of years of school completed at the time of adoption, but not the name or location of school;
• General physical appearance, including height, weight, color of hair, eyes, and skin, or other information of a similar nature;
• Religion;
• Occupation, but not specific titles or places of employment;
• Talents, hobbies, and special interests;
• Circumstances leading to the adoption;
• Medical and genetic history of birth parents;
• First names;
• Other children of birth parents by age, sex, and medical history;
• Extended family of birth parents by age, sex, and medical history;
• The fact of death, and age and cause, if known;
• Photographs;
• Name of agency or individual that facilitated the adoption.

 (RCW 26.33.020, RCW 26.33.340.)

Contact court administration at the Thurston County Family & Juvenile Court.  Someone there can help you.  You will need to fill out a form called “Request for Release of Non-identifying Information.” You should get it notarized. 

To get an adoption decree or another sealed document from the file, you need to show the court that there is “good cause” to give you that document.  Someone at court administration at Family & Juvenile Court can give you a form to fill out.  You should explain whether you want documents that include identifying information or not.  The court cannot give out identifying information without appointing a confidential intermediary.  But the court can let you have documents that have confidential information redacted (blacked out) to protect the identity of people involved in the adoption.

A confidential intermediary can search for a birth parent, adopted child, or adoptive parent.  If the confidential   intermediary finds the person, he or she will ask them whether they are willing to release their information.  If the person who is being search for has died, the confidential intermediary may contact his or her family members. 

(RCW 26.33.343)

Follow these steps:

1. Contact the Department of Health to find out whether the person you want to contact has said whether they want to be contacted.
2. Fill out a form to ask for a confidential intermediary.  Court administration can give you the form.
3. The court will review your papers and, if you qualify, can then give out a list of confidential intermediaries. 
4. Contact a confidential intermediary from the list to find one who is willing to work on your case.
5. The confidential intermediary will then investigate the case and will let you know how the investigation is going and when the process is complete.

In addition, the court provides the following court forms which should be filed at the Clerk's Office:

Motion and Declaration for Release of Certified Copy of Decree

Order to Release Decree

Confidential Intermediaries (RCW 26.33.343)

Noncertified copies of original birth certificate (RCW 26.33.345)

Consent or refusal to release adoptee's identifying information (RCW 26.33.347)

Washington State Adoption Information Exchange

A listing of adoption resources in Washington State for adoptive families, birth parents, and adopted individuals.

https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/services/adoption/resources

Department of Health

• Learn whether a birth parent wants to be contacted.
• Get an original (pre-adoption) birth certificate.

800-525-0127

http://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/BirthDeathMarriageandDivorce/Adoptions.aspx

A homestudy is required and is an official document that a worker prepares to demonstrate that your family is ready and qualified to adopt.  This can consist of home visits and interviews.

Select from the list of court approved adoption homestudy providers.

Homestudy Providers List

Northwest Adoption Exchange: How to Adopt in Washington State

Revised Code of Washington RCW Title 26

​Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families

Washington Foster Care and Adoption Guidelines

Washington State Department of Health

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