Tasha, Here is the text of the reply I received from the Peoria County Courthouse regarding adoption files. "Unfortunately, I cannot enter an Order to re-open an adoption file on the basis of your oral or written request. Judges cannot issue Orders on the basis of phone calls or letters. Such communications do not consititute admissible evidence. However, I can give you some general guidance in this area of adoption information. First, the information tht you seek may be available from the Illinois Adoption Registry. All that is required is that you file a request with the Illinois Adoption Registry, State Department of Public Health at 605 Wet Jefferson, Springfield, Il 62702 (217)785-3189. You will not need an attorney to make this simple request. The Registry will provide you with the form needed to make a request for information. However, the only information available from the Registry would be that which parents and adoptees have voluntarily filed. With regard to the Court file on your adoption, it is probably that you assume that you have the right to everything in that file. This is a correct assumption for almost all judicial files. However, adoption files are an exception to this principle. In Illinois, the State Legislature has decided that the best policy regarding adoptions is that they be kept confidential. Therefore section 18 of 750 ILCS mandates that all adoption files be sealed after the decree for adoption has been entered. There is a court procedure for obtaining information from sealed adoption files, if there is a good reason for doing so. If "good cause" can be shown it is possible to obtain a Court order to open an adoption file by filing a petition under 750 ILCS 50/18. Good cause requires the analysis of many factors. These factors will vary depending upon the circumstances of each case. Some of the factors are the nature of the petitioner's request, the age and maturity of the adoptee, the proposed use of the information, the circumstances of the adoption, and any countervailing considerations. A determination of good cause must reflect serious consideration of the interests of all persons involved: the adoptee, the biological parents, and the adoptive parents and siblings. If you decide to petition a Court under this law, I recommend that an experienced, qualified attorney be retained to analyze the particular facts of your case, prepare the petition, and have it be properly brought and argued before a judge. One can represent himself in such a proceeding. First, one would have to prepare a petition setting forth the pertinent facts of the case, including but not limited to: who is making the request (adoptee, adoptive parent, biological parent, other family member, etc.), what specifically is being requested, the reason(s) the information is being requested, the names of the parties to the adoption (to the extent known), and any other information which would identify the original adoption proceeding. After the petition is prepared, it must be filed with the circuit Court Clerk at the Peoria County Courthouse, ground floor, 324 Main Street, Peoria. The fee for filing such petitions is $60.00. After filing the petition a hearing date must be obtained from the Court Scheduling office on the second floor of the Courthouse. The petition will be set on the docket of the judge then hearing adoption cases. The petitioner must appear on the scheduled date at the appropriate time and in the designated Courtroom to give any testimony or other evidence that the judge may require. The judge could grant or deny the petition on that day, or the judge may require another hearing for additional evidence or to allow other persons to be part of the proceeding. Another avenue which you may pursue to obtain adoption information is a Petition for the Appointment of a Confidential Intermediary under 750 ILCS 50/18.3. This law is used in situations where a medical doctor (or other specified professionals) certifies in a sworn affidavit that in their opinion the treatment of the adoptee would be materially asisted by information obtainable from the biological parents or that the adoptee might benefit from the provision of organs or other bodily tissues, materials, or fluids by the biological parents or othe close relatives. If, after a hearing on the Petition, a confidential intermediary is appointed by the Court to conduct a search, before the search begins a flat fee of $425.00 must be paid to the confidential intermediary. This procedure is new and the assistance of an attorney would be necessary for most laymen." Hope this helps. Rhonda ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 11:49 AM Subject: Re: Re: [ILPEORIA-L] Adoption records > yes rhonda please send me the text outline of that paper so i can see. > > > ==== ILPEORIA Mailing List ==== > List problems? First, read the Welcome Message that you received > when you subscribed. Feel free to contact Candi Horton,[email protected], the list administrator with questions concerning this list! > >