Hi Susan and Mark, You probably can write a letter to the "Family and Probate Court" in the County your relative was in and ask them directly. In Massachusetts, there is a "100-year law." Since my grandmother was adopted in 1892, anytime after 1992, I could go to the Probate Court in Cambridge, MA, and "apply" to have her Adoption File opened. I did this, and was approved. Unfortunately, there were only 6 papers in the file folder, and I only received a few tidbits of information which I didn't already have. Betty (near Lowell, MA) ----- Original Message ----- From: <gilburns@aol.com> To: <OHHAMILT-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, August 22, 2005 8:14 AM Subject: Re: [OH-HAMILT] Are adoption and lunacy records sealed forever? > Susan, you got farther into this subject than I did, I just got the answer 'we do not have those'. > > I also have interest in this topic from the lunacy standpoint - I cannot find death info for a distant great uncle who was listed as insane on census records from 1850 thru 1880. > > My interest is also regional, since the families he did and could have lived with were on both sides of the river. > > thanks > > Mark Gilbert > > our southwest ohio families' genealogy is at > http://www.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=eimarkg > > > -----Original Message----- > From: SHASTA4737@aol.com > To: OHHAMILT-L@rootsweb.com > Sent: Sun, 21 Aug 2005 23:35:12 EDT > Subject: [OH-HAMILT] Are adoption and lunacy records sealed forever? > > > > Hi, > > I've been trying to obtain adoption records in Hamilton County, Ohio. The > clerk told me that they are sealed forever. Is this a new rule? I thought it > was only for 75 years. This ancestor's adoption was about 1881. > > Also, I've tried to get a "lunacy" court record on one of my great > grandfathers and was told that these are sealed forever also. The lunacy record > is > also from about 1881. > > Could someone tell me if this is Ohio law or are the clerks in error? Could > different counties have different rules on adoption and lunacy records? > > Thanks for any help! > > Sincerely, > > Susan E. Davis > > > > ==== OHHAMILT Mailing List ==== > DON'T send a message in ALL CAPS or UPPER CASE Letters except when > typing a surname. It's shouting, and considered bad manners(Netiquette). > > ============================== > Jumpstart your genealogy with OneWorldTree. Search not only for > ancestors, but entire generations. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13972/rd.ashx > > ______________________________