Adoptions are filed in the Superior Court of the county in the State of Washington, in which the adoptive parents lived when the adoption occurred. In some cases, a relinquishment of parental rights may have been filed in a different county than the adoption. In this instance, you would have to contact the Clerk of the Court in that county, since each Clerk is only authorized to search records within their own county.

For a record of an adoption that occurred in a state other than Washington, write or telephone the appropriate state. The Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, P.O. Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507-9709 - Telephone - 360-236-4300, maintains a current list of information for other states. Adoption Fees by State

To secure documents for children born in a foreign country to U.S. citizens, write to Passport Services, Correspondence Branch, 1111-19th St. N.W., Suite 510, Washington D.C. 20522.
Phone - 202-955-0307.

RECORDS SEALED - Adoption / Relinquishment records are sealed and may not be viewed by any person except by court order.

RCW 26.33.330 Records sealed -- Inspection -- Fee

DECREE OF ADOPTION - The clerk is required to collect the below referenced forms for each individual adopted in the State of Washington:

1. Adoption Data Card sent to state Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS) for reporting under federal requirements. This form is also available from the County Clerk in hard copy. No fee is required to process at the DSHS

2. RCW 26.33.300 - Adoption statistical data.

1. Application for Adoption Registration - sent to the Center for Health Statistics for re-registration and issuance of birth certificate. This form is only available from the County Clerk in hard copy form. The fee for a new birth certificate is dependent on the state in which the child was born.Adoption Fees by State

1. As of July 26, 2003, the fee to obtain a New Birth Certificate for a child born in Washington State is $35.00.

2. Washington State Department of Health website - www.doh.wa.gov

1. RCW 26.33.280 - Decree of adoption -- Transmittal to state registrar of vital statistics.

1. RCW 70.58.210 - Birth certificate upon adoption.

SEARCH FOR BIRTH PARENT(S) OR ADOPTED CHILD - The county clerk maintains a list of Confidential Intermediaries (per statute) who may be appointed to search for and contact the birth parent(s) or adopted person. The person searching is responsible for contacting a Confidential Intermediary of their choice and any fee that may be required. Please do not ask the County Clerk to intervene or act on your behalf.

RCW 36.23.090 Search for birth parents - County clerk's duty.

RCW26.33.343 Search for birth parent or adopted child -- Confidential intermediary.

NON-IDENTIFYING INFORMATION - An adoptive parent, adoptee, or birth parent may request non-identifying information from the court where the adoption was filed.

RCW 26.33.340 Department, agency, and court files confidential -- Limited disclosure of information.

REQUEST FOR NON-IDENTIFYING ADOPTION INFORMATION - The Franklin County Clerk does provide a form to request Non-Identifying Adoption Information for cases filed in Franklin County Superior Court. The request form must be filled out and mailed to the Franklin County Clerk. It requires:

the requestor's signature be notarized

all available known information regarding the adoption case

a $30.00 special services fee

(Non-identifying information will NOT be provided over the telephone or by email.)

The Non-Identifying Adoption Information request will be reviewed by the Court and information approved or denied. Please be advised, not all adoption files contain the information below.

Non-identifying information includes, but is not limited to, the following information about the birth parent, adoptive parents, and adoptee: (RCW 26.33.020(14)

1. Age in years at the time of adoption;

1. Heritage, including nationality, ethnic background, and race;

1. Education, including number of years of school completed at the time of adoption, but not name or location of school;

   General physical appearance, including height, weight, color of hair, eyes, and skin, or other information of similar nature;

1. Religion;

2. Occupation, but not specific titles or places of employment;

1. Talents, hobbies, and special interests;

8. Circumstances leading to the adoption;

1. Medical and genetic history of birth parents;

1. First names;

1. Other children of birth parents by age, sex, and medical history;

1. Extended family of birth parents by age, sex, and medical history;

1. The fact of the death, and age and cause, if known;

13. Photographs;

6. Name of agency or individual that facilitated the adoption.

Copies of Original Birth Certificate - The Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Certificates, maintains birth certificate information for the entire state. This office may be of assistance to persons searching for a birth parent or adopted child

.

RCW 26.33.345 Search for birth parent or adopted child -- Limited release of information--Noncertified copies of original birth certificate.

RCW 26.33.347 Consent or refusal to release adoptee's identifying information--Desire to be contacted--Certified statement.

To view PDF documents you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. Click on the icon below to download your free copy and step-by-step instructions: