Illinois Adoption Registry

Due to Public Act 83-1408, an important change was made in the Illinois Adoption Act, establishing the Adoption Registry in Illinois. The Illinois Adoption Registry became effective January 1, 1985, and is operated by the Department of Public Health in Springfield, Illinois.

The Illinois Adoption Registry records:

1. The names and addresses of biological parents who surrendered their children for adoption who wish to meet their biological children.

2. The names and addresses of adopted children who are now adults and wish to locate their biological parents.

If there is a match, the Illinois Adoption Registry will release names and addresses to both parties.

Non-identifying information is to be made available to adopting parents by the agency at birth or to adoptees 18 years of age or older who request it.

Either biological parent may file with the Registry a Biological Parent Registration Identification Form and an Information Exchange Authorization.

Any adoptee 21 years of age or over may file with the Registry an Adoptee Identification Form and an Information Exchange Authorization. Any adoptee older than age 18 but less than age 21 may file with written consent of both adoptive parents, with written consent of a single adoptive parent, with written consent of a surviving parent and proof of death of other parent or both parents, or with written consent of the guardian of the child.

A fee of forty dollars ($40) per registration is charged for all registrations, payable to the Department of Public Health.

A biological parent or adoptee may notify the Illinois Adoption Registry of his/her desire not to have identifying information revealed, or may change any previously filed Information Exchange Authorization by completing and filling with the Registry a Registration Identification Form and a Denial of Information Form. There is no charge for changing the forms on file with the Illinois Adoption Registry.