What counts as an adoption record
Adoption research involves several separate sets of paper. Knowing which is which helps you ask the right office:
- The court file, created when the adoption was finalized.
- The agency or attorney file, which may include social and medical history.
- The original birth certificate, issued before the adoption.
- The amended birth certificate, issued after, naming the adoptive parents.
- Registry information, which comes from voluntary registration.
Information is usually divided into non-identifying (such as medical or background details) and identifying (names and contact details).
This article is general information and not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm details with the agencies named below or a Pennsylvania attorney.
Can you look up adoption records in Pennsylvania?
Not through a public online search. Adoption files are generally confidential, and access depends on who you are and what you are seeking. Adoptees, birth parents and adoptive parents have different routes. The court that finalized the adoption, the state Department of Health and the Department of Human Services each hold part of the picture.
Original birth certificates
Pennsylvania adoptees have historically had limited access to their original birth certificates. Legislation that took effect in late 2017 changed this, so that adult adoptees may now generally request their original birth certificate from the Department of Health’s vital records office. The law also gave birth parents a way to file preferences about contact and, in some cases, to ask that their name be redacted. Details such as eligibility, forms and fees are set by the state, so check the Department of Health’s current instructions before applying.
PAIR
The Pennsylvania Adoption Information Registry (PAIR) was created by Act 101 of 2010 and is administered by the Department of Human Services. It lets adoptees, birth parents and some family members register information and state whether identifying information may be shared. Agencies must also register medical and social history for adoptions they finalize.
PAIR depends on both sides taking part. If the other person has not registered, a registry may produce nothing, so it works best alongside other methods.
Court records
Adoptions in Pennsylvania are handled in the Orphans’ Court Division of the county court of common pleas. The county where the adoption was finalized holds the court file. These records are typically sealed, but a petition to the court may be possible for good cause, such as medical need. An attorney can explain the process in your county.
Are adoption records on Ancestry?
Generally no. Adoption court files and sealed records are not part of the standard Ancestry collections. Ancestry is still useful for building trees, finding census and marriage records, and, through AncestryDNA, for finding relatives. Do not expect to see an adoption decree there. Some volunteer or free adoption registries and search-angel groups exist, but vet them carefully and avoid paying for unverifiable promises.
DNA testing
When paper records are closed, DNA can help. Testing with a major company may produce matches to cousins who share ancestors with you. A common approach is to:
- Test with more than one company if you can (see transferring AncestryDNA to 23andMe for your options).
- Examine the shared matches, using AncestryDNA clusters explained, and build family trees for the closest matches.
- Look for common ancestors across those trees.
- Approach new relatives politely and slowly.
Results can be emotional and sometimes unexpected, and relatives may respond differently than you hope. Our site also covers DNA ethnicity tests and matches in more depth.
Practical steps
- Request any non-identifying information from the agency or court.
- If you are an adult adoptee, apply for the original birth certificate.
- Register with PAIR.
- Take a DNA test and review your matches.
- Seek a lawyer if you need a court order.
Pennsylvania is not the only state with a recent change in access. See how Ohio birth and adoption records work for a comparison.