Adoption files are confidential court files and are not available to the public. A court order is required to review an adoption file or to obtain copies of any document it contains.

In general, a person must demonstrate good cause to a judge why he or she should be granted access to an adoption file in order to obtain release of information contained within it. However, adoptive parents may obtain a court order for certified copies of the final adoption order without stating any reason. Adopted persons also do not need to state a reason to obtain a court order to obtain certified copies of the final adoption order; however, all information identifying the birth parents will be redacted or removed.

A voluntary registry is maintained by the Illinois Department of Public Health for adopted persons and their biological relatives called the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange. Persons wanting information about or seeking contact with biological relatives may register for no cost. Persons who do not want any contact with biological relatives may also register. Registration forms can be downloaded at http://www.idph.state.il.us/vitalrecords/adoptioninfo.htm.

Persons wanting information about or seeking contact with biological relatives may also petition the court to appoint a confidential intermediary to review the adoption file and conduct an investigation; the confidential intermediary may be able to arrange contact if all parties consent. Information about the confidential intermediary process can be found in the standing order for Calendar 1, or by contacting the Midwest Adoption Center at 847.298.9096 or www.macadopt.org.

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