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Subject: [IOWA] Getting adoption records
Date: Sun, 3 Nov 2002 10:09:01 EST

Hi all, Madonna and I have the Orphan Train Riders to Iowa website at
http://iagenweb.org/iaorphans. The information we have is:

"Iowa adoption laws began in 1860. Iowa House file 380 states " An adopted
person whose adoption became final prior to July 4, 1941, and whose adoption
record was not required to be "sealed" at the time the adoption was
completed, shall not be required to show good cause for an order opening the
adoption record." This law became defective July 1, 1991. Obviously, the
application for the court order must be made in the county where the adoption
occurred.

The key word here is "sealed" records. Many records involving the child may
not be sealed such as probate packets. You can look at the family probate
packet at the courthouse without telling the court recorder specifically what
you are looking for. Or, if you live far away, write to the courthouse and
request copies of the probate packet of the person who took the child to
raise. Always offer to pay for copies of the packet as some are quite
detailed and include many pages. Keep your written request brief, precise
and courteous."

Madonna will tell you -- all she had to do was get a judge to sign the court
order. Perhaps each county is different.

The More We Share, The More We Have To Share
Nettie Mae
<A HREF="http://www.rootsweb.com/~iaclinto/">Clinton County Iowa Gen Web</A>
www.rootsweb.com/~iaclinto/
<A HREF="http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ia/iafiles.htm">USGenWeb Archives: Iowa Table of Contents</A>
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ia/iafiles.htm

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