Caitlin Toker Responds To New Jersey's 2017 New Adoption Laws

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Caitlin Toker Responds To New Jersey’s 2017 New Adoption Laws

New Adoption Laws NJ Set For 2017

On May 27, 2014, amendments to the vital statistics rules in New Jersey were signed into law which provide adopted individuals with the ability to request a copy of their original birth certificate without the necessity of a court order. The requests for these birth certificates will begin being processed in January 2017.
Under the new law, an adopted individual will be provided with his or her original birth certificate listing the standard information relating to the birth parents. In the event that a birth parent does not wish to be identified, they have until the end of the year to submit redaction forms that permit the birth parent to choose what identifying information, if any, will remain visible to the adopted child. A birth parent may only redact their respective information; therefore, a birth mother cannot submit a redaction form for the birth father. Only he may do so. The redaction process is entirely voluntary; however, if a birth parent does not submit the forms by December 31, 2016 they will be unable to have their information redacted from the original birth certificate.

In addition to the redaction forms, birth parents may also provide a family history document which will be provided to the adopted child in addition to his or her original birth certificate. This document provides additional information to the child, including medical information. Birth parents are also given the option to submit a contact preference form which will allow the parent to indicate whether they would like to be contacted directly by the child, contacted by an intermediary, or no contact. This form will only be accepted by the State Registrar if the parent also submits a redaction form and medical history.
This amendment clears the way for adopted children to obtain not only the identity of their birth parents, but also makes it significantly easier for the parent and child to reconnect, so long as the parent has indicated a desire to do so on the contact preference sheet. It is important to note that all adoptions that were finalized after August 1, 2015 are not subject to the same laws, and the original birth certificates for those children will be released in their original, underacted form.

Children & Divorce Guide
About DeTorres and DeGeorge Family Law

DeTorres and DeGeorge Family Law is a New Jersey based family law firm that has been helping New Jersey residents achieve the best possible results in their divorce for nearly 30 years. The DeTorres and DeGeorge Family Law team is always ready to fight for their clients’ rights – determined to help New Jersey families overcome legal challenges from start to finish. Our legal team, with over 65 years of combined experience, provides expert guidance on all family law and divorce-related matters, including custody and parenting time, alimony and child support, equitable distribution of assets, premarital agreements, post-divorce issues, executive compensation distribution, divorces for business owners, and divorce mediation. The firm has been recognized for its dedication and expertise in the industry by multiple local and national organizations, including Super Lawyers, Law Firm 500, and the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys. Rosanne DeTorres, Managing Partner, is one of 150 lawyers certified as a matrimonial law attorney.

Erin D. DeGeorge
Erin D. DeGeorge joined DeTorres & DeGeorge, LLC as partner to the firm in June of 2010. Prior to joining DeTorres & DeGeorge, Erin was associated with the national firm of Fox Rothschild LLP and Cutler, Simeone, Townsend, Tomaio & Newmark, LLC...
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