ABC7-TV,March 10, 2008
Lawmakers work to get adult adoptees access to certificates
State lawmakers are trying to help adult adoptees in Illinois get copies of their original birth certificates.
Since 1947, the documents have been sealed under state law. And they've only been available to adult adoptees by court order or in cases where they've been matched with a biological relative.
State Representative Sara Feigenholtz is proposing legislation to undo that law and allow adoptees over 21 years old to request non-certified copies of their birth certificates at their discretion.
She said people have the right to their own identities.
"We have been deprived of our history and our identity. We have been deprived of the chapter that everyone else in this state simply gets," said Feigenholtz, also adopted.
Feigenholtz says 200,000 adopted men and woman were born in Illinois.
The legislation will be sent to the House Adoption Reform Committee for consideration.
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