Vermont's New Adoption Law

VERMONT’S NEW ADOPTION LAW: An Update for Biological/Former Parents

Starting July 1, 2023, Vermont’s new adoption law will allow adopted persons 18 and over (and their direct descendants) to get:

• Their original birth certificate — if they were born in Vermont.
• Identifying information about their biological/former parents — if the adoption was finalized in Vermont and the parents did not file a request for nondisclosure.

The biological/former parents:

• May file a form with the Vermont Adoption Registry to indicate whether they’d like to have contact and, if so, how they’d like it to happen: directly or through an intermediary.  
• Have until July 1, 2023 to file a request with the Vermont Adoption Registry that their identifying information not be disclosed. Doing so will not change the adopted person/direct descendant’s right to a copy of:
  • The original birth certificate, and
  • Any adoption-related document filed with the birth certificate (e.g., adoption report or adoption decree). 

To learn more and get copies of the forms, go to https://dcf.vermont.gov/registry/adoption.