Maine Adoption Law to take Effect
Posted on Nov 28, 2008 9:24am PST
In Maine, numerous adopted men and women are ecstatic about a recent change in the state's
adoption laws. Starting on January 2, 2009, adults who were adopted in the state of Maine will have access to their original birth certificates at the state Office of Vital Records. Prior to the passing of this law, adopted adults did not have access to this documentation, which was very frustrating.
The law was passed after Lee-Ann Bragdon talked with the Statehouse on November 17th. Bragdon asked the Statehouse to introduce a new law that would allow adult adoptees to access their original birth certificates. After pleading for the law change, the Statehouse consented. Maine has now joined seven other states that adopted access-to-birth-certificates laws, including New Hampshire.
When Bragdon heard the news, she was overjoyed. 44 year old Bragdon, an adoptee, was recently able to find her biological father, which made her want to help other adoptees find their biological parents. She said that she said that she went to a news conference to support Original Birth Certificates for Maine, a grassroots group that has been successful in getting Maine legislators to pass the law.
Senator Paula Benoit, an adoptee, co-sponsored the legislation and it was later signed by Governor John Baldacci on June 25th. Benoit claims that the legislation will restore rights to adopted adults that were taken away from them in 1953 when Maine passed a law requiring adoptees to obtain court orders before they could access their original birth certificates.
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