(a) All records of cases related to termination of parental rights, removal of a parent as guardian, appointment of a statutory parent, adoption matters, temporary guardianship and emancipation of a minor shall be confidential and shall not be open to inspection by or disclosed to any third party, except that (1) such records shall be available to (A) the parties in any such case and their counsel; (B) the Department of Children and Families; (C) any licensed child-placing agency involved in any such case; (D) any judge or employee of a court of this state who, in the performance of his or her duties, requires access to such records; (E) the Office of the Probate Court Administrator; and (F) courts of other states under the provisions of sections 46b-115a to 46b-115gg, inclusive; and (2) access to and disclosure of adoption records shall be in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.
(b) Access to adoption records shall be in accordance with sections 45a-743 to 45a-753, inclusive. The records may also be disclosed upon order of the judge of probate to a petitioner who requires such information for the health or medical treatment of any adopted person. If such information is so required and is not within the records, the biological parent or parents or blood relatives may be contacted in accordance with the procedures in section 45a-753.
(1949 Rev., S. 6870; 1953, S. 2906d; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 67; P.A. 74-164, S. 19, 20; P.A. 75-201; P.A. 77-246, S. 9; 77-604, S. 80, 84; P.A. 80-476, S. 169; P.A. 87-555, S. 12; P.A. 96-130, S. 34; P.A. 11-128, S. 8; P.A. 21-100, S. 27.)
History: 1972 act changed age of majority from 21 to 18, amending section accordingly; P.A. 74-164 rephrased provision re access to envelopes containing adoption material, specifying that parent or child over eighteen “may for cause shown, either ex parte or with such notice the court deems advisable” have access; P.A. 75-201 specified applicability of provisions to decrees for termination of parental rights, removal of parent as guardian or appointment of statutory guardian, adding provisions necessary to reflect broadened applicability; P.A. 77-246 added reference to affidavits, rephrased provision re parents' or child's access to records, requiring access to information under Sec. 45-68e be granted and authorizing petition of court for information under Sec. 45-68i, added provisions authorizing disclosure of information necessary for health care or medical treatment and contact of natural parents or blood relatives to learn medical information if necessary; P.A. 77-604 made technical grammatical correction; Sec. 45-66 transferred to Sec. 45-68m in 1979; P.A. 80-476 divided section into Subsecs. and rephrased provisions; P.A. 87-555 deleted provisions in Subsec. (d) re access to information under Sec. 45-68e and petition to court and inserted “access to such records shall be in accordance with sections 45-68a to 45-68l, inclusive”, and changed “section” to “chapter” in Subsec. (e); Sec. 45-68m transferred to Sec. 45a-754 in 1991; P.A. 96-130 amended Subsec. (d) by changing “genetic” to “biological”; P.A. 11-128 substantially revised Subsec. (a) to replace provisions re furnishing each court with index and book for recording enumerated matters with requirement that all records of enumerated cases be confidential, except as provided in Subdivs. (1) and (2), and to make Subsec. applicable to records in cases related to temporary guardianship and emancipation of minor, deleted former Subsecs. (b) and (c) re locked files, sealed envelopes and marking of envelopes, redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (b) and amended same to substitute “adoption records” for “such records” and make a technical change, and deleted former Subsec. (e) re penalty for unauthorized disclosure; P.A. 21-100 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2021.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 45a - Probate Courts and Procedure
Chapter 803 - Termination of Parental Rights and Adoption
Section 45a-706. (Formerly Sec. 45-61a). - Rule of construction.
Section 45a-707. (Formerly Sec. 45-61b). - Definitions.
Section 45a-708. (Formerly Sec. 45-61e). - Guardian ad litem for minor or incompetent parent.
Section 45a-709. (Formerly Sec. 45-61k). - Validity of proceedings prior to statutory changes.
Section 45a-724. (Formerly Sec. 45-61i). - Who may give child in adoption.
Section 45a-725. (Formerly Sec. 45-61j). - When child free for adoption.
Section 45a-726a. - Consideration of sexual orientation of prospective adoptive or foster parent.
Section 45a-726b. - Recruitment of minority families not to delay placement of adoptive child.
Section 45a-726c. - Term “adoptive parent” substituted for “adopting parent”.
Section 45a-727a. - Legislative findings re best interests of child.
Section 45a-728c. - Payment of expenses of birth mother by prospective adoptive parents.
Section 45a-731. (Formerly Sec. 45-64a). - Effects of final decree of adoption. Surviving rights.
Section 45a-731a. - Issuance of final adoption decree notwithstanding death of child.
Section 45a-732. (Formerly Sec. 45-62). - Husband and wife to join in adoption.
Section 45a-734. (Formerly Sec. 45-67). - Adoption of adults. Inheritance.
Section 45a-735. (Formerly Sec. 45-68). - Husband or wife of adopted adult to consent.
Section 45a-736. (Formerly Sec. 45-66a). - Change of name of adopted person.
Section 45a-743. (Formerly Sec. 45-68c). - Definitions.
Section 45a-744. (Formerly Sec. 45-68b). - Legislative policy.
Section 45a-745. (Formerly Sec. 45a-68a). - Adoption record.
Section 45a-749. (Formerly Sec. 45-68h). - Request for information.
Section 45a-750. (Formerly Sec. 45-68i). - Identifying information.
Section 45a-751a. - Conditions re release of information. Counseling.
Section 45a-751b. - Disclosure of identifying information. Consent required. Exception.
Section 45a-751c. - Order directing issuance of uncertified copy of original birth certificate.
Section 45a-755. (Formerly Sec. 45-68o). - Registries. Filing of registration.
Section 45a-757. (Formerly Sec. 45-68n). - Records maintained on a permanent basis.
Section 45a-763. (Formerly Sec. 45-69c). - Adoption Review Board established.
Section 45a-764. (Formerly Sec. 45-69d). - Powers of Adoption Review Board. Notice and hearing.
Section 45a-765. (Formerly Sec. 45-69e). - Records to be confidential.