On May 21, 2010, a new Illinois law went into effect that opens up adoption records, giving new rights to adult adoptees and their birth parents. Before, birth certificate records stayed sealed after adoption unless a grown adoptee and a birth parent registered with the state, giving their consent to exchange information.
Now, anyone born before 1946 has an automatic right to his or her birth certificate. For anyone born after 1946, who is at least 21, records will be available beginning in November 2011. This will allow birth parents who don't want their records unsealed to make that known to the state.
Their are critics on both sides of the law. Some say it does not go far enough to help adoptees learn about their biological families. Some say it will discourage adoption. What do you think
