Arkansas has a straight-forward process for finding adoption records.
Adoption records are important for both an adopted child and the birth parents. If you want to find adoption records in Arkansas, you might find that this is a difficult task. Arkansas law protect the identity of both the adopted child and the birth parents, so you will need to jump through some hoops in order to obtain access to these records. With some persistence though, you can get the information you need.
Instructions
1. Search for non-identifying records if you aren't looking for names. This contains medical history and standard details about the adoption, but will not list your name, your birth parents' names or your adoptive parents' names. Your adoptive parents were likely given this information soon after your adoption. If you need a copy of it, contact the agency you were adopted through. In Arkansas, agencies are legally required to keep it for 99 years. This information will also be available to your spouse or children. The fee to access this information is $5.00.
2. Access identifying information. Identifying information will list the names of everyone involved in your adoption, including your birth parents. You can get this information if you are an adult adoptee (over 18 years old), a birth parent, adoptive parent or legal guardian. Secondary relatives, such as a spouse or children, may also get access to these records.
3. Submit an affidavit to the Arkansas Department of Human Services. This should include your current name and address, any previous names by which you've been known, original name and adopted name of adoptee (if known), the adoptee's birth place and birthday, and the agency that handled the adoption. The fee to be placed in the registry is $20.00.
4. Get at least one hour of counseling if you are the adoptee wishing to get this information. Finding your birth parents can be an emotionally draining experience. This mandatory counseling will assess your current mental state to ensure that finding this information won't damage you. After you complete this counseling, you will be placed in the Mutual Consent Registry.
5. Wait until you receive your information. Identifying information is given mutually. If you are the adopted child, your birth parents must also be in the registry in order for you to receive identifying adoption records and vice versa. For this reason it can take a while to receive the records.
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