How to Look at and Get Copies of Sealed Adoption Records

This page explains how a child adoptee (someone adopted before they were 18, and who is now 18 or older) can look at or get copies of their sealed court adoption records.

The law changed on November 1, 2025. This means there are two different ways to get your records, depending on the date your adoption was made final (the "final decree" was signed).

Adoptions finalized on or after November 1, 2025

If you are 18 or older, you have the right to look at and copy these specific adoption papers:

  • The report of adoption
  • Your original birth certificate
  • The court's findings of fact (the paper explaining why the judge approved the adoption).
  • The final decree of adoption (the paper that made the adoption official).

You cannot access the records if a pre-existing (biological) parent successfully filed a formal request (petition) with the court to keep the records sealed.

Adoptions finalized before November 1, 2025

In most cases, you must formally ask a judge for a court order (file a petition). But, in a few important situations, you can ask for the records directly from the court without getting a court order from the judge. If your situation matches one of the following, you can ask for the sealed adoption file directly from the court: 

  • Case is still happening: Your adoption case is still in progress.
  • Very recent case: It has been less than 180 days since the final adoption paper for your adoption was signed.
  • You have a court order: A judge has already signed a paper that gives you permission to look at the records.
  • Adult adoption: You were adopted as an adult or adopted an adult, and the case was in district court (not juvenile court). 
  • Very old records (100 years):
    • The adoption papers became public 100 years after the final adoption paper was signed.
    • Your birth certificate became public 100 years after the day your were born. 

For all other situations, including access to a finalized adoption decree more than 180 days after it was signed, you must file a formal request (a petition) to ask a judge for permission to open the sealed file.

How to ask the court directly (when a petition is not needed)

Follow these steps if you don't need a judge's permission:

Contact the the court where the adoption case was filed 

    In person: Go to the court's front counter and be prepared to show a photo ID. 

    By email: Email your request to the court. Include the case information and a copy of your     valid photo ID . You can use this lookup tool to find your court's email address.

    Formal Records Request (if needed): If you are asking for many, the court may require you     to fill out the statewide Request for a Record form provided below. You can submit this     form by email, mail, or in person.  

    1202XX - Request for a Record: Utah State Courts

Costs for copies

    Free to look: You can inspect (look at) a record in person at the courthouse for free.

    Paper copies cost: The standard fee is $0.25 per page.

    Certified copies: If you need an official, certified copy, the fee is $4.00 per document, plus     the standard $0.25 per page copy cost.

    Staff Time: The court may also charge a fee if it takes staff more than 15 minutes to find     your file. Always confirm the exact fees with the court before you make a request.

Utah Code 81-13-103, Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 107(a)  and Utah Code of Judicial Administration 4-202.03.

Accessing an original birth certificate (non-court process)

If you cannot get the sealed court file directly from the court, you may still be able to get your original birth certificate through the Office of Vital Records and Statistics. You can use the Utah Mutual-Consent Voluntary Adoption Registry (a list of people who agree to share information). Both the adult adoptee and at least one of their birth parents must have signed up and agreed to share information for this to work.

How to file a petition (ask a judge for permission)

For adoptions finalized before November 1, 2025, if your situation does not fit the exceptions listed above, you must formally ask a judge for permission. To do this, you must file a petition using the form below in the forms section.

To begin, you must be a party to the adoption proceeding. The court must approve your petition before you will be given access, and it has the final say on what information, if any, will be released.

What your petition must do:

  • Show "good cause" for access. You must explain why you need the records and why your reasons for access outweigh the reasons for keeping the file sealed.

  • Clearly list the specific documents you are trying to get.

Additional requirements for specific information

The court will ask you to explain why a petition is necessary if the information you need is available from another source:

  • For identifying information (such as names, addresses, and other details that could reveal a person's identity): You must show why the information from the mutual-consent voluntary adoption registry of people who agree to share information is not sufficient. 
  • For health, genetic, or social information (such as medical history, cause of death, or medical background): You must show why the information available from the Office of Vital Records and Statistics is not sufficient.

What happens next

The court may order you to serve the petition on anyone with an interest in the file, such as the birth parents. If the court orders you to serve the petition, you must follow Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 4. See our web page on serving papers for more information.

The court may hold a hearing on the petition, or could make a decision based solely on the petition and other documents filed with the court by parties who have been served with the petition.

If the judge approves the petition, the court will only let you see the records listed in the court order. Court staff will help you access the papers that you may look at. After you look at them, the file will be sealed again.

Objecting to a petition to open a court adoption record

If you were served with a petition to open a court adoption record and want to object, you can file an objection using the form below. The court may schedule a hearing to consider your objection. The court will send you notice of the date and time for the hearing. The court may also make a decision without a hearing, based on the petition and your objection.

Forms

Some forms may not apply in all cases. Use the Checklist to help you understand and complete the forms. The Checklist is not filed with the court or served on the other party. You must complete a form before you file.

Forms to petition the court to open an adoption record

Forms to oppose a petition to the court to open an adoption record

  • Checklist - PDF | Word
  • 1005XX
  • 1111GE

 

Back to Top