Title 109 · ORS Chapter 109

109.480, notification of the match may be given by a registry to only: �� (a) A birth parent of an adult adoptee; �� (b) An adult adoptee; �� (c) The parent or guardian of a minor adoptee

Citation: ORS 109.480

Section: 109.480

109.480, notification of the match may be given by a registry to only:

�� (a) A birth parent of an adult adoptee;

�� (b) An adult adoptee;

�� (c) The parent or guardian of a minor adoptee or of a minor genetic sibling of an adoptee;

�� (d) The adult genetic siblings of an adult adoptee;

�� (e) At the discretion of the agency operating the registry, parents or adult siblings of the birth parent if the birth parent is deceased;

�� (f) At the discretion of the agency operating the registry, the adoptive parent of a deceased adoptee; or

�� (g) At the discretion of the agency operating the registry, the adult progeny, or the parent or guardian of minor progeny, of a deceased adoptee, a deceased genetic sibling of an adoptee or a deceased birth parent of an adoptee for the purposes set forth in ORS 109.460 (2).

�� (3) Notification of a match to the relevant parties shall be made through a direct and confidential contact. [1983 c.672 �11; 1997 c.442 �6; 2015 c.200 �7; 2025 c.592 �133]

�� Note: See note under 109.425.

�� 109.480 Counseling of registrant. (1) Upon the determination of a match but before identifying information is disclosed, the registrant shall, at the discretion of the agency operating the registry, participate in counseling with a person employed or approved by the registry.

�� (2) The counseling required under subsection (1) of this section shall place an emphasis on an evaluation of the need for and the effect of the information or contact on the genetic family members and the relationships within the adoptive family. [1983 c.672 �12; 2015 c.200 �8]

�� Note: See note under 109.425.

�� 109.485 Registry information to be maintained permanently. Any affidavits filed and other information collected by a registry shall be permanently maintained. [1983 c.672 �13]

�� Note: See note under 109.425.

�� 109.490 Limits on releasing information. A registry shall release only information necessary for identifying a birth parent, an alleged genetic parent, an adult adoptee, an adult genetic sibling, the adult progeny, or the parent or guardian of minor progeny, of a deceased adoptee, a deceased genetic sibling of an adoptee or a deceased birth parent of an adoptee, or the county in which an adoption was finalized. A registry may not release information of any kind pertaining to:

�� (1) The adoptive parents, except for an adoptive parent of a minor adoptee when the adoptive parent has registered in accordance with ORS 109.460;

�� (2) The siblings of the adult adoptee who are children of the adoptive parents; and

�� (3) The income of any person. [1983 c.672 �14; 1997 c.442 �7; 2015 c.200 �9; 2025 c.592 �134]

�� Note: See note under 109.425.

�� 109.495 Registrant fee. Costs of establishing and maintaining a registry may be met through reasonable fees charged to all persons who register. [1983 c.672 �15; 1999 c.650 �2]

�� Note: See note under 109.425.

�� 109.500 Genetic, social and health history; availability; fee. (1) A genetic and social history and health history which excludes information identifying any birth parent or alleged genetic parent, member of a birth parent�s or alleged genetic parent�s family, the adoptee or the adoptive parents of the adoptee, may be provided, if available, from an agency upon request to the following persons:

�� (a) The adoptive parents of the child or the child�s guardian;

�� (b) The birth parent of the adoptee;

�� (c) An adult adoptee; and

�� (d) In the event of the death of the adoptee:

�� (A) The adoptee�s spouse if the spouse is the birth parent of the adoptee�s child or the guardian of any child of the adoptee; or

�� (B) Any progeny of the adoptee who is 18 years of age or older.

�� (2) The medical history part of the report mentioned in subsection (1) of this section may be in the form prescribed by the Department of Human Services under ORS 109.342.

�� (3) The agency may charge the person requesting the information requested under subsection (1) of this section the actual cost of providing such information. [1983 c.672 �16; 1989 c.372 �4; 1997 c.442 �8; 2025 c.592 �135]

�� Note: See note under 109.425.

�� 109.502 Search for birth parents, alleged genetic parent, genetic siblings or county where adoption finalized; who may initiate; information required; fee. (1)(a) An adult adoptee or the adoptive parent of a minor or deceased adoptee may request the Department of Human Services or the Oregon licensed adoption agency that facilitated the adoption to conduct a search for the adoptee�s birth parents, alleged genetic parent or, except as otherwise provided in ORS 109.504 (2), for the adoptee�s genetic siblings, or for the county in which an adoption was finalized.

�� (b)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, a birth parent, an adult genetic sibling of an adoptee or the parent or adult sibling of a deceased birth parent may request the department or the Oregon licensed adoption agency that facilitated the adoption to conduct a search for an adult adoptee whom the birth parent relinquished for adoption.

�� (B) A birth parent may request a search for an adult adoptee only if the adult adoptee does not have any genetic siblings in the same adoptive family as the adult adoptee�s adoptive family who are under 18 years of age.

�� (c) A birth parent may request and, in the discretion of the department or the Oregon licensed adoption agency that facilitated the adoption, the department or agency may conduct a search for the county in which the adoption was finalized.

�� (d) A person requesting a search under paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection:

�� (A) Must be registered with a registry unless the request is only to search for the county in which an adoption was finalized; and

�� (B) Shall direct the request for the search to the Oregon licensed adoption agency that facilitated the adoption or, if unknown, to the department. If the Oregon licensed adoption agency that facilitated the adoption is not conducting searches or is not authorized by the department to conduct searches, the person shall direct the request to the department.

�� (2) The department or an agency may delegate to or contract with a third party individual or entity to conduct searches under this section.

�� (3) At the time of a request to conduct a search under this section, the requester shall provide the department or the Oregon licensed adoption agency that facilitated the adoption with:

�� (a) Such information as the department or the Oregon licensed adoption agency requires; and

�� (b) Payment of a fee established by rule under ORS 109.506. [1993 c.410 �3; 1995 c.730 �12; 1997 c.442 �9; 2015 c.200 �10; 2025 c.592 �136]

�� Note: See note under 109.425.

�� 109.503 Access to adoption records for search; duties of searcher. (1) When the Department of Human Services, an Oregon licensed adoption agency or a third party individual or entity to whom the department or agency has delegated, or with whom the department or agency has contracted, to conduct searches under ORS 109.502 is requested to conduct a search under ORS 109.502, the department, agency or third party individual or entity may examine adoption records maintained by the department and by private adoption agencies under ORS 109.435. However, the department, agency or third party individual or entity may examine the adoption records of a private adoption agency only if the private adoption agency allows the examination. The department, agency or third party individual or entity shall keep the records and information located in the records confidential.

�� (2) If the department, agency or third party individual or entity is able to identify and locate the person being sought, the department, agency or third party individual or entity shall make a confidential inquiry of that person to determine whether the person wishes to make contact with the person requesting the search. If the reason the person is requesting the search is because there is a serious medical condition in the person�s immediate family that is, or may be, an inheritable condition and the person being sought is biologically related to the ill person, the department, agency or third party individual or entity shall inform the person being sought of that fact.

�� (3) If the department, agency or third party individual or entity is able to identify the county in which an adoption was finalized, in the discretion of the department, agency or third party individual or entity, the identity of the county may be disclosed to an adult adoptee, the parent or guardian of a minor adoptee, or to a birth parent.

�� (4)(a) If the person being sought wishes to make contact with the person requesting the search, the department, agency or third party individual or entity shall:

�� (A) Tell the person about the voluntary adoption registry under ORS 109.425 to 109.507 and that any contact will be made through the registry and its provisions and shall give the person any information and forms necessary to register;

�� (B) Notify the voluntary adoption registry that the person being sought has been identified and located and has indicated that the person wishes to make contact; and

�� (C) Return all materials and information obtained during the search to the department or agency responsible for maintaining the information.

�� (b) If the person being sought has indicated a wish to make contact and has not registered with the voluntary adoption registry within 90 days after the confidential inquiry was made, the department, agency or third party individual or entity, where practicable, shall contact the person to offer forms and materials to register and to determine if the person still intends to register.

�� (5) If the person being sought does not wish to make contact with the person requesting the search, the department, agency or third party individual or entity shall:

�� (a) Tell the person about the voluntary adoption registry under ORS 109.425 to 109.507;

�� (b) Notify the voluntary adoption registry that the person being sought has been identified, located and has indicated that the person does not wish to make contact; and

�� (c) Return all materials and information obtained during the search to the department or agency responsible for maintaining the information.

�� (6) If the department, agency or third party individual or entity is unable to identify and locate the person being sought, the department, agency or third party individual or entity shall notify the voluntary adoption registry of that fact.

�� (7) Upon receiving notice under subsection (4)(a)(B), (5)(b) or (6) of this section, the voluntary adoption registry shall:

�� (a) Enter the information into its records; and

�� (b) Notify the person requesting the search only that the person being sought has or has not been located, and either:

�� (A) Has indicated a wish to make contact and has been given information and forms necessary to register; or

�� (B) Has indicated a wish not to make contact. [1993 c.410 �4; 1995 c.79 �43; 1995 c.730 �13; 1997 c.442 �10; 2015 c.200 �11]

�� Note: See note under 109.425.

�� 109.504 Effect on subsequent searches when person sought in initial search refuses contact; other restrictions on searches. (1) If an adult adoptee or the adoptive parent of a minor or deceased adoptee has initiated a search under ORS 109.502, the fact that the person being sought in the original search does not wish to make contact does not prevent the adult adoptee or the adoptive parent from requesting another search for a birth parent or alleged genetic parent not previously contacted.

�� (2) An adult adoptee or the adoptive parent of a minor or deceased adoptee may not request a search for a minor genetic sibling of the adoptee if the parental rights of the birth parent to the minor genetic sibling have not been terminated by death or otherwise and the adoptee and the minor genetic sibling share that same birth parent.

�� (3) The adult adoptee or adoptive parent of a minor or deceased adoptee shall request the search by repeating the process set out in ORS 109.502 and by paying the fees established by the Department of Human Services pursuant to ORS 109.506. [1993 c.410 �5; 1997 c.442 �11; 2015 c.200 �12; 2025 c.592 �137]

�� Note: See note under 109.425.

�� 109.505 Support services; adoption and reunion issues. Information about agency and community resources regarding psychological issues in adoption and reunion shall be provided:

�� (1) By the Department of Human Services, an Oregon licensed adoption agency or a third party individual or entity to all persons requesting a search under ORS