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Online Adoptee Law Library
court cases and legal commentaries

"We can say with Shakespeare: 'Why bastard, wherefore base? When my dimensions are as well compact, My mind as generous, and my shape as true, As honest madam's issue? Why brand they us With base? with baseness? bastardy? base, base?' King Lear, Act I, Scene 2" LEVY v. LOUISIANA, 391 U.S. 68, 72 n. 6 (1968).

Court cases

Hubbard v. Superior Ct., 189 Cal.App.2d 741, 11 Cal.Rptr. 700 (3rd Dist. 1961) <http://caselaw.findlaw.com/ca/index.html>.

Terzian v. Superior Court, 10 Cal.App. 3d 286, 88 Cal. Rptr 806 (1970) <http://caselaw.findlaw.com/ca/index.html>.

In the Matter of Ann Carol S., N.Y.L.J. Aug. 13, 1974, 12:6.

Matter of Cheryl Hanna W., N.Y.L.J. Jan. 29, 1976 38:1-2.

Matter of Anonymous, N.Y.L.J. June 20, 1977, 12:1.

Matter of Chattman v. Bennett, 57 A.D.2d 618, 393 N.Y.S. 2d 768 (1977).

Matter of Maxtone-Graham, 90 Misc.2d 107, 393 N.Y.S. 2d 835 (1975).

Jordan v. Pensacola News-Journal, Inc., 314 So.2d 222 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App. 1975).

Spillman v. Parker, 332 So.2d 573 (La.Ct.App 1976).

Chambers v. Parker, 349 S.2d 424 (La.App. 4th Cir. 1977).

In re Adoption of Rand, 347 So.2d 450 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App. 1977).

Mills v. Atlantic City Department of Vital Statistics, 148 N.J. Super. 302, 372 A.2d 646 (1977).

Matter of Louis F., 366 N.E.2d 824, 42 N.Y.2d 260, 397 N.Y.S. 2d 735 (1977).

Yesterday?s Children v. Kennedy, 569 F.2d 431 (7th Cir. 1977), cert. denied, 437 U.S. 904, 98 S.Ct. 3090 (1978).

In re Maples, 563 S.W.2d 760 (Mo. 1978).

Application of Paul Robert Gilbert, 563 S.W.2d 768 (Mo. 1978).

Re Application of Sage, 21 Wash.App. 803, 586 P.2d 1201 (1978).

In re C.A.B., 384 A.2d 679 (D.C.App. 1978).

Larned v. Parker, 360 So.2d 906 (La.1978).

Massey v. Parker, 362 So.2d 1195 (La.Ct.App. 1978), writ granted 363 So.2d 1385 (La.1978), rev?d, 369 So.2d 1310 (La. 1979).

ALMA Society Inc. v. Mellon, 459 F.Supp 912 (S.D.N.Y.1978), aff?d, 601 F. 2d 1225 (1979), cert. den. 444 U.S. 995, 100 S.Ct. 531, 62 L.Ed.2d 426.

Rhodes v. Laurino, 444 F. Supp 170 (1978), aff?d, 601 F. 2d 1239 (1979).

In re Linda F.M., 92 Misc.2d 828, 401 N.Y.S. 2d 960 (Sur.Ct. 1978), aff?d, 95 Misc.2d 581, 409 N.Y.S. 2d 638 (Sur.Ct. 1978), aff?d sub nom, Linda F.M. v. Department of Health, 52 N.Y.2d 236, 418 N.E.2d 1302, 437 N.Y.S.2d 283 (Ct.App. 1981), appeal dismissed sub nom, Mason v. Abrams, 454 U.S. 806, 102 S.Ct. 79, 70 L.Ed.2d 76 (1981).

In re Christine, 121 R.I. 203, 397 A.2d 511 (1979).

Kirsch v. Parker, 375 So.2d 693 (La.App. 1979), modified, 383 So.2d 384 (La. 1980).

In re Lay, 382 So.2d 814 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App. 1980).

Bradey v. Children's Bureau of South Carolina, (Spartanburg County, S.C., Ct. C.P., Apr. 9, 1979), reversed by, 275 S.C. 622, 274 S.E.2d 418 (1981).

In re Roger B., 85 Ill.App.3d 1064, 41 Ill.Dec. 386, 407 N.E.2d 884 (1980), 84 Ill.2d 323, 49 Ill.Dec. 731, 418 N.E.2d 751 (1981), cert. dismissed sub. nom., Barth v. Finley, 454 U.S. 806, 102 S.Ct. 80 (1981).

Schechter v. Boren, 6 FAM. L. REP. (BNA) 2784, 535 F.Supp. 1 (OK 1980).

Application of George, 625 S.W.2d 151 (Mo.Ct.App.1981).

Application of Hayden, 106 Misc.2d 849, 435 N.Y.S. 2d 541 (1981).

Application of Romano, 109 Misc.2d 99, 438 N.Y.S. 2d 967 (1981).

Sam v. Sanders, 80 A.D.2d 758, 436 N.Y.S.2d 301 (App.Div. 1981), 434 N.E.2d 710, 55 N.Y.2d 1008, 449 N.Y.S. 2d 474 (1982).

Matter of Dixon, 116 Mich.App. 763, 323 N.W.2d 549 (1982).

Matter of Rocci, 96 A.D.2d 743, 465 NYS 2d 330 (A.D. 4 Dept. 1983)

Aimone v. Finley, 113 Ill.App.3d 507, 69 Ill.Dec. 433, 447 N.E.2d 868 (1983).

Matter of Best, 102 A.D.2d 660, 477 N.Y.S.2d 431 (A.D. 2 Dept. 1984).

Application of Walker, 471 N.Y.S.2d 243 (A.D. 1 Dept. 1984), Matter of Estate of Walker, 476 N.E.2d 298, 64 N.Y.2d 354, 486 N.Y.S. 2d 899 (1985).

Backes v. Catholic Family & Community Services, 509 A.2d 283 (N.J.Super.Ch. 1985).

In Re Maria V. , 167 Cal.App.3d 1099 (1985) <http://caselaw.findlaw.com/ca/index.html>.

In re Assalone, 512 A.2d 1383 (RI 1986).

Matter of Wilson, 544 N.Y.S. 2d 886 (1989).

Axelrod v. Laurino, 145 Misc.2d 818, 548 N.Y.S. 2d 405 (1989).

Malowsky v. D?Elia, 160 A.D.2d 798, 553 N.Y.S. 2d 836 (A.D. 2 Dept. 1990).

Matter of Robert R. B., 147 Misc2d 569, 558 N.Y.S. 2d 473 (Fam.Ct.1990).

Sandra L.G. v. Bouchey, 576 N.Y.S. 2d 767 (Fam.Ct. 1991).

Lefevre v. State Dept. of Health, 186 A.D.2d 972, 589 N.Y.S. 2d 213 (1992).

Matter of Rebecca, 601 N.Y.S.2d 682, 158 Misc 2d 644 (1993).

Juman v. Louise Wise Services, 159 Misc.2d 314, 608 N.Y.S. 2d 612.

Juman v. Louise Wise Services, 211 A.D.2d 446, 620 N.Y.S. 2d 371 (A.D. 1 Dept. 1995).

Matter of Adoption of Mellinger, 288 N.J.Super. 191, 672 A.2d 197 (N.J.Super.A.D. 1996).

In re D.E.D., 672 A.2d 582 (D.C.App. 1996).

Doe v. Sundquist, 943 F.Supp. 886 (M.D. Tenn. 1996), aff'd, 106 F.3d 702 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 52 U.S. 810, 118 S. Ct. 51, 139 L.Ed.2d 16 (1997).

Additional material about Doe v. Sundquist.

In re: Adoption of Baby S. 308 N.J.Super. 207, 705 A.2d 822 (1997).

Promise Doe v. Sundquist, 2 S.W.3d 919 (Tenn. 1999).

Matter of Baby Boy K., Broome, Family Court, Judge [Herbert B.] Ray. QDS:04701836.

In re: Margaret, Susan P., 169 Vt. 252, 733 A.2d 38 (1999).

Does 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 v. State of Oregon, 163 Or.App 543, 993 P.2d 822 (1999).

Additional material about Measure 58 and Does 1-7 v. State of Oregon.

Law commentaries

Douglas S. Loomer, Sealed Adoption Records: Knowing and Noing, (Dec. 19, 1985) (visited Apr 24, 2005) <http://www.epsplan.com/records/adoption.htm>.

Elton B. Klibanoff, Roots: an Adoptee's Quest, 28 HARV. L. SCH. BULL. 34-40 (1977) (visited Apr 24, 2005) <http://www.oocities.org/toffbn/klibanoff.html>.

Patricia Hill Manson, Confidentiality of Adoption Records: Can the Real Needs of the Adoptee be Satisfied?, 25 LOY. L. REV. 787-798 (1979) (visited Mar 30, 2003) <http://homepage.mac.com/toff/manson.html>.

Bobbi W.Y. Lum, Privacy v. Secrecy: The Open Adoption Records Movement and Its Impact on Hawai'i, 15 U. HAW. L. REV. 483 (Summer 1993) (visited Jul 14, 2001) <http://www.total.net/~adoption/textes_divers/bobby_w_lum.htm>.

Melissa J. Kozlowski, Right to Privacy v. Right to Ancestry, L.J. EXTRA (Nov. 3, 1998) (visited Nov 15, 2000) <http://www.ljx.com/LJXfiles/flaadopt.html>.

Naomi Cahn and Jana Singer, Adoption, Identity, and the Constitution: The Case for Opening Closed Records, 2 U. PA. J. CONST. L. 113 (1999) (visited Apr 24, 2005) <http://www.law.upenn.edu/journals/conlaw/issues/vol2/num1/cahn/cahn_tf.html>.

Stephen J. Drahozal, I Want My Mommy: Historical, Social and Legal Rationales for Unsealing Adoption Records for Adult Adoptees, (2000) (visited June 30, 2002) <http://www.air-cap.net/adoptionrights/toc.htm>.

Danielle Rodier, Birth Parents' Consent May Not Be Needed to Unseal Records: Superior Court said trial judge misapplied Adoption Act, PA. L. WEEKLY (February 16, 2000) (visited Mar 30, 2003) <http://www.law.com/cgi-bin/gx.cgi/AppLogic+FTContentServer?pagename=law/View&c=Article&cid=A16216-2000Feb15&live=true&cst=1&pc=0&pa=0>.

Michael D. Goldhaber, Two Dads, Two Responses, NAT?L L.J. (March 3, 2000) (visited Mar 30, 2003) <http://www.law.com/cgi-bin/gx.cgi/AppLogic+FTContentServer?pagename=law/View&c=Article&cid=A17811-2000Mar3&live=true&cst=1&pc=0&pa=0>.

John Caher, Rediscovered Father Seeks Adoption Reform, N.Y.L.J. (August 15, 2000) (visited Mar 30, 2003) <http://www.law.com/cgi-bin/gx.cgi/AppLogic+FTContentServer?pagename=law/View&c=Article&cid=ZZZHZAASWBC&live=true&cst=1&pc=0&pa=0&s=Variables.s&ExpIgnore=true&showsummary=0>.

John Caher, Court Backs Birth Mother's Bid to Unseal Adoption Records, N.Y.L.J. (January 12, 2001) (visited Mar 30, 2003) <http://www.law.com/cgi-bin/gx.cgi/AppLogic+FTContentServer?pagename=law/View&c=Article&cid=ZZZ49VFLQHC&live=true&cst=1&pc=0&pa=0>.

Heidi Hildebrand, Because They Want To Know: An Examination of the Legal Rights of Adoptees and Their Parents, 24 S. ILL. U.L.J. 515-540 (2000) (visited Apr 24, 2005) <http://www.law.siu.edu/lawjour/24_3/hildebra.htm >.

Elizabeth J. Samuels, The Idea of Adoption: an inquiry into the history of adult adoptee access to birth records, 53 RUTGERS L. REV. 367 (Winter 2001) (visited Apr 24, 2005) <http://www.americanadoptioncongress.org/legislation-samuels.htm >.

Petitioning the court (generally)

LISA CLEWER, Petitioning the Court to Have Your Original Identity Revealed, in OFFICIAL ALMA SEARCHERS' GUIDE 27 (1982).

JEAN A. S. STRAUSS, Appeal to the Courts, in THE GREAT ADOPTEE SEARCH BOOK 29-30 (1990).

JAYNE ASKIN, Going to Court, in SEARCH: A HANDBOOK FOR ADOPTEES AND BIRTHPARENTS 184-185 (3rd ed. 1998).

Shea Grimm, Shea's Search Series: Petitioning the Court to Open Your Adoption File (visited Mar 30, 2003) <http://www.bastards.org/search/petition.html>.

Monique E. Jones, DC petition/sample motions/ruling (visited Mar 30, 2003) <http://mywebpages.comcast.net/monique.jones/adoptee/DCpetition.html>.

Stephen J. Drahozal, Petition to Unseal Records (visited June 30, 2002) <http://www.air-cap.net/adoptionrights/petition.htm>.

Chris Adamec, Petitioning the court in A Basic Guide: How to Search for Your Birthparent (visited November 22, 2000) <http://www.thelaw.com/research/article/1,1108,MjUgNTMgMjE4IDkwNQ==,00.html>.

Kevin, The Judge Made Me Hire a Lawyer (Petition to Appoint Birthparent Search Agent on Behalf of an Adult Adoptee) (visited Mar 30, 2003) <http://members.tripod.com/~rombergers/judgelawyer.html>.

Janet Sousa, I've Petitioned to Open My Adoption Records (visited 6/19/2001) <http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/adoption/9681>.

Worldwide Tracers, Inc., The Adoption and Information Bureau (visited June 30, 2002) <http://www.adoptionsearchbureau.com/adoptionnames.html>.

Writing for Adoption Court Records (visited Mar 30, 2003) <http://www.oocities.org/Heartland/Bluffs/7446/page18.html>.

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