§ 259.79 — Adoption Records
Plain-Language Summary
Adoption records must include copies of all legal documents, medical and family history of the child and birth parents, placement records, and court reports. The commissioner keeps a permanent record of all Minnesota adoptions. These records are confidential but become public 100 years after the adoption is granted.
259.79 ADOPTION RECORDS.
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Subdivision 1.Content.
(a) The adoption records of the commissioner’s agents and licensed child-placing agencies shall contain copies of all relevant legal documents, responsibly collected genetic, medical and social history of the child and the child’s birth parents, the child’s placement record, copies of all pertinent agreements, contracts, and correspondence relevant to the adoption, and copies of all reports and recommendations made to the court.
(b) The commissioner of children, youth, and families shall maintain a permanent record of all adoptions granted in district court in Minnesota regarding children who are:
(1) under guardianship of the commissioner or a licensed child-placing agency according to section 260C.317 or 260C.515, subdivision 3;
(2) placed by the commissioner, commissioner’s agent, or licensed child-placing agency after a consent to adopt according to section 259.24 or under an agreement conferring authority to place for adoption according to section 259.25; or
(3) adopted after a direct adoptive placement approved by the district court under section 259.47.
Each record shall contain identifying information about the child, the birth or legal parents, and adoptive parents, including race where such data is available. The record must also contain: (1) the date the child was legally freed for adoption; (2) the date of the adoptive placement; (3) the name of the placing agency; (4) the county where the adoptive placement occurred; (5) the date that the petition to adopt was filed; (6) the county where the petition to adopt was filed; and (7) the date and county where the adoption decree was granted.
(c) Identifying information contained in the adoption record must be confidential and must be disclosed only pursuant to section 259.61 or, for adoption records maintained by the commissioner of children, youth, and families, upon request from the commissioner of health or state registrar pursuant to sections 144.2252 and 144.2253. §
Subd. 2.Use.
Each adoption record shall constitute the permanent record upon which court action is based and agency services are administered. §
Subd. 3.Retention; records made public.
All adoption records shall be retained on a permanent basis under a protected record system which ensures confidentiality and lasting preservation. All adoption records shall become public records on the 100th anniversary of the granting of the adoption decree.
History:
1982 c 584 s 2; 1986 c 444; 1994 c 631 s 31; 1997 c 177 s 22; 2005 c 159 art 2 s 9; 2012 c 216 art 6 s 13; 2024 c 80 art 8 s 70; 2024 c 115 art 18 s 26
**NOTE: **A transfer of a power or responsibility in this chapter to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families is effective upon notice of the commissioner of children, youth, and families to the commissioners of administration, management and budget, and other relevant departments along with the secretary of the senate, the chief clerk of the house of representatives, and the chairs and ranking minority members of the relevant legislative committees and divisions. Laws 2024, chapter 80, article 8, section 72, Laws 2023, chapter 70, article 12, section 30.
History: History: 1982 c 584 s 2; 1986 c 444; 1994 c 631 s 31; 1997 c 177 s 22; 2005 c 159 art 2 s 9; 2012 c 216 art 6 s 13; 2024 c 80 art 8 s 70; 2024 c 115 art 18 s 26