Tennessee

Sealed: 1951

Access Status: Restricted

Nearly everyone has access to OBC and “adoption file”
Exception: adult adoptee whose birth parent was a victim of rape or incest—in such cases the written consent of the birth parent is required for release of records.
complicated and expensive application process

Through a special arrangement with the Adoptee Rights Law Center, Bastard Nation is linking our individual state pages to ARLC state access law links and summaries. In addition. our state pages include information specific to Bastard Nation actions and activities in each state and about current OBC access.

Read about current OBC access legislation with links to current and past years bills at our”Keep Informed” legislative pages (middle sidebar.)

Access law and extended summary
Tennessee General Assembly
Tennessee Legal Documents: Doe v Sunquist (courtesy of the American Adoption Congress)
Doe v. Sundquist: Tennessee’s Adoption Records Law Upheld in Court. Bastard Nation

2023 Legislation: HB164, SB534
2022 Legislation: HB2070/SB2056 (adoption records available after 100 years to public)
2121 Legislation: HB 62 (OBC–eliminate contact veto)
2020 Legislation: HB2212/SB2143 (OBC–eliminate contact veto)

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Congratulations Tennessee Bastards!

Staring next year you won’t be sent to jail or fined

for contacting your birthparents!