Virginia
Sealed: 1976
Access Status: Sealed
- Adoptees age 18 or older can request identifying information from the Virginia Department of Social Services, which investigates the matter and takes into account “birth family” concerns about the release
- If request is denied adoptees can appeal
- In parental placement adoptions, where the consent to the adoption was executed on or after July 1, 1994, the entire adoption record shall be open to the adoptive parents, the adoptee who is 18years of age or older, and a birth parent who executed a written consent to the adoption
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.
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
- Virginia General Assembly
- 2026: Legislation: HB301 (OBC); HB542 SHBB (adjacent)
- 2024 Legislation: HB550 (OBC)
- 2023 Legislation: HB1969 (OBC)
- 2022 Legislation: HB16/SB63 (Safe Haven) HB50 (Safe Haven Baby Boxes)
- 2021 Legislation: HB 1371 (Safe Haven Baby Boxes)
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LINKS
2026
- Virginia HB301 Bastard Nation submitted Letter of Support House HSS Health Subcommittee, January 19, 2026
- Virginia HB 301 Bastard National submitted Letter of Support–House, Floor January 26, 2026
- Virginia HB301: Bastard Nation Letter of Support – Senate Rehab and Social Services Committee, February 24, 2026. Passed committee sent to Senate Floor for vote. Same letter sent to all Senators February 27, 2026
2025
- Virginia: Bastard Nation submitted letter to the HSS Committee for HB2083, January 27, 2025
- Virginia: Bastard Nation Submitted Letter of Support Floor Vote February 1, 2025
- Virginia HB2093: Bastard Nation Testimony/Letter of Support for Senate Education & Health, Health Subcommittee, February 11, 2025, February 8, 2025
2024
- Bastard Nation Submitted Testimony for HB550, January 18, 2024. Same letter to entire Virginia House of Delegates, January 27, 2024
- Virginia: House of Delegates Passes HB550. On to the Senate! Bastard Nation, January 30, 2024
2023
- Virginia: Bastard Nation Submitted Testimony in Support of HB1869, January 19, 2023
Updated: February 28, 2026
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Is there a known organization that is working the VA State Legislature on the opening of sealed birth records?
Not that we know of. About 15 years ago a group worked for a while and got nowhere. If a bill is dropped in VA you will read about it here. Thanks do writing.
See above. There is now!
Virginia Adoptee Rights Alliance
https://virginiaadopteerights.org/
I was adopted in 1967. What are the chances that’s been opened up
We keep trying in Virginia and it gets shot down. I don’ know what is up for 2025 yet, ,but it wiil be posted here when if a bill is run.
I was born in 64, and adopted years later. I know the birth parents. yet, I’m still been unable to get an original redacted birth certificate. there is something about not knowing the details of your own birth, like the exact day, time, weight, that will eat at you. It’s been years. I’m now being told by the agency, I got papers from before, that I was never there. So, things have gotten worse. Might be hipaa laws. Imagine having a big family one day, and losing it, and everyone ghosting you even though they are still in the same state, and you drive near their houses all the time.