States: Maine

Maine

Sealed: 1959

Unsealed: 2009:

Access Status: unsealed

Adoptees 18 and older have unrestricted, unconditional access to OBC

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.ead 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.)

Maine access law and extended summary
Maine State Legislature
Office of Vital Statistics OBC application
2021 Legislation: LD560 (Safe Haven baby Boxes)
2019 Legislation LD1688

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AS MAINE GOES, SO GOES THE NATION

A news conference was held at the Statehouse in Maine on November 17, 2008, to introduce the new law that allows adopted adults access to their original birth certificates. Starting January 2, 2009, adults who were adopted in the state of Maine will have unconditional access to their original birth certificates at the state office of Vital Records.

LD 1084, the adoptee rights bill, had an extremely strong sponsor, Rep. David Farrington, and the quiet personal lobbying of adoptee Sen. Paula Benoit to shepherd it through with non-partisan support. Benoit’s dignified presentation for records access is credited by friends and foes of access with keeping the debate from the bitterness and acrimony that marked last year’s circus.

Governor John Baldacci signed the bill into law on Monday, June, 25, 2008.