Washington
Washington Adoption Records: Original Birth Certificates and Sealed Files
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 11, 2026). · Law checked current as of August 11, 2026. · 4 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Washington's 2013 reform (2013 c 321) gives an adult adoptee the original birth certificate on request by default, but the state's Contact Preference Form has multiple options, and only one of them actually blocks release of the certificate. Getting this precisely right matters, because the other "no contact" options on the same form still let the certificate go out.
Information last verified on 2026-08-11. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.
Can an Adult Adoptee Get Their Original Birth Certificate in Washington?
Yes, by default, for adoptions finalized after October 1, 1993. RCW 26.33.345 provides that 'the department of health shall provide a noncertified copy of the original birth certificate to an adoptee eighteen years of age or older upon request, unless the birth parent has filed an affidavit of nondisclosure before July 28, 2013, or a contact preference form that indicates he or she does not want the original birth certificate released.'
The Contact Preference Form: Only One Option Blocks Release
This is the detail worth getting exactly right. Washington's Contact Preference Form gives a birth parent several choices about how they want the relationship to work, and most of those choices do not stop the certificate from being released. A birth parent who prefers not to be contacted directly, for example, can still consent to the certificate going out; the form's consent language states, 'I give the department of health consent to provide the adoptee with a noncertified copy of his or her original birth certificate,' a box that can be checked even alongside a preference for no direct contact.
Only the specific option stating the birth parent does 'not want a noncertified copy of the original birth certificate released to the adoptee,' typically paired with a completed birth-parent updated medical history form in place of the certificate, actually blocks release. In other words, "no contact" and "no certificate" are two different choices on the same form, and only the second one stops the document from reaching the adoptee. This is a genuinely different design from Vermont's post-2023 reform, where the birth-parent nondisclosure option no longer touches the certificate at all; Washington's veto option, when selected, is a real block on the document itself, not merely on contact.
The other mechanism that can block release is older: a birth parent's affidavit of nondisclosure filed before July 28, 2013. That affidavit remains effective until the birth parent's death.
What About Adoptions Finalized Before October 1, 1993?
RCW 26.33.345 covers this cohort too, in a separate part of the same section: "For adoptions finalized on or before October 1, 1993, the department of health may not provide a noncertified copy of the original birth certificate to the adoptee until after June 30, 2014. After June 30, 2014, the department of health shall provide a noncertified copy of the original birth certificate to an adoptee eighteen years of age or older upon request, unless the birth parent has filed a contact preference form that indicates he or she does not want the original birth certificate released."
June 30, 2014 has long since passed, so a Washington adoptee whose adoption was finalized on or before October 1, 1993 gets the same default release today as a post-1993 adoptee: the certificate goes out on request unless the birth parent selected the specific Contact Preference Form option that blocks it. The statute ties the older, pre-July 28, 2013 nondisclosure-affidavit mechanism to a different part of the section, so a pre-1993 adoptee should not assume a good-cause court order is required; the default-release rule applies to this cohort too, not just to adoptions finalized after October 1993.
Court-File Sealing and the Good-Cause Standard
RCW 26.33.330 sets the general rule for the underlying court file: 'all records of any proceeding under this chapter shall be sealed and shall not be thereafter open to inspection by any person except upon order of the court for good cause shown, or except by using the procedure described in RCW 26.33.343. In determining whether good cause exists, the court shall consider any certified statement on file with the department of health as provided in RCW 26.33.347.'
Read that sentence closely, because the two cross-references do different jobs. The confidential-intermediary procedure in RCW 26.33.343 is the only alternate path this section names around the good-cause court order. RCW 26.33.347 is not a second path: it is a certified statement an adopted person over 18 may file with the Department of Health consenting to, or refusing, release of their own identifying information, and the court must weigh any such statement when it decides whether good cause exists.
The certificate-release and contact-preference machinery in RCW 26.33.345, described earlier on this page, is a separate track that RCW 26.33.330 does not mention at all. The sealed court file and the Department of Health copy of the original birth certificate are governed by different sections, so a Contact Preference Form on file with the Department of Health is not what a superior court is directed to consider under the sealing statute.
Washington's Confidential Intermediary Program
Washington runs a genuine confidential-intermediary program under RCW 26.33.343, distinct from a plain opt-in registry. An approved intermediary 'may attempt to locate members of the birth parent or adopted person's family' and must file 'an oath of confidentiality and a certificate of completion of training with the superior court of every county in which they serve as intermediaries.' This is a trained, court-certified search service, not simply a signup list waiting for a match.
How to Request an Original Birth Certificate in Washington
The Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, processes requests. As of August 2026:
- Form: "Adoptee's Request for Original Birth Certificate from a Sealed File" (DOH 422-102).
- Fee: $20.00 per copy, non-refundable.
- Identification: a current state-issued photo ID or passport.
- Where: Attn: Adoptions, Center for Health Statistics, PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507-9709.
- Timing: the department notes that sealed files are not located in its office, so the process may take several weeks or more.
Non-Identifying Information
Washington has a dedicated statute for this. RCW 26.33.340 makes department, agency, and court adoption files confidential 'except that reasonably available nonidentifying information may be disclosed upon the written request for the information from the adoptive parent, the adoptee, or the birth parent.' Three categories of people can therefore ask, and the request has to be in writing.
The same section gives that request some teeth. If the adoption facilitator refuses to disclose nonidentifying information, the statute provides that 'the individual may petition the superior court.' A refusal is not the end of the road.
RCW 26.33.340 also draws the line that matters most in practice. Nonidentifying information moves on a written request; identifying information does not, and may be disclosed only 'through the procedure described in RCW 26.33.343,' the confidential-intermediary program described above. So a written request to the agency or independent facilitator that handled the adoption is the right first step for background information such as medical history, but it will not produce names or addresses.
Direct the written request to the adoption facilitator that holds the file rather than to the Department of Health, which holds the birth certificate rather than the case record.
Finding Birth Parents in Washington
Because most post-1993 Washington adoptees can get the original birth certificate directly, that document is often the best starting point for a search, alongside the confidential-intermediary program for a more active search. RecordingLaw's guide to finding birth parents covers non-identifying information, intermediary searches, DNA testing, and search etiquette, and is upfront that not every search leads to contact or a welcoming response.
For the national framework, see the Adoption Records by State hub and the guide to getting an original birth certificate. Washington readers may also find Washington death records and Washington court records useful for related family-history research.
Disclaimer
This article provides general legal information about adoption records law in Washington State. It is not legal advice and does not substitute for consultation with a licensed Washington attorney. Statutes, forms, and fees can change; the information here was last verified on 2026-08-11.
Last updated: 2026-08-11. Fees and forms reflect their published status as of August 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Washington birth parent block release of the original birth certificate?
Only if the birth parent selected the specific Contact Preference Form option stating they do not want the certificate released, or filed a nondisclosure affidavit before July 28, 2013. Other 'no contact' options on the same form still allow the certificate to be released.
Does choosing 'no contact' on Washington's Contact Preference Form stop the birth certificate from being released?
Not by itself. A birth parent can prefer no direct contact while still consenting to release of the certificate. Only the form's specific do-not-release option blocks the certificate.
How much does an original birth certificate cost in Washington?
The Department of Health charges $20.00 per copy, non-refundable, as of August 2026.
What is Washington's confidential intermediary program?
A court-certified search service under RCW 26.33.343, in which a trained intermediary files an oath of confidentiality with the superior court and attempts to locate birth family members, distinct from a simple signup registry.
Does Washington's default-release rule apply to every adoption regardless of when it was finalized?
Yes, though the statute reaches it through a separate subsection. Adoptions finalized on or before October 1, 1993 became eligible for release only after June 30, 2014; since that date, they get the same default release as adoptions finalized after October 1, 1993, gated only by the same Contact Preference Form block option.
How do I get non-identifying information about my adoption in Washington?
Under RCW 26.33.340, an adoptee, an adoptive parent, or a birth parent may make a written request to the adoption facilitator for reasonably available nonidentifying information. If the facilitator refuses, the statute allows the individual to petition the superior court. Identifying information is not available this way and moves only through the confidential-intermediary procedure in RCW 26.33.343.
How long does it take to get a sealed original birth certificate in Washington?
The Department of Health notes that sealed files are not kept in its office, so processing can take several weeks or more.
Updates
Corrected the date of Washington's default-release reform to 2013, added RCW 26.33.340 as the state's dedicated statute for non-identifying-information requests in place of a statement that no such statute exists, and corrected the description of what RCW 26.33.330 cross-references.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Revised Code of Washington
§ 26.33.345Search for birth parent or adopted child—Limited release of information—Noncertified copies of original birth certificate—Contact preference form.In force
(1) The department, adoption agencies, and independent adoption facilitators shall release the name and location of the court where a relinquishment of parental rights or finalization of an adoption took place to an adult adoptee, a birth parent of an adult adoptee, an adoptive parent, a birth or adoptive grandparent of an adult adoptee, or an adult sibling of an adult adoptee, or the legal guardian of any of these. (2) The department of health shall make available a noncertified copy of the original birth certificate of a child to the child's birth parents upon request. (3)(a) For adoptions finalized after October 1, 1993, the department of health shall provide a noncertified copy of the original birth certificate to an adoptee eighteen years of age or older upon request, unless the birth parent has filed an affidavit of nondisclosure before July 28, 2013, or a contact preference form that indicates he or she does not want the original birth certificate released: PROVIDED, That the affidavit of nondisclosure, the contact preference form, or both have not expired.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-02 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at app.leg.wa.gov
§ 26.33.330Records sealed—Inspection—Fee.In force
(1) All records of any proceeding under this chapter shall be sealed and shall not be thereafter open to inspection by any person except upon order of the court for good cause shown, or except by using the procedure described in RCW 26.33.343. In determining whether good cause exists, the court shall consider any certified statement on file with the department of health as provided in RCW 26.33.347. (2) The state registrar of vital statistics may charge a reasonable fee for the review of any of its sealed records.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at app.leg.wa.gov
Cited in 6 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2023
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- McDaniels v. Carlson (Washington Supreme Court 1987, 108 Wash. 2d 299)“…r served by no paternity determination at all. See, e.g., RCW 26.33.330 (mandating permanent sealing of adoptio…”
- Nast v. Michels (Washington Supreme Court 1986, 107 Wash. 2d 300)“…paternity action files, RCW 26.26.200; adoption records, RCW 26.33.330; and mental commitment files, RCW 71.05…”
- State v. N.P. (Court of Appeals of Washington 2014, 181 Wash. App. 301)“…ldren involved in these matters are paramount. See, e.g., RCW 26.33.330 (adoption records are sealed and not op…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 26.33.343Search for birth parent or adopted child—Confidential intermediary.In forcecited in 4 of our articles
(1) An adopted person over the age of twenty-one years, or under twenty-one with the permission of the adoptive parent, or a birth parent or member of the birth parent's family after the adoptee has reached the age of twenty-one may petition the court to appoint a confidential intermediary. A petition under this section shall state whether a certified statement is on file with the department of health as provided for in RCW 26.33.347 and shall also state the intent of the adoptee as set forth in any such statement. The intermediary shall search for and discreetly contact the birth parent or adopted person, or if they are not alive or cannot be located within one year, the intermediary may attempt to locate members of the birth parent or adopted person's family. These family members shall be limited to the natural grandparents of the adult adoptee, a brother or sister of a natural parent, or the child of a natural parent. The court, for good cause shown, may allow a relative more distant in degree to petition for disclosure.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at app.leg.wa.gov
Cited in 3 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2014
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- In Re the Visitation of Troxel (Court of Appeals of Washington 1997, 87 Wash. App. 131)“…ee RCW 26.33.295 (authorizing open adoption agreements) and RCW 26.33.343 (authorizing limited searches for birth…”
- State v. N.P. (Court of Appeals of Washington 2014, 181 Wash. App. 301)“…the court for good cause shown or by using procedure under RCW 26.33.343), .010 (“The guiding principle [in adop…”
- Adoption Of M.s.m.p (Court of Appeals of Washington 2014)“…the court for good cause shown or by using procedure under RCW 26.33.343); RCW 26.33.010 ("The guiding principle…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Adoption Reunion Registries: How State Mutual-Consent Matching Works, How to Find Birth Parents: A Search Guide for Adult Adoptees, How to Get Your Original Birth Certificate as an Adult Adoptee
§ 26.33.340Department, agency, and court files confidential—Limited disclosure of information.In force
Department, agency, and court files regarding an adoption shall be confidential except that reasonably available nonidentifying information may be disclosed upon the written request for the information from the adoptive parent, the adoptee, or the birth parent. If the adoption facilitator refuses to disclose nonidentifying information, the individual may petition the superior court. Identifying information may also be disclosed through the procedure described in RCW 26.33.343.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at app.leg.wa.gov
Cited in 1 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 1987
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- North American Council on Adoptable Children v. Department of Social & Health Services (Washington Supreme Court 1987, 108 Wash. 2d 433)“…50.010; RCW 13.50.100. RCW 26.33.330(1). See RCW 26.33.340. In re Sage, 21 Wn. App. 803,…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 26.33.347Consent or refusal to release adoptee's identifying information—Desire to be contacted—Certified statement.In force
(1) An adopted person over the age of eighteen may file with the department of health a certified statement declaring any one or more of the following: (a) The adoptee refuses to consent to the release of any identifying information to a biological parent, biological sibling, or other biological relative and does not wish to be contacted by a confidential intermediary except in the case of a medical emergency as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction; (b) The adoptee consents to the release of any identifying information to a confidential intermediary appointed under RCW 26.33.343, a biological parent, biological sibling, or other biological relative; (c) The adoptee desires to be contacted by his or her biological parents, biological siblings, other biological relatives, or a confidential intermediary appointed under RCW 26.33.343; (d) The current name, address, and telephone number of the adoptee who desires to be contacted.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at app.leg.wa.gov
Sources and References
- Revised Code of Washington 26.33.345, Search for birth parent or adopted child, contact preference form(app.leg.wa.gov).gov
- Revised Code of Washington 26.33.330, Records sealed, inspection, fee(app.leg.wa.gov).gov
- Revised Code of Washington 26.33.343, Search for birth parent or adopted child, confidential intermediary(app.leg.wa.gov).gov
- Washington State Department of Health, Original Birth Certificate for an Adopted Person(doh.wa.gov).gov
- Revised Code of Washington 26.33.340, Department, agency, and court files confidential, limited disclosure of information(app.leg.wa.gov)
- Revised Code of Washington 26.33.347, Consent or refusal to release adoptee's identifying information, desire to be contacted, certified statement(app.leg.wa.gov)