Lutheran Family Service is a licensed child-placing agency that will walk with you on your journey as you determine the right time to seek a reunion with your birth family or child.
Lutheran Family Service’s Search & Reunion services are provided for families whose adoptions were handled through Lutheran Family Service originally. If you are not sure which agency was used in your adoption, please contact us as we will check our records and see if we can help.
As an adopted adult in Iowa, you can receive a noncertified copy of your birth certificate prior your adoption from Iowa Vital Statistics office. This is an inexpensive way to learn the identity of a biological parent.
HF855 was signed into law on May 19, 2021 in Iowa. This legislation allows an Iowa adult-adopted person to apply for a noncertified copy of their original certificate of birth before they were adopted. If the adult adoptee is deceased, an entitled family member may apply for the record.
Original certificates of birth contain the identity of the biological mother of the child and sometimes also contain the identity of the biological father of the child. Additionally, the name of the adopted person, given at birth, is a part of the record. This name may be the same or different from their name when an adoption decree was ordered. Historically, this is often a different name.
The certificate of birth given is a photocopy and not a certified copy, but for most, this is adequate. Having two certified birth records; one before and one after an adoption, causes identity theft concerns and is not permitted.
As an adopted adult in Iowa, you can receive a noncertified copy of your birth certificate prior your adoption from Iowa Vital Statistics office. This is an inexpensive way to learn the identity of a biological parent.
The Iowa law change regarding birth certificates only pertains to the Iowa Vital Statistics office and does not give permission for adoption agencies or Iowa Courts to provide identifying information of biological parents to adopted persons whose adoption took place after July 4, 1941.
Adoption agencies are allowed to assist adopted persons and biological parents who relinquished a child for adoption to possibly reunite, if all parties involved give their permission. Adoption agencies are also allowed to share non-identifying information about biological parents with adult-adopted persons. You may call (515) 251-4900 to learn more about the opportunities to do so if you are an adopted person, a biological parent who relinquished a child for adoption, or an extended biological family member of a person placed for adoption by Lutheran Family Service.
