Birth Parents Must Take Action to Protect Privacy

The Catholic Church in New Jersey has provided many years of adoption services. The Church promised to honor the privacy of birth parents and adoptees. That promise of privacy also was assured by law and affirmed by the State Superior Court. Those promises can no longer be kept. On May 27, 2014, a new law took effect that will allow adoptees and certain relatives to request and obtain the names of their biological parents beginning January 1, 2017. Any birth parents who wish to preserve their privacy must submit a Redaction Request Form to the New Jersey Department of Health no later than December 31, 2016. By filing this form, birth parents will be able to keep their names off any documents provided by the State to adoptees or anyone else. The State made the Redaction Request Form public on August 3, 2015. The form can be downloaded at http://nj.gov/health/forms/reg-36c.pdf If you know a person who placed a child in adoption, please tell them that if they do not file a Redaction Request Form, their name and other information could be given to the adoptee. Anyone needing assistance can call a HELPLINE AT 609-989-4809.