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I am in the process of petitioning Fresno County Court. Just call up to LA Co Superior Court and ask about filing a petition. They probably have their own form since they are a large county. I had to use San Fransisco's form as Fresno does not have their own.
The only answer I've received from the judge is that I have to serve the Fresno County Counsel with my petition because I was adopted through the county so the county attorney can either approve or deny opening my file.
Of course, every county is different. In fact there are 10 counties in CA that are open - this makes no sense to me at all. Nevertheless, I'd call LA superior court and ask what exactly their procedures are. Good luck!
I too am in the process of petitioning the court. My adoption was handled in San Francisco, California, so as another post mentioned, you will want to call the county that handled your adoption to verify the process.
San Francisco County, Unified Family Court online petition viewable at [URL="http://www.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/courts/Forms_Fees_Rules/Local_Court_Forms/ApplicationAndOrderREReleaseOfAdoptionRecords.pdf"]http://www.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/courts/Forms_Fees_Rules/Local_Court_Forms/ApplicationAndOrderREReleaseOfAdoptionRecords.pdf[/URL]
Unified Family Court mailed me a hardcopy of the form, with these instructions:
Unified Family Court
400 McAllister Street Room 402
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-551-3913
Please fill out the enclosed form "Application and Order re: Release of Adoption Records" along with the following items:
1. A copy of your current photo ID. Requesting party must be involved with the adoption case in order to request the information.
2. A blank check payable to the Superior Court of California. Please indicate on the check in the "memo" section" Amount not to exceed $40.00. The research fee is $15.00, if the research exceeds 10 minutes. The charge is $.50 per page of copied documents and the certification fee is $15.00.
3. A self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage.
4. Indicate a case number if known or any information that may assist us in the research.
5. Please be certain that the final adoption was completed and finalized in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco.
Please allow two to four weeks for processing.
State of California also has an example petition contained in a file called something like "Adoption 01-01-08.pdf", but I couldn't find a link for it.
State of California general information (mutual consent registry) found at [url=http://www.childsworld.ca.gov/PG1314.htm]Information On Your Adoption[/url]
I've also utilized the CA mutual consent registry, filling a form 904 & two 904A. (I was adopted, and my adoptive mother had given a child up for adoption, I registered as sibling with him). Your milage may vary, but it took over 6 months, and writing the director of SF Human Services Agency to obtain my non-identifying information.
Good luck from another adult adoptee.
...and of course, I'm not a lawyer, and in no way should the above be construed as legal advice. It's just personal experience.