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deerco1...the opening of sealed records is a real challenge at best. I'll try to provide some general thoughts for your evaluation. You can gain non-identifying info in many ways. That is info you are entitled to have.In terms of opening sealed records, courts in many states use the legal term, "good cause." You are required to present to the court your reasons for having the records unsealed.Some courts are more lenient than others. Many courts don't accept medical reasons even in the face of terminal disease. It will be up to the judge to decide if the reasons you have for unsealing the records meet the requirements of "good cause."Generally, in law "good cause" is the evidence that the reasons you have for unsealing the records are more compelling ( or important ) than the reasons for which they were sealed. The Judge will make that decision.If you wish to petition the court to unseal the records the states have different means as to how this is done.If you know where your final adoption took place, you can contact the clerk of that court and request information on how to petition the court. Some courts require a standardized form they will send, others require that you communicate directly with the judge. The information provided by the Clerk of the Court is simply an explanation of the procedure of how to petition the court. That information is free.The Clerk of the Court will not give you legal advice. Should you decide to petition the court to have the records unsealed, it would be best to have an attorney. Some attorneys offer a free first consultation to see if there is enough evidence to go to court. The attorney will review your reasons for unsealing the records and provide legal advice.I wish you the best.
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