Personal Note:

My family’s experience with Pennsylvania’s sealed adoption records goes back nearly a century. When my great‑grandmother died prematurely in 1927 from typhoid fever, her husband was left with three children—ages four, two, and less than one. Unable to care for them alone, he turned to nearby farm families, and each child was taken in and raised separately. Today, almost 100 years later, those records are still sealed.

Even though every person involved is long deceased—my grandmother, her siblings, their adoptive parents, and their biological parents—I was forced to spend thousands of dollars on a lawyer after a judge initially denied my petitions. When the court finally approved full release of all identifying and non‑identifying information, I still had to pay several hundred dollars to the court‑appointed search agent. Months later, despite the court order and the fees paid, I still (as of the creation of this petition) have not received the records.

No family should have to endure this. Pennsylvania’s laws must be updated so descendants can access historical adoption records without unnecessary legal barriers, delays, and expenses.

Additional Background: A recent article in the Butler Eagle covered my case and the barriers I faced trying to access my own family’s historical adoption records. It highlights how Pennsylvania’s outdated laws continue to harm descendants seeking basic genealogical, medical, and estate information. Link to article: Butler man fights for transparency in adoption records

Why this Amendment is Needed

Pennsylvania’s adoption laws are outdated and deny descendants access to essential historical, medical, and genealogical information. HB 536 and SB 644 do not fix this problem. Neither bill restores descendant access, modernizes §2915, or protects Pennsylvania’s historical adoption records.

This petition calls on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to ADD a comprehensive amendment package to HB 536 and SB 644 — not simply pass the bills as written.

Why an Amendment Is Needed
Under current Pennsylvania law, descendants of adoptees have no statutory right to obtain adoption records — even when the adoptee is deceased or the adoption occurred decades ago. Families must petition the Orphans’ Court, facing:

-inconsistent rulings
-long delays
-unnecessary legal barriers
-county‑by‑county variation

The Process Is Also Costly and Unfair

Petitioning the Orphans’ Court is not only inconsistent — it is expensive. Descendants often face:

court filing fees ranging from $50 to over $200 depending on the county
attorney fees that can exceed $1,000 if legal assistance is needed
multiple filings when counties require additional documentation
repeat costs if the petition is denied or if the county requests more information
These costs vary dramatically across Pennsylvania, meaning access to family history depends on where you live and how much you can afford. HB 536 and SB 644 do not eliminate these costs. The proposed amendment does.

What the Proposed Amendment Would Add
The amendment to §2915 of Title 23 would:

1. Restore descendant access when the adoptee is deceased or 30 years have passed
2. Make access ministerial, not judicial — no court petition or hearing
3. Allow requests using any known name (adoptive, birth, married, or alias)
4. Require statewide search authority when the county or original name is unknown
5. Establish clear timelines (15‑day receipt, 60‑day completion, 20‑day escalation)
6. Unseal and transfer adoption records at 105 years to the Pennsylvania State Archives
7. Require private agencies, orphanages, hospitals, and religious institutions to preserve and label records before transferring to the Pennsylvania State Archives
8. Set uniform fees (no research or per‑page charges or court & lawyer fees)
9. Require certified copies upon request

Why This Matters
-Descendants deserve access to their family’s history
-Courts are overburdened with petitions that should be simple administrative requests
-Families should not have to pay thousands of dollars to access basic historical records
-Historical adoption records are at risk of deterioration or destruction
-Genealogical, medical, and estate research depends on accurate records
-Pennsylvania already unseals birth and death records at 105 years — adoption records should follow the same standard

What We Are Asking
We call on Pennsylvania’s legislative leadership to:

Add the full amendment package to HB 536
Add parallel amendments to SB 644
Restore descendant access and protect Pennsylvania’s adoption history
 
Full Amendment Package & Summary (Public Links)

-Full Amendment Text (HB 536 Amendment to §2915):
The complete statutory amendment text — including legislative findings, descendant access provisions, statewide search authority, timelines, archival transfer requirements, and preservation mandates — is available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSgXoKSTrTLQz0dBz01uih0vnnu1E0l5BXGAOA8sMeXvP411GKb7iBrXSUdlWNMwA/pub

-Amendment Summary (Plain‑Language Explanation):
The full summary explaining the purpose of the amendment, the problems it solves, and how it modernizes Pennsylvania adoption law is available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRFRdSe6dsEDfhfFN2DJKupn8B3zpxFG5BdhAtzbUaOWq7exCWJR9r_IzCdnS2g2A/pub

Who Can Make This Happen (Will Update after PA November 2026 Election)

• PA House Health Committee Chair Dan Frankel
• PA Senate Health & Human Services Committee Chair Michele Brooks
• House Speaker Joanna McClinton
• Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward
• Governor of Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro
• PA House Majority Leader Matthew Bradford
• PA Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman

HB 536 and SB 644 do not fix this problem. The amendments do. Pennsylvania families deserve access to their history — and our state deserves to preserve its adoption records before they are lost forever.

Please sign and share.