(a)  Upon receipt of the affidavit under § 15-7.2-7, the court shall review its data base and determine whether there is a match by comparing the dates and place of birth of the adopted person.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 15-7.2-10

  • Adoptee: means a person who has been adopted in the state of Rhode Island. See Rhode Island General Laws 15-7.2-1
  • Adoption: means the judicial act of creating the relationship of parent and child where it did not exist previously. See Rhode Island General Laws 15-7.2-1
  • Adult: means a person twenty-one (21) years of age or older. See Rhode Island General Laws 15-7.2-1
  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Chief judge: The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court but also decides cases; chief judges are determined by seniority.
  • Health history: is a comprehensive report, when obtainable, of the child's health status and medical history at the time of placement for adoption, including neonatal, psychological, developmental, physiological, and medical care history. See Rhode Island General Laws 15-7.2-1
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Registry: is a passive voluntary adoption reunion registry as established under this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 15-7.2-1

(b)  If a likely match appears, the chief judge of the family court or an associate justice designated by the chief judge shall examine the original birth certificate or adoption records to verify a match. Examination of adoption records for purposes other than verifying a match and release of information from the adoption record is strictly prohibited.

(c)  If the registry determines there is a match, and if the necessary relevant persons have registered with the registry, notification of the match may be given by the registry to the registrants only as defined in § 15-7.2-8.

(d)  Notification of a match to the relevant parties shall be made through a direct and confidential contact at the address specified by the registrant. Subsequent to the notification of a match, and prior to the release of identifying information, the adult adoptee shall participate in not less than one hour of consultation designed specifically to assist in addressing the manifest issues that may be expected to transpire in these situations.

(e)  Any eligible registrant may receive from the registry non-identifying genetic, social, and health history information as defined in this chapter, regardless of whether a verified match occurs.

History of Section.
P.L. 1993, ch. 388, § 1.