§77. Certified copy for adoptive parents

A. Upon completion of the new record as provided for in R.S. 40:76 with respect to an adopted person who was born in Louisiana and adopted in another state, the state registrar shall issue to the adoptive parents a certified copy of the new record and shall place the original birth certificate and the copy of the decree and related documents in a sealed package and shall file the package in its archives.

B. Except as provided in R.S. 40:74, this sealed package shall be opened only upon the demand of the adopted person, or if deceased, by his or her descendants, or upon the demand of the adoptive parent, or the state registrar, or the recognized public or private social agency which was a party to the adoption, and then only by order of a Louisiana court of competent jurisdiction at the domicile of the vital records registry which court order shall issue only after a showing of compelling reasons, and opened only to the extent necessary to satisfy such compelling necessity.

C. In satisfying the requirement that information shall be revealed only to the extent necessary to satisfy the compelling necessity shown, the court is further authorized to use the services of the curator ad hoc appointed pursuant to Article 5091.2 of the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure.

D. All motions for records under this Section shall be in accordance with and subject to, the provisions of R.S. 9:437 and, if an adoption agency is involved, the agency shall be served with a copy of the motion as provided in Article 1313 of the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure.

Acts 1979, No. 776, §1. Acts 1986, No. 876, §1.