Law talkers, I want to talk about impounded documentsArchived Message
Posted by Jackie on March 12, 2024, 13:14:19
My dad was adopted in Jasper County in IL. The only official adoption record is a supplemental decree of adoption. (It was most likely drafted by the adopting parents--my grandparents--who were attorneys.) My dad had to have this decree unsealed by a judge some years ago. It's the only official information I have about his adoption.
The final paragraph says "It is further ordered and decreed by this court that all other papers in this court filed relating to this proceeding, not be placed of record, but that all such papers shall be impounded at once by the clerk of this court, as by statute provided, except that the said clerk shall enter of record this supplimental [sic] decree."
So. It sounds to me like there were other papers that were part of this adoption--my dad's birth certificate, perhaps some statement of the birth parents relinquishing rights--that were part of the court proceedings but not put in the official case record but are perhaps stored somewhere. A little googling gave me the notion that these papers could potentially be accessed, and that it might require a court order.
I want to see these records. My dad was born in Illinois (city and county unknown) June 6, 1949; the supplemental decree of adoption was filed in Illinois (Jasper County) August 18, 1950. Presumably these records I want to access are in Jasper County.
I kinda had a notion to just go there to the courthouse, show them the document, and ask what I need to do to see the impounded papers. This is a very small town and my dad's family is very well known; my grandparents worked in the courthouse I'd be going to and had their law office across the street.
But it might be dumb to make a trip if I will need a court order.
Do I need a court order? And if so, I gotta call up my law talker?