Adoption records: confidentiality.

Existing law establishes the confidentiality of adoption records, and provides that these records be available only upon the order of the superior court. Existing law prohibits the court from granting these orders unless a verified petition setting forth facts showing the necessity of the order has been presented to the court and good and compelling cause is shown for the granting of the order. Under existing law, if the petition is by or on behalf of an adopted child who has attained majority, these facts shall be given great weight, but the granting of any petition is solely within the discretion of the court. Existing law also authorizes a party to the adoption to request, and the court to order, that the name of the child's birth parents or any information tending to identify the child's birth parents is deleted from the documents prior to the clerk of the court providing the documents for inspection by any person. This bill would authorize an adopted child to have full and unrestricted access to his or her adoption records in the same manner as a party to the proceeding.