Search Angel Tips - Kentucky
Search Angel Tips - KentuckyBirth and Death Records
Vital Records on Microfilm and Online
Petition and Non-ID
Court Transcripts
Genealogy Resources
| Birth and Death Records |
From 1911 to 1970, the Health Department put out hardcover books each year, or for two years at a time, with records of births and deaths in every County in Kentucky. Even children who were to be placed for adoption immediately after birth are listed.
Information includes:
- DOB
- birthmother's maiden/married name
The state ordered a halt to production and distribution of these books once they discovered people could find too much information this way. They asked all libraries to shred the books, but they did not order it. A few libraries and a few small county archives still have them.
The Kentucky Genealogy Museum, in Bowling Green, and the Louisville Public Library (the main branch on Main Street) still have these books. The Librarian at the Louisville Library has said that many pages have been ripped out of their books, but the Museum in Bowling Green has good books with very few pages missing, if any, according to them. (I use their books and have never seen a missing page yet.)
Births are recorded in alphabetical order by the given birth child's name. If you have the last name of your birth parents, you can look up that name, match either your date of birth or birth certificate number and find your given birth name and your birth mother's first name and maiden name, and the county of your birth.
Birth Certificate Number Stays The Same
In the state of Kentucky, up until 1970 (not sure of what they have done from that date on), an adoptee's birth certificate was only amended, and the original birth certificate number they where born with is the birth certificate number they will always have. If you have no birthparent name, but have the time and desire to really search, take the book from the year you were born and search each page till you find the matching birth certificate number.
People who have done this say it took them a few weeks or months, but they did find their birthparent name as well as their given birth name.
| Vital Records on Microfilm and Online |
All vital statistic records (marriage, divorce, death, births) are public record in Kentucky. Most all libraries have these on microfilm. Records of marriages and divorces are available from 1973 to present. Before 1973, you have to go to the state archives microfilm file, where the records date from 1911 to present.
The University of Kentucky web site has these records online (except for births). They are working now at getting those online also.
| Petition and Non-ID |
- You can petition the courts to open your adoption records, but most judges will not allow them to be opened unless it's for a very necessary medical reason. They are still not allowing adoption records opened just for finding birth family.
- For $250.00 you can request non-id information from the Cabinet of Human Resources in Frankfort, KY. This will not contain any medical information unless the birthparent listed any and agreed at the time of adoption that the birth child could have it.
They claim they will try and contact the birthparent at the last given address to see they can give you all the information they have and that, if they can not contact the birthparent, they will give you their last known address.
Someone who tried this was not given anything but non-id information. A few others online have said the same.
| Court Transcipts |
Up until the mid 1960's, transcripts of the court hearings for the parental rights relinquished were also a matter of public record. They can be found in the county of birth, but it's easier, with fewer questions asked, to find them at the State Archives. (If you go the State Archives, or even a County Archive, it's best to not mention the word adoption.) The transcript contains the birthparents' names and places of residence, as well as many of the facts about the adoption.
These are bit harder to find. It means first finding the court docket number, then going to the actual hand-written court books with the court order. If you know the agency that handled your adoption, you can find these with a little time, as the court dockets usually show the agency ad lidum for the child.
In the mid 60s, these records were included in the sealed documents but, for those born before this date, there is much there you can find concerning your adoption.
| Genealogy Resources |
For all adoptees searching, finding a person in your state who does genealogy research can lead you to public records that you might not otherwise know about.
- courtesy of Anne in Kentucky
| Adoption Profiles |
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