Confidential Intermediary Service
Background
Illinois law (750 ILCS 50/18.3) now provides a way for adoptees, adoptive parents, birth parents and other birth relatives to connect. A Confidential Intermediary (CI) who is trained and certified to provide this service is appointed by the Court to locate a sought-after relative. When the relative is located, the CI explains the reason for the contact, describes the options available and helps facilitate a mutually agreeable outcome. Each person's privacy and confidentiality is protected during the process.
The CI program is administered by:
Midwest Adoption Center
3158 S. River Rd.
Ste. 120
Des Plaines, IL 60018
847-298-9096
About the Program
As of January 1, 2004, individuals may petition the Court for appointment of a Confidential Intermediary to locate a birth relative. The petition may be filed for any reason. There is no need to prove that medical information is needed or to state any reason at all for requesting the search. The following individuals may file this type of petition:
- an adopted or surrendered person who is 21 years of age or older
- an adoptive parent or legal guardian of an adopted or surrendered person under the age of 21
- a birth parent of an adopted or surrendered person who is 21 years or older
Other birth relatives may file a petition for the appointment of a CI but must explain to the Court the reason for requesting the search for a birth relative who is 21 years of age or older. The judge will determine if granting the petition "is of greater benefit." The following individuals may file this type of petition:
- an adult child of a deceased adopted or surrendered person
- an adoptive parent of a deceased adopted or surrendered person
- a legal guardian of a deceased adopted or surrendered person
- a surviving spouse of a deceased adopted or surrendered person
- an adult birth sibling of an adopted or surrendered person whose common birth parent is deceased and whose adopted or surrendered birth sibling is 21 years of age or older
- an adult sibling of a deceased birth parent whose surrendered child is 21 years of age or older
A recent court ruling provides that the CI service shall be available to persons who were born in Illinois but adopted in another state. However, the success of the CI service in such cases depends on the cooperation of authorities in those other states.
Procedures
To learn about the procedures for utilizing CI Services, visit the Confidential Intermediary Services of Illinois website at www.ci-illinois.org.
Another Information Option for DCFS Wards
The Midwest Adoption Center offers another level of disclosure to adoptees whose adoption or foster care was handled by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). For these adoptees and qualifying adoptive or birth relatives, the Midwest Adoption Center can examine closed DCFS case files and provide non-identifying information about the other parties involved. For more details about this free service, visit the
Midwest Adoption Center website.
