TN Code § 36-1-130 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 36 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 1 - Adoption|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 36-1-130. Access to Records — Search of Registry — Restrictions on Contact

   When a request is made for access to an adoption record, sealed adoption record, sealed record or a post-adoption record by a person eligible to have access, that person shall identify in writing on the form supplied by the department, the persons or classes of persons who are eligible under § 36-1-128 to refuse or allow contact with whom the person wishes to establish contact, if any, and shall submit the sworn statement required by § 36-1-127(f).   Upon submission of the sworn statement and after proper identification of the requesting party, the department shall grant access to the records requested. Notwithstanding § 68-3-313, upon receipt of a copy of the sworn statement required by § 36-1-127 or upon notification from the department, the division of vital records of the department of health shall grant access to a copy of an adopted person's original or amended birth certificate.   No person requesting access to the records, whether acting alone or in concert with any other person, persons or entities, shall at anytime contact or attempt contact with any person or persons who are eligible to file a contact veto until the completion of the search by the department pursuant to this section and § 36-1-131. A violation of this prohibition shall make the requesting party, the party's agents, or any person or persons acting in concert with them subject to the legal remedies pursuant to § 36-1-132.   If the person eligible to request access to the records does state on the form a desire to contact any person who is eligible to file a contact veto, then the department shall search the contact veto registry to determine whether a contact veto has been filed or whether consent has been given for further contact with the person who is sought.   The department shall only search for those persons with whom the requesting party seeks contact.      If a person files a contact veto in conformity with this part, the contact veto shall, in addition, automatically protect and apply to the person's spouse, siblings or future siblings, lineal descendants and lineal ancestors and any spouses of those other persons, but may exclude from such protection and application, by specific reference, any such relatives or spouses where permission is given to the department in writing by the person filing the contact veto. If, because contact vetoes or consents are filed on the same date, the department is unable to determine which was filed first, the contact veto shall be deemed to be the first filed.   The person filing the automatic veto or giving consent to contact may vary or withdraw the automatic veto or consent that has been given upon satisfactory proof of identity and by making such request in writing to the department.   If a request is made by an adopted person or person for whom records are maintained as described in § 36-1-127(c)(1)(A), or such person's legal representative, to have contact with a person to whom the automatic veto under subdivision (a)(6)(A)(i) applies or to have contact with a person who is otherwise eligible to file a contact veto, the department shall attempt to contact those persons for whom a contact request is made who are listed on the registry or, if not listed on the registry, shall attempt contact pursuant to the search requirements of § 36-1-131.   If a request is made under this part to have contact with an adopted person or a person for whom records are maintained as described in § 36-1-127(c)(1)(A) by a parent, sibling, lineal descendant, lineal ancestor of such person, or the legal representative of the requesting party, the department shall make a diligent effort to contact the adopted person or the person for whom records are maintained as described in § 36-1-127(c)(1)(A), or such person's legal representatives, based upon information contained in any records that it maintains pursuant to this part or based upon other information that it is given by the parent, sibling, lineal descendant, lineal ancestor or the legal representative of such persons.   In the circumstances described in subdivision (a)(6)(A)(iii) or (a)(6)(A)(iv), the department shall determine if any of these persons wish to consent to contact with the requesting party or whether they wish to confirm, alter, vary or withdraw a contact veto, or in the case of an adopted person or a person for whom records are maintained as described in § 36-1-127(c)(1)(A), whether they wish to release any identifying information.   If the adopted person or person for whom records are maintained as described in § 36-1-127(c)(1)(A), is twenty-one (21) years of age or older, or such person's legal representative, wishes to permit contact or wishes to release identifying information, such person may give written direction to the department relative to the desire for contact or the extent of identifying information such person wishes to release; provided, that notwithstanding any other provisions of this part to the contrary, they shall not be under any affirmative duty to use any of the procedures for filing any contact veto pursuant to this part to prevent contact or to prevent the release of any identifying information from any record subject to this part, and no identifying information from any record shall be made available to any other persons without the written consent to the department by an adopted person or person for whom records are maintained as described in § 36-1-127(c)(1)(A), or such person's legal representative; provided, that nothing herein shall be construed to prevent access to identifying information in the records of the adopted person as otherwise permitted or required pursuant to §§ 36-1-125, 36-1-126 and 36-1-138. If written direction is given by an adopted person or person for whom records are maintained as described in § 36-1-127(c)(1)(A), or such person's legal representative, to permit contact or the release of certain identifying information, the department shall require the requesting party to sign a sworn statement similar to that required under § 36-1-127(f), acknowledging the restrictions on contact or use of any identifying information permitted or allowed under this subdivision (a)(6)(A)(vi).   The spouse of the person filing an automatic veto and the siblings, lineal descendants and lineal ancestors and any spouses of those persons, or the legal representatives of any persons eligible to file a contact veto, may also give written consent to the department for release from the automatic veto that may have been filed prior to such person's filing with the contact veto registry, and the person, or the person's legal representative, may alter or vary the automatic veto as it applies specifically to that person, and, if contacted by the department pursuant to this part in response to a search request, may agree to contact.     The restrictions of § 36-1-132 shall apply to the persons enumerated in subdivision (a)(6)(A)(i) or their agents or persons acting on their behalf.   If a person who is contacted pursuant to this part agrees to contact before any other person files a contact veto pursuant to this part, subdivision (a)(6)(A)(i) shall not apply to that person.        If a contact veto has been filed, the department shall notify the person with whom contact has been sought of the inquiry concerning the request for contact. Such person shall have the opportunity to confirm the veto, vary it, or withdraw it.   If a contact veto that has been filed with the department remains intact or is filed as a result of a search pursuant to § 36-1-131, or if a consent to contact is altered to withdraw the ability to have contact, the department shall notify the requesting party of this fact and the requesting party shall not be permitted contact with the person sought.   If the contact veto remains intact, or if the adopted person or a person for whom records are maintained as described in § 36-1-127(c)(1)(A), or such person's legal representative, refuses contact or refuses to release identifying information, the person making the request for contact or information may place such person's name, address and telephone number in the registry to request notification from the department should the contact veto be varied, altered or withdrawn or permission for release of identifying information be given, or such requesting person may, in writing, permit the department to release such person's name, address and telephone number to the person who had entered the contact veto or who had denied contact or who had denied the release of identifying information, and that person may contact the requesting person at such person's discretion without further involvement of the department.     If consent for contact is shown from the registry records or is given by the person with whom contact is sought either by withdrawing or varying the veto, or if the adopted person or a person for whom records are maintained as described in § 36-1-127(c)(1)(A), or such person's legal representative, gives permission for contact or for release of identifying information, the department shall, in conformity with the consent or the varied or altered veto, notify the person making the original request of this fact and shall provide such information as may be available to establish contact or shall provide such identifying information as may be released from any record in conformity with this part by the adopted person or a person for whom records are maintained as described in § 36-1-127(c)(1)(A), or such person's legal representative.   If the persons or classes of persons who are the subject of the search were not located on the registry or could not be notified at the address designated in the registry, the department shall follow the procedures under § 36-1-131.