Opinion ID: 1304855
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Law Firm's Adoption Files

Text: The Does believe S.C.Code Ann. § 20-7-1780(D) provides access to the Law Firm's adoption files. We disagree. The statute allows an agency to furnish adoptive parents, biological parents, or adoptees nonidentifying information when in the sole discretion of the chief executive officer of the agency the information would serve the best interests of the persons concerned either during the period of placement or at a subsequent time ... Id. Under the Does' theory, the Law Firm is an agency, which is required to release their files to Does if shown to be in Child's best interests. We disagree. Each party's argument in their respective brief and at oral argument centered upon whether a law firm is an agency based upon S.C.Code Ann. § 20-7-1780(D) and S.C.Code Ann. § 20-7-1650(E). We do not feel compelled to answer the question presently where, assuming arguendo the law firm is an agency, the statute vests the decision whether to release information to the sole discretion of the chief executive officer of the agency. S.C.Code Ann. § 20-7-1780(D). As Law Firm consistently exercised its discretion to deny the release of Child's adoption files, the Does' reliance on § 20-7-1780(D) would not aid in obtaining the files, even if Law Firm were an agency according to the statute. This conclusion does not leave Does without a remedy. Absent any statutory limitation on this Court's ability to compel Law Firm to release its adoption file, the intent of the Legislature in such circumstances is that, in the face of competing interests, the best interests of the Child be the paramount concern. [4] See S.C.Code Ann. § 20-7-1647. The Does have shown good cause why the release of Law Firm's adoption file is in Child's best interests. Therefore, the Does may obtain information contained within Law Firm's file if a search of the Clerk of Court's file does not reveal the necessary information.