New South Wales Consolidated Acts

ADOPTION ACT 2000 - SECT 174

174 Location of persons not registered

(cf AI Act s 34)

(1) If the name of an adopted person has been entered in the register under section 166 (2) (a), the Secretary may take such action as is reasonable in the circumstances to locate, or authorise an information source to locate, a birth parent or relative of the adopted person or any other person--

(a) with whom the adopted person wishes to be reunited, or

(b) whom the adopted person wishes to have contacted so that information may be obtained about his or her health and welfare,

so as to ascertain whether the person wishes to be reunited with the adopted person or to be so contacted.

(2) If the name of a birth parent has been entered in the register under section 166 (2) (a), the Secretary may take such action as is reasonable in the circumstances to locate the adopted person, so as to ascertain whether the adopted person wishes to be reunited with the birth parent or to be contacted so information may be obtained about his or her health and welfare.

(3) If the name of a relative or other person having an interest in an adopted person or birth parent has been entered in the register under section 166 (2) (a), the Secretary may take such action as is reasonable in the circumstances to locate the adopted person or birth parent, so as to ascertain whether the adopted person or birth parent wishes to be reunited with the relative or other person or to be contacted so information may be obtained about his or her health and welfare.

(4) The Secretary may take action to locate a person under this section only if the Secretary is satisfied that it will promote the welfare and best interests of the parties concerned and it is appropriate to do so.

(5) The Secretary may take action to locate a person under this section even though the person has not, by entering his or her name in the register, expressed a desire to be reunited with the person whose name is entered in the register or to be contacted so that information may be obtained about his or her health and welfare.