摘要：In 1974, while presiding over Circuit Court Number 2 of Baltimore City, a court having jurisdiction over domestic relations cases, the author was struck by the searing emotionalism often arising when adoptees' quests to learn about their genealogical heritage were frustrated by Maryland's "sealed record" rule, which denies adoptees access to the records of their adoption proceedings except upon an order of court (which, in effect, means a showing of "good cause"). In this Article, the author critically examines such rules (and similar statutes) in light of the interests of the parties to the adoption process. He recommends that these restrictive rules and statutes be modified to grant access to adoptees when they reach the age of majority.
