By Teesta Bhola-Shah
What a year 2025 has been! In 2025, while adoption wasn’t a topic that many people had on the forefront of their minds, some real changes occurred behind the scenes. Whether you’re adoptee, adoptive family, birth parent, or just curious about adoption, there’s so much to look back on and be proud of. Let’s dive into the biggest moments that shaped adoption this year.
Global Shifts in Adoption Policy
South Korea Makes Huge Moves
One of the most talked-about developments of the year was South Korea’s decision to phase out international adoptions by 2029. After decades of sending hundreds of thousands of children abroad, officials announced that the government will focus on domestic care instead — a major shift in global adoption trends. (AP News)
This came as part of a broader reckoning over past adoption practices, particularly around falsified records and human rights issues that many Korean adoptees have long fought to expose. (Korea Economic Institute of America)
People’s reactions to South Korea’s decision to end international adoptions are mixed but intense. Many adoptees and advocates welcome it as a long-overdue acknowledgment of past abuses, including falsified records and unethical practices, but they say that ending international adoptions alone isn’t enough without full truth-telling, access to records, and reparations. Others are supportive yet skeptical, worried the policy is more symbolic than substantive unless paired with real accountability and long-term support for adoptees and families.
More States Allow Adoptees’ Rights to Their Records
2025 saw real legal progress in the U.S. with several efforts to restore or expand adoptees’ access to original birth certificates.
Georgia Opens Up Birth Records
In July 2025, Georgia passed Andee’s Law (Senate Bill 100), ending a decades-old ban on adult adoptees accessing their original birth certificates without a huge court battle. Now adoptees 18+ can request their records just like anyone else. It’s a HUGE win for identity and access rights! (CitizenPortal)
Utah Expands Access Too
Utah passed HB 129, which gives adoptees access to their birth records when they turn 18 — no more court petitions or attorneys required. There’s still an option for birth parents to request a protective order, but overall this is a positive first step toward transparency. (Mysite)
More States in the Mix
Other states and coalitions (like Virginia’s HB2093) are pushing similar bills to let adoptees see their own birth certificates without burdensome legal hoops, and the activist energy behind these campaigns keeps growing! (Capitol Coalition for Adoptee Rights)
Federal-Level Advocacy: Citizenship Changes on the Table
Not all adoption news was local — 2025 also saw federal advocacy for adoptee rights, including the Protect Adoptees and American Families Act (also called the Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2025). This proposed law aims to fix U.S. immigration rules so all intercountry adoptees can get automatic U.S. citizenship, even if they were adopted as adults or born before 1983. (Adoptees United)
If passed, this would be huge, especially for adoptees who’ve lived as Americans their whole lives but didn’t get citizenship automatically due to outdated code. More people should know and be talking about this so that it can get passed!
Celebrations
Across the U.S., courts and communities celebrated hundreds of finalized adoptions, especially around National Adoption Day and throughout November. For example, California courts finalized 300+ adoptions, turning days into joyful celebrations with families, decorations, and big smiles. (California Courts Newsroom)
And just recently, in Madison County, Illinois, 36 foster children officially gained forever families at a heart-filled Adoption Day celebration, complete with arts, judges, and some superhero guests! (The Edwardsville Intelligencer)
Community + Conversations Expanded
This year saw legal changes, but also large amounts of community support with people coming together.
Support groups, virtual meetups, and peer circles for adoptees and birth family members happened throughout the year, helping folks share stories and feel seen. (Reddit)
Online forums and local advocacy groups kept the adoption rights conversations alive, from workshops around birth information to events just for adoptees to talk about identity, belonging, and life after adoption. And of course, there’s this website, which has been active for over 6 months now!
2025 in a Nutshell: What We Learned
Transparency laws are spreading, and adoptees getting easier access to their own history.
Global policies are shifting, especially in countries like South Korea.
Federal advocacy is changing, while bills tackling citizenship inequalities are gaining momentum.
Adoption is about community, adoption celebrations around the world remind us why we tell these stories.
