Section 23 — Adoption Act 1955: Inspection of adoption records

23 Inspection of adoption records (1) An adoption order shall be open to inspection by any person who requires to inspect it for some purpose in connection with the administration of an estate or trust of which that person is executor, administrator, or trustee. (2) Adoption records are open to inspection by— (a) any Registrar (as defined in section 2 of the Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act 1995 ) or marriage celebrant under the Marriage Act 1955 for the purpose of investigating forbidden degrees of relationship under the Marriage Act 1955 ; and (b) any Registrar (as so defined) or civil union celebrant under the Civil Union Act 2004 for the purpose of investigating prohibited degrees of civil union under the Civil Union Act 2004 . (2A) Adoption records are open to inspection by a Social Worker for the purpose of preparing a report required under section 23A(1) . (3) Adoption records shall not be available for production or open to inspection except— (a) To the extent authorised by subsections (1) , (2) , or (2A) of this section or by section 11(4)(b) of the Adult Adoption Information Act 1985 ; or (b) On the order of a Family Court, a District Court, or the High Court, made— (i) For the purposes of a prosecution for making a false statement; or (ii) In the event of any question as to the validity or effect of any interim order or adoption order; or (iii) On any other special ground. Section 23 was substituted, as from 1 March 1986, by section 15 Adult Adoption Information Act 1985 (1985 No 127). Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 40(2) Civil Union Act 2004 (2004 No 102). Subsection (2A) was inserted, as from 15 November 2000, by section 3(1) Adoption Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 49). Subsection (3)(a) was amended, as from 15 November 2000, by section 3(2) Adoption Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 49) by substituting the words “ subsections (1), (2), or (2A) ” for the words “ subsection (1) or subsection (2) ” .