"Non-identifying information" is referred to as information given to an adoptee about their adoption and birth family. A very few states define within their statutes what constitutes non-identifying information, and makes provisions for its release through agencies and courts. In some states non-ID is not defined, which leaves it up to the court or agency releasing the information to determine what to give or what not to give you. In general non-ID' will include some or all of the following about one's birth parents:

• ages
• occupation(s)
• level of education
• race and/or ethnicity
• religion
• physical description
• hobbies
• talents
• marital status
• medical history
• circumstances surrounding the adoption

There are a few lucky folks who may receive the first names of the birth parents, medical history, ages, and information on extended birth family.

If your adoption a private adoption you should petition the court that finalized the adoption. If your adoption was an agency adoption you should petition the court and contact the agency directly. Sometimes you will get more information and different information from each one.
When requesting non identifying information, a wait as fees may be involved depending on the agency or court. When making your request, I suggest stating the information you expect to receive even if your state defines what non id is. I would ask for first AND last names, residence, last known address, the name of the school or college you birth parents attended, what they majored in, and anything else that you can think of but don’t expect to get it. However, the more you ask for, the more you may receive.

In regards to the courts or agency, the purpose of non ID is meant to answer some questions that you have and they expect it to end there. The courts and agency’s don’t expect you to utilize the information they provide to be used in a search you have decided to conduct yourself.
If you have written for your non ID in the past and received it, I am going to suggest that it would be a good idea to write again if several years have passed or if the adoption laws in your state have changed.
Keep in mind that the courts or agency’s can only give you what is in the adoption file. If the information isn’t there, they don’t know them selves. This happened to be my case. When I initiated my search 15 years ago (1991) my non id contained my birth mother’s age, her religion, her occupation, and that I was born out of wedlock. That was it! The information simply was not there to provide.