How do I get a court order to open nearly 100 year old adoption records in New York State?

By contacting the Vital Records office, I’ve found that New York adoption records require a court order to open.

I am trying to find information about my grandfather who was born around 1906-08, adopted for the first time between then and 1920 where he then appears in the census records with my family name, but strangely, he isn’t listed as Adopted Son until the 1930 census.

He died in the 1970s and my family has very limited information about him. What we know is very convoluted as is apparent above.

How do I go about starting the process to get a court order and what do I need to prove relationship beyond birth certificates?

Best answer:

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