In the state I was adopted in (Illinois, arguably one of the hardest and most controlled adoption states), sealed records remain sealed. The *ONLY* exception that I'm aware of is for a medical condition that is life threatening...as in you have to *have* it before you can go to the courts to request they be unsealed.

Illinois *does* have a voluntary matching database that will either release medical records only, assuming the parents have entered it/approved it, or, if *both* sides want, will release contact info. Those are the only two ways.