|
Adoption Records ~ Be Your Own Detective |
 Looking for Birth Parents or Adopted Child
Here's your first objective of an adoption search: Discover the identity of the
child you relinquished. Or, discover the names of the birth parents who
relinquished you.
The biggest difference between an adoption investigation and a missing person
investigation is that in an adoption search you generally don't have a name with
which to begin your search.
Order a People Search. Experienced database search specialists will
immediately go to work for you, to quickly return real, meaningful results.
See our Sample Report |
Sealed Adoption Records
Certain state's laws forbid the opening of sealed adoption records.
See Adoption Records by State. Sealed records
can be opened by court order. This is touchy business and difficult for
individuals not trained or skilled in dealing with these matters. Consult an
experienced attorney before pursuing court action.
If you do find the all-important identifying information, your search can be
conducted in much the same way as any other locate investigation.
The most important advice from experts schooled and experienced in adoption
investigations: You most certainly face difficulties searching for loved ones
separated by adoption.
Your first difficult encounter will likely be with one or more of the public
servants who insist on following to the letter those laws that govern the
release of information contained in adoption records.
Federal Adoption Laws
Sealed adoption records will make your search less than easy. To add to the
dilemma, federal adoption laws are governed by rights and privileges guaranteed
by the Freedom of Information Acts, as well as by the Right to Privacy Acts, but
are enacted and administered by individual states(!)
"Information" and "Privacy" are the key words in the names of the important laws
that guarantee citizens the right to access records contained in executive
agency and department files pertaining to themselves. The law also guarantees
that information can be withheld whenever the information disclosed would
clearly constitute an invasion of privacy.
Adoption laws were created "in the best interest of the child" to protect the
privacy rights of both the adoptive family and the birth parents. All states
protect minor children. After the child becomes an adult, however, the
protection of the "child" would seem irrelevant, but this is not always the
case.
Order a People Search. Experienced database search specialists will
immediately go to work for you, to quickly return real, meaningful results.
See our Sample Report
State Adoption Laws
States differ in their interpretation of adoption laws. Rules and regulations
vary from state to state. Investigate the laws pertaining to the states in which
you will be searching.
Your library has an index of state laws regarding adoption and the release of
information. If these are not available at your library, ask the research
librarian to help you obtain a copy of the pertinent laws through an
inter-library loan. You can also consult a law library for this information. See
Local Information Sources for further information.
Adoption Support Groups
A search may prove emotionally trying for all concerned. Our Search Experts
recommend you contact a support group for assistance. Support groups will
happily supply you with information concerning current laws, new search
techniques, and up-to-date information. Some groups maintain a registry.
Search and adoption consultants and group members will assist you in your
search. Services and fees vary considerably. Investigate
thoroughly before you sign a contract.
Adoption Search Consultants
Search Consultants work independently or as part of a group. Charges range
from free for voluntary services to quite expensive when you engage the services
of a trained professional.
Be certain to inquire about the organization's or individual's qualifications
and the costs involved before making a commitment.
Adoption Search Assistants
These folks aid in searching records, give advice on search techniques, and
provide guidance in applying criteria to your particular situation. Many support
groups have Search Assistants associated with their organizations and will be
glad to refer you to one. Some are volunteers connected with the
organization and some are professionals who charge fees that range from small to
substantial, especially for "no-name searches."
Adoption Records Searchers
These professional experts know where records are located and how to gain access
to them. You can hire a Records Searcher to search all records or to locate
difficult-to-find records. Be sure to inquire into what is included in
services offered. Most states charge for searching for a document and
coping it. Some Records Searchers may also expect personal expenses, such
as travel expenses, to be reimbursed. Some Records Searchers retrieve
records manually, and others rely on Information Providers like us.
Order a People Search. Experienced database search specialists will
immediately go to work for you, to quickly return real, meaningful results.
See our Sample Report
Genealogical Consultants
To locate a missing relative, it is often necessary to trace family histories.
Genealogical Consultants are highly-trained experts in the field of genealogy.
They concern themselves with records and files about people who are deceased.
They search indexed files for information about relatives through census reports
from the National Archives and the Library of Congress.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS, has the largest
library in the country pertaining to family history. They employ a large staff
of Genealogical Consultants.
Adoption Legal
Consultants
You may encounter situations that require the services of an attorney who may
ask you to sign a limited power of attorney waving the right to confidentially.
The attorney will correspond with state agencies and hospitals to request
records on your behalf. He or she will advise you when questions arise
concerning legalities or legal forms.
If you can't afford an attorney, contact your local bar association to inquire
about legal clinics and the services available to you. Or, contact the Legal Aid
Society, who may refer you to an attorney who specializes in adoptee/birth
parent litigation. Adoption Intermediaries
Intermediaries are individuals or institutions that represent the interests of
other people or an organization. Courts appoint intermediaries in
adoption-related searches and may make decisions on your behalf that may not
coincide with your search goals.
Adoption agencies also act as intermediaries. These agencies may or may
not take the searcher's personal needs and feelings into account.
Intermediaries may be those persons appointed by individuals to act on their
behalf. Anyone can be an intermediary: a friend, a spouse, another searcher, a
Professional Consultant, or a Professional Investigator. If you feel incapable
of conducting an investigation yourself because of physical limitations, time
restrictions, emotional burdens, or for any other reason, engaging or hiring an
intermediary may provide the solution to your dilemma.
When hiring or appointing someone to act as an intermediary on your behalf, sign
a limited power of attorney specifying exactly in what instances that person may
act on your behalf, and a waiver of confidentially, which will allow them access
to your personal records. Be sure all records will be returned to you when the
search has been completed.
Order a People Search. Experienced database search specialists will
immediately go to work for you, to quickly return real, meaningful results.
See our Sample Report
Networking - Adoption Support Groups
Some search/support groups and reunion registries network to broaden the
area of search. It's a good idea to register with a large national reunion
registry at the beginning of your investigation. Considering the rapid rate at
which searchers are signing up, you might get lucky right away!
Adoption Reunion Registries
Reunion registers are files indexed by name and other identifying information,
such as the child's date of birth, hospital where born, and physical
description. Quite a few search and support groups maintain a registry of
their members and/or belong to a national registry. Those registries are listed
with the organizations to which they belong.
Your search will be conducted by entering the data you provide into a database
and attempting a match-up with like information. For this search to be
successful, both parties must be registered and actively searching.
State Adoption Reunion Registries
More then half of the states in the United States maintain reunion registries.
Some states place restrictions on the release of information, including
psychological counseling or consent from the adoptive parent - regardless of the
age of the "child." Other states are not nearly so restrictive.
Check with your state officials to see whether you want to pursue this course of
action. See,
State
Directory
for listings of state reunion registries.
If you were adopted as an infant, your best source for information will be your
adopted family. If you announce that you intend to go ahead with your search,
family members may react in different ways. Some may be cold to the
decision, in which case, information might not be all that easily forthcoming.
On the other hand, some loved ones may support your decision and readily
volunteer details of your birth and adoption.
Your decision to take on this search could affect the emotional well-being of
family members. Your parents may feel insecure in their position and
fearful of being replaced in your life. Some adoptees do not inform their
adopted parents of their intention to search for their birth parents because
they do not want to cause pain. If you do inform them of your intentions,
reassure them that your need to know your genealogical history does not in any
way threaten your relationship or the love you have for them.
Question family members carefully about anybody who was involved with your
adoption. Ask them to try to recall anything they can about your birth parents.
They may know their names. If you were a young child at the time of the
adoption, you may have some recollections about your birth parents.
The adoptive family may be able to tell you where the adoption took place, how
they got you as a child, and who the attorney was. They don't usually
share this information. The search for an adoptee is totally different
than the search for a birth parent.
Go to the home for unwed mothers. Of all the places you had connections with
during that time period, that is the place you need to begin. If you can find a
yearbook, start calling friends. Somebody might remember a girl who was pregnant
that year. Some people have been found that way. Some people have been found by
running an ad in the newspaper. If you know where the birth mother was from, run
a little ad in the paper in that area. If you have a date of birth, you might
run a driver's record check to see if she has a driver's license in that state.
Order a People Search. Experienced database search specialists will
immediately go to work for you, to quickly return real, meaningful results.
See our Sample Report
Adoption Search - Looking for Birth Parents
Birth Mother
An adult child of adoption is usually looking for his or her birth mother,
mainly because the mother's name appears on birth and adoption documents.
But a woman changes her name when she marries, and the fact that your birth
mother's name may be different now could hinder your search.
Birth Father
Nothing may be known of your father. Try to obtain your father's full
name; you may be able to locate him fairly easily. On your side: a man
rarely changes his name.
Fill out our How to Investigate
"Looking for Birth Parent" form to help you with your search.
Adoption Search - Looking for Your Child
If you relinquished a child for adoption, begin by writing down everything you
can remember. Make a list of everyone who had knowledge of the event or was
involved in any way, no matter how insignificant that data may appear.
Parents, family members and family friends may have been involved in the
adoption. They may even have known the adoptive family. Arrangements could
have been made through a family doctor, attorney, or minister.
Customarily, the parent looking for a child is the mother. Increasingly, fathers
too are seeking children given up for adoption. (To locate a father, first
locate the mother. Question her about his identity.)
People to Interview
- Parents
- Minister
- Relatives
- Intermediary
- Family attorney
- Hospital personnel
- State social workers
- Family doctor & delivery doctor
- Unwed mother's home personnel
- Adoption agency personnel
- Records administration
Fill out our How to Investigate
Looking for Your Child form to help you with your search.
Order a People Search. Experienced database search specialists will
immediately go to work for you, to quickly return real, meaningful results.
See our Sample Report
Online Adoption Computer Registries - Continue to Part II
 |
Investigative
Professionals Background Checks
Our Search Experts tap connections to a far-reaching network of massive
databases containing more than four billion records to run background checks and
criminal records reports. Our staff will immediately go to work for you, to
quickly return real, meaningful results. Search results are regularly returned
within hours.
See ALL Background Checks |
|
|
|
|
|
|
