Can I obtain an adoption record for someone who is deceased?

Question

I am trying to find information about my grandmother. She was adopted as a child by a family friend because her parents were killed in a car wreck. She died years ago and no one knows who her birth parents were (I guess no one bothered to ask). Her adoption took place in Ohio and the records are not sealed because it took place prior to the cut off date. Do you think I would be able to get that record or is it only for the actual person who was adopted?

Answer 1

Most states allow for family members of deceased adoptees to obtain info.

Here is info regarding OH and who to contact.

Obtaining an Original Birth Certificate:

An adopted adult can receive birth certificate through the Ohio Department of Health, if the adoption was finalized before January 1, 1964.

Unless a copy of the *book document* is requested you will receive only a computer generated abstract of birth and death certificates as well as marriage and divorce documents. These computer generated documents will *not *include all the information that the book document does. The cost, reportedly is the same. Note that this procedure pertains to *all* documents requested for any reason.

Documents in the Adoption Envelope usually include a copy of the OBC and the adoption decree. Complete an Affidavit of Adoption and send in $20. The Affidavit should be sent to:

Ohio Department of Health

Vital Statistics

35 East Chestnut Street

P. O. Box 15098

Columbus, OH 43215-0098

Attn: Special Registrations

Download the Affidavit here or obtain a copy from the Dept. of Health/Vital Statistics.

Here is the link to the above info.

http://laws.adoption.com/statutes/ohio-l...

OH birth records are available to many search angels and they may also be able to assist you once you have obtained the OBC.  They may also be able to help if you can not obtain it.

Use this link for OH search angels. (G's adoption search)

http://www.aci.net/schaefer/page60.html

Answer 2

http://adoption.about.com/od/searchangel...

http://www.adoptionregistry.net/

http://peoplesearch.trusted-opinion.com/...

And try the Ohio office of Vital Statistics

http://www.odh.state.oh.us/vitalstatisti...

Hope these sites help

Meg

Answer 3

You can petition to have the records.  Look up the State of Ohio's Adoption Registry for details.  If someone from her family is also looking, they can match you up.

Try Tina's Adopiton Search and Shea's Adoption Search online.  Both are excellent search sites and will lead you through each step.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Hi Amber~

Most states will only issue an amended birth certificate.  Meaning it would have the adoptive parents name on the birth certificate, not the birth parents.  The birth parents info is not available often after the adoption is complete.    To "protect" their rights.  So states issue an "amended" birth certificate.

My best friend was adopted by her step father, she never met her biological father.  Her mother is now dead and she knows nothing about her father, not even his name.  The state of Ohio will not issue her her own original birth certificate, only the amended birth certificate. Bureaucracy at it's finest!

Oregon is one of the few states that will issue both amended and original birth certificates.  

To read more about the rights, or shall I say lack of rights, of adoptees and their families, log on to:

www.b******s.org

Seriously it is a great site.  And it may help you find loop hole in obtaining or fighting for the right to obtain TRUE information!  Good luck.

Answer 5

You may be able to get it.  Go ahead and try!! Since you are a direct descendent, it would be easier for you than someone else.

Answer 6

You would be able to get it, I'm sure.  Join SoaringAngels at Yahoo groups, or TheRegistry at yahoo groups, or theadoptiondatabase at google groups,  and there are many people, Search Angels,  who can help you.

Contact Social Services in Ohio and they will let you know if there is a registry, or they can tell  you how to go about getting the records.  If you have the info, then you don't need the registry.  

.

Answer 7

I would contact the Vital Records office and see what you can dig up.  If they don't have the records there, then I'm betting they'll know where to point you so you can find out.

You might also be able to contact a private investigator to dig up information.

I wish you the best on your quest for information!