Getting adoption papers, I'm the adoptee.?

Question

I asked this the other night, but it has not gotten any replies, so I am asking again and putting it in a different section...

I'd like the get the papers that tell me who my birth parents are...and all that wonderful information. The adoption was held in the Sarasota Court House in Florida. I was wondering if anyone knew a way that I could at least TRY to request them online? Or who I could call/write to get the information?

Answer 1

Just so you know, you do not have the legal right to know who you are. That's the law. However, some states allow non-identifying info to be released if you are 18 or older, fill out the appropriate paperwork, and (usually) pay money. With that info, sometimes you can do the necessary detective work to find some answers.

In Florida, here are some links to get you started:

http://vitalrec.com/fl.html

Florida State Vital Records Office

Office of Vital Statistics, Dept of Health

P.O. Box 210

1217 Pearl Street

Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042

[phone] Ext. 1029

Fax: [phone]

http://www.findinginflorida.org/

And, from a friend's website:

"Non-Identifying Information such as medical history and social history may be obtained by adults who were adopted. How one obtains non-identifying information depends on how the adoption was facilitated. Of the adoption was facilitated by a private adoption agency, the private agency has the information and should be contacted directly. If the adoption was facilitated by the Department of Children and Families, (formally HRS) or an independent adoption facilitated by an attorney or physician, non-identifying information information may be obtained by writing to :

The Florida Post Adoption Services Unit,

Department of Children and Families,

1317 Winewood Blvd. Tallahassee, FL

32399-0700

The Post Adoption Services Unit does not charge a fee for non-identifying information. Private adoption agencies may charge a fee for releasing the information. Some agencies charge a fee, others do not.

For Additional information including local search and support groups, other State operated reunion registries, of International Soundex Reunion Registry applications, you may contact the center listed below.

Florida's Adoption Information Center

4203 Southpoint Blvd.

Jacksonville, Florida 32216



In Florida:1-800-96-ADOPT

Out of Florida: 904-353-0679

[e-mail]

Florida's Adoption Information Center was created by the Florida Legislature to serve as a clearinghouse in every area of adoption. The Center has served more that 35,000 people since opening in 1994. As a free service, the Adoption Information Center provides adoption information and referral services to adoptive parents, adult adoptees, birth relatives, pregnant women and professionals."

If you would like to ask a very knowledgeable group of adult adoptees, who have a wealth of info to help you in your search, go to http://www.adultadoptees.org/ .

Good luck!

Answer 2

contact Florida's Vital Records department

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/planning_eval...

and ask what you can receive.

Another option would be to contact a private investigator to see what you can dig up with the information you do have.

Answer 3

You can get the names and even the address or other contact information and it can all be done legally. I was also adopted through Catholic Services in the 70s. I had often wondered about my adoption and what would lead some one to give up their child. I eventually got the nerve up to really go looking. I searched on the net to get a phone number for the agency. They were more than happy to give me the non-identifying information. They wouldn't give me anything else. So I went to the court web site and did a little research there and even called them. They told me that I would need to file a petition. I file the petition and got my adoption record to include names and addresses for my birth mother and her parent. My father's information was still blacked out since he did not give the agency permission to release his information. That is the catch. I could have file the petition, but had my mother not files a release with the agency, I would have gotten nothing. Good luck with your own search.

Answer 4

Hi well there a a couple of ways for u to go about this.

1. there is a national registry called alma I hope thats the spelling. they help both sides. get ahold of them and u will be put on the list with all the info u got, and who knows if your birth parents or parent is looking for u there u will get a hit quick.

2. if your adpotions was through a private lawyer then alot of the time u can talk to him or her and they maybe able to get ahold of the birth parents and let them know u are looking for them, give all your information for them to get ahold of u.

there may be other ways that I dont know about but those are the best ways. I wish u good luck in your search. I had to give up my first child and that is the hardest thing for any mom to do, so when u find your birth parents I would think very much that they will be glad that u found them.  I hope u find your birth parents, best of luck to u just dont give up. if u ever want to talk or have ? e-mail me. peace

Answer 5

Start with the Sarasota County Courthouse:  http://www.sarasotaclerk.com/

Then, you could try some of the adoption tracing services they have out there.  They will cost some money, but you can decide how much you want to do on your own, and how much it's worth to you to have the information, etc.  Most of them are private investigators, so do your research and make sure they're licensed, etc., before giving them any money.  Just google "adoptions," "find birth parents," or "adoption investigation" (or some combination, or a similar phrase) and see what you get.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

I would start by calling the courthouse. I was adopted through catholic social services back in the 70's when adoption records were strictly sealed and off limits until you were 18. In the 80's I think some of that changed, so it depends on where, where and through what org you were adopted through. I met my birth-mother when i turned 18, and she actually contacted me through an appointed intermediary person. The intermediary called me to make sure I  consented to opening the record, and then arranged a meeting for us. Hopefully your records will be legally available, but be prepared to go through at least some hoops!

Answer 7

i suggest you call the state of floridas adoption agency..they normally have one central office..see what they can tell you...the other thing is is to start searching adoption data bases ...looking for someone who wants to find a childwith your birthdate and location..you may even be able to ask the court to open the records..but you need to look up the laws for florida

Answer 8

You won't get anything with their names on it unless you are lucky enough to get someone that does not know the laws.  Sometimes, when you write or ask, you get someone who will show you the records, even though they are not supposed to.  Also, you may request your birth certificate and may get a copy of the original one instead of the amended one.  I went to get a copy of my birth certificate.  I happened to get someone who did not know what they were doing.  They almost gave me a copy of the one with my birth parents names until another woman checked what she was doing.  I happened to know the names of my birth parents.  The people did not know which was the right one and which was the original.  I finally looked at them and said "I need the one with x*x (adoptive parents) not x*x (birth parents)".  They thought I was nuts.  I had to then explain which were the adoptive ones and which were the birth parents.  If you write in, you might get lucky and get someone that is new at their job.  If not, find someone that wants to get licensed in order to do searches.  A lot of times they will only charge you direct expenses in exchange for a letter of recommendation.  It cost me $25 to find mine and it took her two weeks.  Most of that was waiting for my mom to call back cause she didn't know this lady and was not sure why she was calling.  Failing that, take all of the info you have and find an abis group.  Adoptees and birthparents in search.  They meet monthly and give each other tips for searching.  Good Luck.

Answer 9

Some great advice already given - just wanted to wish you the best of luck.

Adoptees should be entitled to their full identity - including biological parent names - as a right.

Every other living human has.

Fingers crossed for you here.

Answer 10

If you have all that paperwork, but no names it sounds like it is a closed adoption.

You can register with http://www.adoptflorida.org

If your birth parent/s is registered - they will contat you and arrange for you to exchange information.