Help about finding my birth mother.?

Question

Hi, I am 23 years old and I was born in 1985 in Illinois. I just received papers about my adoption and in them was all of the non identifying information about my birth mother. These are the official papers from when the adoption took place. They have the official Cook County seal on them. In the papers it has a quote from my birth mom saying she would like me to contact her once I am 21 or older. It also has a paper in which it says my mother is signed up in the Illinois adoption registry. So if I register I will receive the info I am looking for. The only problem is I know this takes a long time to process. Since I have all of these papers is there any faster way I can get the information I seek? Perhaps I could go to Chicago where the papers were written up or I could take a drive down to Springfield to the official Adoption Registry office. It's a 5 hour drive but if I can get the info right away it would be well worth it.

Answer 1

Go ahead and sign up on the registry.  You might as well start that process as you pursue other avenues.  (If it takes awhile, you don't want to put that off.)

As for traveling, likely the offices won't give you any further details.  The records are sealed, and they won't give anything out.  (Frustrating, I know.)  

You should also register on both

http://www.isrr.net

and

http://registry.adoption.com/

Depending on how much information you have, you can start playing detective yourself.  This can take awhile, though, so registering on as many sites as you can may speed the process.

Check here for search help - and links to FREE search angels -

http://www.adoptioncrossroads.org/

There are lots of people willing to help.  Good luck to you!

Answer 2

Good Luck!  Sorry, I am not much more help, but had to say it!  Good Luck!

Answer 3

Yes there is! there are some tricks to your state that are very useful for adoptees searching.

http://adopteerights.net/nulliusfilius/?...

I've heard that adoption records in cook county have some type of public access by accident or something. I'm not clear on it, but you should check out this site: http://www.aborn.faithweb.com/State/Answ...

and do the registry, its $45 go for it!

Answer 4

When I did the registry in Michigan, it was only about 10 days later where I got a phone call saying that my mother had done the registry as well.  They were sending some more information in the mail and that took maybe 3 more days.  How do you know it takes a long time?  Did someone tell you that?  Usually someone has to make up a report to go along with the information.  So, it's probably not taking time because of where the info is, but that a person has to take the time to do it.