How could I trace my roots being adopted when the adoption process was such that all records were sealed?

Question

All I know about my real mom was that she was young and had red hair, I know nothing about my biological father other than he may be of Spanish or Mexican decent. I was born in Helena, Montana in 1970. My birth certificate has only info of my adoptive parents. I have always wondered where I come from. h**l I dont even no if cancer runs in the family. My kids roots basically start with me.

Answer 1

I would ask your adpoted parents they should have info.

Answer 2

i am adopted too, i finally found my biological mom, and siblings, some things are better left, i am curios why you would refer to your biological mom as real and biological dad as biological, the mother who raised you is your real mother, i have 5 adopted siblings we are always offended at that real thing referring to biological it is surprising to hear an adopted child use that wording

Answer 3

There may be an adoption registry in your state.  Do you know if yor adoption was thru an agency or attorney?  Go to an "adoption search" website, Shar's -- they will instruct you through each step, and you will probably be successful.  It is a bit sad that the two parents who held you when you cried, wiped every runny nose, took you to school, attended all your sports events, and helped you dream your life are your "adoptive parents", and the woman who sacrificed so that someone else would raise you is your "real" mother.  (IF this is the way it was for you.  Might not be at all!)  Must we always have to make such hurtful distinctions?  Aren't they both your mothers?  Don't misunderstand -- I personally think  they are BOTH your "Real Mothers" -- both obviously loved you , and both obviously parented you in the way each of them could! To have two mothers who love you that much is a humbling and generous beginning.  And, it is so nonsensical that adoption medical records are not completely open!  With your adoption, there may have been filed a HESGH - Health, Education, Social, Genetic History.  This would have been given to your parents when your adoption was finalized in court.

Answer 4

Hi my name is Marianne Wolfe and I was adopted the best way to start maybe is find out the agency that took your case on. Your adoptive parents would be able to tell you this. The other thing that you can do is check out websites that sometimes have birth parents looking for their kids.

That would be the best place to start good luck and God bless!

Answer 5

There is a difference between closed and sealed.  In or around the late 60's adoptions were no longer sealed.  Meaning a judge had to give you permission to have the record.  

Now a days adoptions are closed.  Meaning the birth family and the adoptive family do not meet or get to know each other.  

So unless your adoption records were sealed by a judge, which would have to have been done for a very good reason, you should be able to find them.

Do you know how you were adopted.?  A lawyer, a adoption agency.?  Will your adoptive parents tell you.?  

Were you at anytime with your birth mother.  Could she have been on your orig. birth certificate.?  It would  have been changed if so when  you became adopted..  There would still be a record of the orig. one in the city were you were born. Some are at the court house, some are at a county clerk.

If you were never with your birth mother and went right to your adopted parents then her name would have not been on your birth certificate.   So then you are going to have to go to how you were adopted.  Agency or lawyer.  

Start with relatives that can tell you anything.  

Good luck.

Answer 6

find out what adoption agency had you and ask them for non-identifing information that should give you some info on your bio family

Answer 7

I would think that because you're the child that you could get a court order to unseal the records.  However you adoptive parents should know a lot more about at least your real mother, they might just be keeping it from you to keep you for them.

Answer 8

You will need to have a letter of intent and give that to the county you were born/adopted in.

Tell them that you'd like your records unsealed due to medical reasons. You need to find out if there are medical issues that run in the family.

It can take several weeks or months to get this done though, so be prepared to wait.

The copies of the documents could have sections blacked out as well, so don't be surprised to see those.

good luck.

Answer 9

I am also adopted.i was born in New York State in 1969.there was very little information on my papers,as to the identity of my birth parent's.it only gave me a brief description of what they looked like,and their ages.my adoptive parents were not given any information,as "sealed records"  as it was not legal for anyone outside of the courts to know anything.my adoptive parent's did not even get to meet my foster mother who i had for the first 5 months of my life.they used to visit me at the adoption center,and have no record of the foster mother's name.

I was raised in the UK,as my parent's are British.when i was 18 i wrote to the New York address i had,for the adoption agency.i got a reply saying that although the agency had closed down,i could submit a form to a New York office,revealing information about myself.if my birth mother had tried to find information about me ,then she would recieve a similar form,and if/when we had both submitted these forms,then we would both be contacted.i sent my form in,but i never heard back,sadly!.after 12 years of searching,writing letters,etc,i submitted my information to an adoption search website.i was very lucky,as my birth sister was looking for me,and a match was made!.

It hasn't been easy though,and although things are fine now,it hasbeen a very stressful and tiring 8 years.but,saying that,i had to know my roots,and where i was from.

I don't know how the law works now,but in 1970,when i was adopted,there was no way of adoptive parent's finding out information and keeping it secret from the child,as everything was so hush hush!. unless of course it was done 3rd party.i am just referring to New York state law at the time.

I also want to point out that i refer to my parent's as "adoptive" only to make it easier to show which parents i am talking about!.

I also meant to say that my birth mother indeed sent away for the form that i also received from the NY state,but she never mailed it,as didn't want to be disappointed.arghhh!.

Answer 10

Plain and simple, go to  ISRR.net

[Do NOT go to ISRR.COM !!!  It will find nothing but your wallet.]

Answer 11

I can understand that I too am adopted. So I don’t know any medical history other then what I’ve had. However I don’t dwell on it. Since there’s not much that can be done I’ve never had a desire to search out my biological family.  

You should ask and talk to your parents, though they may not know much. Depending on how your adoption went.    My parents knew very little about my natural mother other then she was white, had some addictions (this is probably why I have a few learning disabilities), believe she was of Irish heritage but weren’t positive. Which is why when I can afford too I’ll be taking one of those DNA test that can determinate what country your ancestors were from.

Best of luck in  your search.

Answer 12

The way you can start is by going to adoption search sites and entering what you DO know.  Keep track of all the sites so that you can update info as you find it.  If your birthparents or a half-sister or brother is looking for you, they will respond. Always, always, always, keep an updated email address on these sites.  It's heartbreaking to see folks who have been FOUND and the email address is no longer valid.

You have your birthdate (which may have been changed) and birth place, gender, and that other info.   You can find sites using different search engines and different keywords. Put the keywords in different order.  This may seem strange, but it happened to be keywords in a set order that found my birthson's web page.

Also, if you have the information about what adoption agency was involved, write them and ask them for the non-identifying information. That was key for me to be sure I had the right person (of course, once I saw his photo, it was obvious since we look alike).

Don't hesitate to look. While the one poster is right, some folks don't want old wounds to open, many DO want to know their birthchild because they were coerced in the first place.

Answer 13

Please keep in mind that the person you are searching for may not want to be found and have some respect for their privacy.  If you reach a dead end, you may have to accept that you will never know these answers.  Long ago, someone had to make a difficult decision to place you for adoption.  Please don't open old wounds for that person if you start getting indicators that the person does not want contact.  Records were sealed for a reason.

There are a lot of search websites on the internet.  If two parties register who seem to be a match, they will put them into contact with each other.  

You can contact the agency that handled the adoption and see if they have any medical information they can release to you without giving away the identity of the birth parents.

Answer 14

there is a law that was passed that those files can no longer be sealed simply because of medical reasons so, get a social worker and good luck

Answer 15

Try contacting the city you were born and find out why the records were sealed.You should contact the city court and hire an attorney.

Answer 16

I totally understand you. I am adopted too. I have always wondered what my background was and if I have other brothers and sisters out there that look like me and what runs in my family....especially recently because I was pregnant and lost the baby due to anecephaly. What is weird is that I got in touch with my brith mom for the very first time in my life just a few weeks ago. I found out what is medically in my family, nationality (at least  from my moms side...my dad disapeared when he found out my mom was pregnant at 17) and I found out about biological family members. I new my birth moms name and you can go online to find people. I knew a little more as well like where she went to school and lived. If you have little to no info it is difficult however you do have one last option. If your adoptive parents used lawyers for the adoption process they can request info from them about your birthmom. You cannot ask for that info yourself from the lawywers...I dunno why. All the kids in my family are adopted and my brother called the lawyers and they told him that. I wish you luck with your search...but remember...sometimes you dont always find what you are looking for. My bro tired to find his birthmom and she basically told him to f- off and that she left him 23 years ago and that should of been a clue that she didnt want any contact. My bro wasnt looking for a relationship or anything he was looking for medical background as well cuz his wife is pregnant now. so i hope you find your birth mom and she is happy to hear from you. your parents may not know info about your birthmom because in some cases they have to file a case of abandonment like in my bros case....she didnt even let my family contact her to pay her hospital bill or anything

Answer 17

Below is a link for searching in Montana.  Unfortunately for you that if you were born prior to July 1, 1967 you could receive your original birth certificate upon request, but since you were born after that you have to request that the court open the records.  Sometimes very difficult to get them to do.  I see that MT appears to have a confidential intermediary program.  How this works is the court apoints someone to open the records, they make every effort to locate and contact the person being searched for an request contact for you.  If the person refuses contact, records are closed and there is not much you can do beyond that.  If the request is accepted then the contact information is passed onto both parties.  This intermediary service does have fees but I believe has a every high success rate.

Here is a link to MT search info.

http://laws.adoption.com/statutes/montan...

Good luck!