How do you go about finding birth parents? The adoption was closed.?

Question

How do you go about finding birth parents? The adoption was closed.?

Answer 1

Boo Boo is right... there's no way to unseal the records unless that birth mother/parents wants it done.

Answer 2

Depending upon the state the adoption took place in you may be able to petition the court where the adoption was finalized. Several states have opened there records to adoptees. My husband is an adoptee from Philadelphia, PA. This is the hardest state to get info from. So we joined a couple of groups that are solely hooked to helping PA adoptees and birthparents. There is also the ISSR, and several other state registries that you can file and see if you get a hit.  My husband knew almost nothing about his adoption, somone on our boards found a name for his birthmom. Though searching on our own we came up with a few leads but after 12 1/2 years my husband needed some closure so we hired a group by the name of Kin Solving to find the information we couldn't find and that the court denied us of having after several tries.  This company is one that is used by Oprah, Maury and several other talk shows and many adoptees and birth parents.  We gave Kinsolving what few things we had and sat back and prayed, less than 24 hours later we had the information we were looking for, the name of my husbands birth mom, her address and all 4 siblings. It was amazing.  This companyis worth it. They cost money but when you get to the end of a long long road like we did and you exhaust everything else it was well worth it.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

What state were you born in?  Have you gotten your non-identifying info?  Do you have any names?

Answer 4

Yes, what state do you live in?  I know a great searcher for IL and CA who found my birthmom (closed adoption).  Feel free to email me if you are from either.

There's also a GREAT email list that was truly priceless, called adoptees.  Here's a URL of a ton of adoption lists (http://www.lsoft.com/scripts/wl.exe?qL=a... but this one I was on was great:

http://www.lsoft.com/scripts/wl.exe?SL1=...

After finding her, I sent a records request to the hospital where I was born, with just the info of "Baby Girl [birth last name]" and the date of birth as the date of checkin and a couple days later as date of release and they sent the full records!!  They even said "UP FOR ADOPTION" in several places.  I had the records being sent to a friend's office who is a doctor (with her permission), so it would perhaps seem more legit (not that it wasn't, but they shouldn't have sent them).

You might try that.  If you aren't sure of the hospital, try sending the request to all in the town you were born!

Also a note - My birthmom lived in Chicago, although the hospital I was born in was just over the border into a suburb, so city of birth might not be where your birthmom was living at the time!

Best wishes.  Make sure you're emotionally prepared as much as possible for acceptance or rejection.  Contacting my birthmom was definitely one of the most difficult things in my life, but for me it turned out like a fairy tale ending, I'm so lucky to have two amazing moms (each in their different, unique ways (although amazingly similar, too!)).

Answer 5

i went to the  courthouse in the county where i was adopted, i went to the dept that does all the birth/death records. there they gave me a form to fill out. i gave all the information i had, (i did not have a name given to me at birth, only a case #). they then put me in the adoption registry, it goes nationwide.

there is a number at the top of your birth cert. that number is attached to you not just the paperwork, in michigan at least the number on the certificate i had all my life matched the number of the certificate my birthmother signed when i was born.

if a birth family member has filled out the forms and entered the registry you are matched up and are sent a letter containing the information of your family.

it was free, but it did take a while. they got over loaded with other things and i kind of got forgotten, so i called up there every couple of weeks, just to let them know i was still around. there are other ways im sure, but this one is free except for the time you take to fill out the papers

good luck, i hope your search goes well!!

Answer 6

If you're in the USA, you've got to find out the laws in the state where you were born/adopted.  I was adopted in a closed adoption, but the laws changed since my birth and I was able to contact my birthparents.  It cost...court fees and all...about $775...worth it to me.

Answer 7

You didn't indicate which state your adoption was finalized in.

Each state has specific laws on the information you can receive regarding birth parents. Go to this site to see the specific laws for the state where you adoption was finalized. This will give you all of the information to make the first steps, which is normally requesting your non-id.

http://laws.adoption.com/statutes/state-...

There are 5 states in the US with "open records". This means you can by request receive your original birth certificate once you reach the legal age requirement for that state.

The open states are Al, AK, KS, NH, OR. I understand that TN is also easy to have records opened.

Some states are easier to search because many of the original records are available in searable databases. Those states are CA, OH, & TX

Good luck in your search.

Answer 8

Here in Canada there is a registry that you leave your name and the information regarding the birth.  At the legal age of 18 the child or birth mother can obtain this information.  There is a new law here that allows birth parents/child/sibling if provided you can provide the proof needed that all information is now obtainable.  meaning you can get this information along with the adoptive parents name.  Yahoo.  It does not matter if the adoption was closed or not.  Try going on a web site for the government in your city and finding out the law there.  I know here in Toronto, Canada,  As long as you are signed up all information is given to you.  There also is a web site Coalition of Birth Mothers.  They are a great source of information and will provide all the information you need.  Just type in birth mother/parents and all will come up.  A lot of the law has changed here that will help families heal.  There are many who oppose this decision and many who welcome it.  Wish you luck.  The child has had to have turned 18 by law though.  If your the adoptee by law you are entitled to that information and it should be provided by the adoptive parents, if not for some reason then you have the right to contact the agency who handled the adoption.  It could turn out that the birth mother/father does not wish to be contacted as well.  A very emotional journey.

Answer 9

There is a wonderful website that I am using to find my daughter. The web address is www.adoptionregistry.us. They can search anywhere in the world. You sign up with your information as an adoptee and they will help you in any way they can. Good Luck, I hope you find them.

Answer 10

It depends on the state.  In some cases, once you are 18, you can take a look at your records, but you can't take them with you.  If you know from where you were adopted, you can call that agency and ask for assistance.  Otherwise, a PI or adoption boards and groups can be helpful.

Answer 11

There are many resources, including free ones, that may be able to help you.  We let the agency that placed our eldest daughter with us know that we would welcome contact with Laura's birth mother.  If you are at least 18, you can register with agencies and volunteers that provide help.  You do not need a private investigator.  You didn't say in which state you were adopted, or even if it is the USA, but there are a few states that will allow you to see the information once you are of age.  Make sure you are doing this for the right reasons, not because you're angry at your REAL parents, the ones who reared you.  No matter how you do it, this will hurt them.  Here are some free links:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=na...

Answer 12

While this is still fresh in my mind, I will tell you how I located mine.

When I was 8, I found my adoption order, read it, and remembered my name at birth.  I then started looking at where she (Birth Mother) went to high school.  I cold called people asking about her.  Since I live in Canada, you are able to contact the agency where the adoption took place.  Once they processed my request, I was able to obtain my non-identifying information.  This included some information of my family, uncles aunts etc..No names nothing of importance. There was little medical, but the tidbit that really helped me and that is also because I knew my birth name, and that my grandfather died one year prior to my birth, I was able to go back to the obits and located my family.  This took two days.  

There is also a new law here in Canada, not in effect until September, though, where you can request a copy of your adoption order and the birth certificate that was filled out at the time of birth.  They passed this bill last Sept. but they (government of ontario) had to send out letters to the birth family, basically tellling them that your personal information will be for public viewing.  This will list parents names and last names.  The birth parents have to respond, so that they can either say yes, show the info., or no keep it closed.

When you do go and seek out your family, just be prepared.  I am having a great difficulty forming a relationship with my BM, but I have a great one with my uncle.  

Good luck to you in your search.

Answer 13

I would start with a private investigater. and go from there, good luck to you