How does one start searching for birth parents?

Question

I've only really just started to get curious about my birth mother and father, and I know that sometime in the future I might want to find them. I'm in the UK (just in case the system is different from other countries) and I'd just like some info on where to get started. I would ask my mum and dad but I think they find it a little uncomfortable, even though I am 19 now!

Answer 1

Gosh, I wish that I could help you, but I have only helped adptees in the US.  Here, we have volunteer search angels.  One would just go online and ask for a volunteer search angel for a specific county and state.  You would email the search angel, who will then contact you, ask for specific information and start the search.

I am not sure how it is done in the UK.  Their system maybe entirely different.  I would start by going into google.com. and ask.com.   Just keep playing with words that relate to search adoption records, etc.  Good luck.

What you are feeling is a natural curiosity.  Most adopted children do ask their adopted parents whether or not they have any information on their birthfamilies.  Most adopted children want to know their family's medical history and exactly why they were given up for adoption.  Do you have your birth certificat?  Here in the US the names will be changed.  Where the original birth certificate had the birth family's name and the birth mother last name, they have been changed.  The new birth certificate will show  the baby's new first name and the last name of the adopive parents.  Here in the states, we do not alter the birthday, the county and state where the baby was born, the time of birth, the hospital, or the presiding doctor's name, but I am not sure of the UK.  You could ask your parents for a copy of your birth certificate, as you will need that for traveling abroad, getting married, etc.  Here in the states you can just obtain a certified copy by going to the county records.  Here it costs about 15 dollars.  There must be somethiing comparable to our system in the UK.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Unlike the USA, the records have been open in the UK since 1974.

At 19 you are an adult and have the right to obtain your records.  Check out the details here:

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/adopti...

Norcap is a great organization for Adult Adoptees.  Contact them here:

http://www.norcap.org.uk/

The Post Adoption Centre offers counselling and workshops for adult adoptees too:

http://www.postadoptioncentre.org.uk/

I wish you all the best.

Answer 3

I started searching when I was your age and it was difficult to discuss with my parents also.  I contacted my adoption agency and they helped me through the process. Luckily my birth mother had recently updated her contact information with them hoping since I was of age I might start searching for her. Good Luck.  Also there are some yahoo groups that you can join with awesome people that can help you in searching. Just look for Yahoo Groups / Adoptions.