I need some help re: adoption and genealogy?

Question

I am helping a friend find information about his roots. The problem is: There is a string of adoptions involved and I'm stuck on how to obtain information that's "sealed" by the courts.

All right. He was born in 1984. His mother was separated from her husband at the time, and it's been ruled out that he isn't the father. They eventually divorced in 1987. That same year, she remarried, and the man she married adopted my friend as his own son. Therefore, the 1st birth certificate was sealed by the courts.

His mother divorced this man a few years later and has since never remarried. In 1993, my friend was taken away from his mother because of abuse and neglect. He was in foster care until he turned 18. At that time, his foster mother legally adopted him, which then sealed the 2nd birth certificate!

This isn't like a typical adoption situation because all of the players all along the way are known to my friend. He just wants documentation.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Answer 1

WOW, what a sad position to be in, this sounds more like a riddle then a persons life. Courts, and documents and this is sealed and that is sealed, like they all forget this is a real person not some item up for bids.

The only thing I can even begin to think of is if he found out he had some sort of genetic disease and needed to have the records opened to find the cure. Possibly he can petition the court to have the certificates opened with the permission of the people involved, but he can't get permission without having the documents opened so he is asking that the court allow a disinterested party to ask the biological parents if it is okay to open the records. Perhaps I could help find the laws that govern sealed records if I knew what state you were/he were in. Each state is different however, you can probably search on google your states statutes or laws for family matters to search through. This might help get you started in a direction you did not know you had.

Answer 2

Since he was age 9 when taken away from his mother.. there is no reason that he won't be able to remember her name. Thus, he will be able to track the marriages and divorces along the way.  If husband * 1 was ruled not to be the real father, then that could be a dead end.. unless he is in contact with his birth mom's family, who MIGHT be aware of who she was involved with, at the time she got pregnant.

I won't advise for (or against) contact with the birth family.. that is something he has to decide for himself, and hopefully without risk of emotional trauma.

I don't know that anything can be done in terms of getting access to the prior birth certificates. Normally, when sealed, they are sealed.  With careful work.. it is very possible for him to obtain earlier records re his bio grandparents, etc, and work back, at least on mom's side.  If someone knows the bio father's name.. and that dad is willing to acknowledge the son.. then he might be able to get that data as well.  

I would just suggest that he "tred lightly" and be sure to protect himself emotionally.

Answer 3

If he can't prove his ancestry then he can't - this happens. He will have to obtain his mohter's and the man who is supposed to be his father's birth certificates if possible and start from there. Would his mother still have the original certificates?