My birth mother was adopted. She lived in NY but no one knows where she was adopted from. I know her name?

Question

I know her name, SS #, and her adoptive parents name. I dont have much of a relationship with my birthmother because she left me when i was an infant. I know that she hasnt looked for her birth parents but if her adoption was open, how could i find information?

Answer 1

One thing you have to keep in mind is that an open adoption doesn't mean open records.  Records access is determined by state law and has nothing to do with whether or not an adoption was open or closed.  

Open, semi-open or closed adoption is usually determined by the parents and refers to whether or not there was any kind of contact between the birth and adoptive families during the adoptee's childhood.  However, up until fairly recently, closed adoption was the ONLY type of adoption available.

If the adoption took place in New York, her records are sealed to her, as New York does not give adoptees access to their own birth records without a court order.

Here is a link for some information about New York's laws and help with searching in New York.

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

You may also want to have her register with the International Soundex Reunion Registry at http://www.isrr.net

It is the largest, most successful reunion registry for adoptees and first families.