My boyfriend just found out he has a 10y/o who was put up for adoption and wants to know where to start?

Question

This past weekend my boyfriend and I found out that a former girlfriend became pregnant and had a the baby put up for adoption. He was a minor at the time and never knew that she had givin birth or even became pregnant. Now he is adament about finding out ANY information he can about his child. He wants the child to know he never knew knew about her but that in the future if she has any needs that he will always be there to provide for her. Does anyone know of any agency where he can begin to look? We live in Texas so I am not sure if the laws or agencies differ from state to state. PLEASE HELP!!!

Answer 1

This is another option:

Hire a family law lawyer. As the birth father he has/had rights that were denied when the child was placed for adoption.

He will probably have to go to court to force open the adoption records. Your lawyer may also be able to, in court under oath, compel his former girlfriend to detail what happened in the adoption.

Although I highly discourage it, he may even be able to get custody of the girl. He may also be required to start paying child support if he doesn't get custody. What I would suggest is once the child is found work out an agreement with the adopting parents for the ability to contact with his daughter.

Whatever happens GOOD LUCK.

Answer 2

Most often a Birth is registered even with adoption's so I would search them and go to the state courts maybe they keep the record that is open with her name in it or the local child protection agency for that area..

but often parents move when there is no birth dad too so that if they try and find the child it is harder to do so but it is worth a try

Good luck

Answer 3

He needs to contact a lawyer in the state the birth mother gave up her parental rights.  If that's Texas, I honestly don't know how much recourse he has.  He could possibly sue her for the information, but at this point it doesn't sound like she's offering him any proof he even HAS a child.  This sounds more like a petty way for her to stick it to him a little more.  I'm not saying she didn't have a child--but without her cooperation, whether voluntary or court enforced, he doesn't really have any way of proving that a. there is a child, and b. he is the father.  Even if it can be proved, it's possible that she either didn't list him on the birth certificate or claimed he couldn't be contacted.  If that was the case, the courts could have terminated any parental rights he had.  If he can find out what adoption agency she used, he may be able to send the adoptive parents a letter explaining the situation and establishing some sort of contact (even if just by e-mail) so he can notify them of any phone number or address changes in case the baby ever wants to know about him.  It would be very disruptive to her well being right now to get caught up in a legal battle when she's known these people as her parents her entire life.  What a difficult situation!  Honestly, the best way to resolve it is going to be to get the advice of a lawyer.  They can advise him on his rights (or lack thereof) with regard to his daughter.

Answer 4

I don't know if it is different since it has been 10 yrs. but my son found out the same thing and it had only been 2 yrs.  The first thing we did was find out what agency the adoption was through.  That took some time.  We knew from the birth mother what the adoptive parents first names were.  We did internet searches with their name and the child's first name and finally got a hit on them that revealed the agency.   You need to prod the birth mother and find out if it is an open or closed adoption.  This has been extremely hard on my family so expect to get stressed out.  Don't give up though.  That child will be so glad to know that her father is there for her.

Answer 5

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services maintains a voluntary database that your boyfriend can add his name to; if his biological daughter decides to search out her birth parents, she could find his name on the registry.  Her name will not be in the registry, however, because you have to be at least 18 to add your name.  

This child is only 10; she may not even know that she is adopted.  Also, adoption agencies tend to have very strict confidentiality policies.  You could try to contact the Texas DFPS for more help.

Answer 6

Tell him to get in contact with the woman who had his child? She is the only one who can give him the details he needs to help finding this little girl. ie..... Place and date of birth, possible names of adoptive parents, and their location. Good Luck to your bf, and hope he finds her.

Answer 7

What state are you in?

Every state has its own laws...

It's sick that she would do something so huge behind his back. Ans now TEN YEARS LATER he finds out and she STILL is acting like a child?

She hold the answers. There's no telling who she named as the father or where she gave birth. You could try looking up birth announcements for that time and use the moms last name. My son's was in the paper as baby *last name*.

just pray that it's an open adoption that way you guys can have a relationship should his son want it.

Good luck to you.

Answer 8

How about wait until the child is an adult, that is what a mature person would do.  Why disrupt a child's life for one own vanity.?  Give me a break.

Answer 9

When I gave my baby up they made me tell who the father was, and he had to sign her away as well. Who did she put on the birth cert.?