Adoptees searching for birth parents can start by gathering information from adoptee records, adoptive parents, and non-identifying information from state or private adoption services. They can also register with adoption research groups or hire a private investigator or confidential intermediary. Laws vary on what information is available, but adoptees can petition to unseal their adoption records in some states. Joining adoption reunification registries and research groups can also be helpful. Confidential intermediaries can access records and contact biological parents on behalf of adoptees.
Millions of people around the world were raised by adoptive parents. While some have no interest at all, others feel a strong need to connect with a birth parent. Whether the desire to locate a birth parent is based on practical or emotional reasons, the search generally begins by locating as much information as available from adoptee records and adoptive parents. An adoptee may also be entitled to non-identifying information in the custody of the state or private adoption service used to facilitate the adoption and/or may apply to the court to open his or her criminal record. Registering with one of the many adoption research groups or hiring a private investigator or confidential intermediary can also help locate a birth parent.
An adoptee should begin the search for a biological parent by gathering all the available information they have about themselves and about the adoption. If adoptive parents support the research, they may have valuable information, such as the name of the adoption agency used or facts about the birth parents that are not found in any official record. An adoptee should also obtain a copy of his or her amended birth certificate and adoption decree, which may contain additional clues.
Laws vary significantly from one jurisdiction to another regarding what information an adopted adult is entitled to regarding the adoption. In the United States, adoption records are sealed; however, an adoptee is generally entitled to non-identifying information upon request. What exactly is included in “non-identifying information” can also vary, but often includes information about a birth parent, such as medical information and religious affiliation, as well as information about age, height, weight, and education. The adoptee should request this information from the agency that facilitated the adoption.
In the United States, an adopted adult can petition to unseal their adoption. Again, laws vary from state to state regarding the opening of adoption registries. An adoptee should consult state law or an adoption attorney to determine whether or not opening their own registries is a viable option.
There are a number of domestic and international adoption reunification registries and adoption research groups that are free to join and can lead to information or even a meeting. In most cases, an adoptive or birth parent can post the information she has and indicate who she is looking for in hopes that someone might have information. Additionally, these groups can be a wealth of information specific to the geographic area the adoptee is looking for and can lead to additional sources of information or assistance.
You may need to consider hiring a private investigator or confidential intermediary. A private detective, while generally efficient and quick, can be expensive. Confidential intermediaries are a relatively new concept, but they are growing in popularity. A confidential intermediary may work for a private organization or be court-appointed after an adopter requests to open her records. The confidential intermediary is authorized to access the records and then contacts the biological parent on behalf of the adoptee, if possible, and offers the biological parent the option to accept or decline contact from the adoptee.
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