How to Locate a Child Who Was Adopted
Children are put up for adoption for various reasons. Parents die, become incapacitated, or are unable or unwilling to care for their children. At one time, adoption records in many states were closed and hermetically sealed, allowing no contact between biological family members and the children who had been put up for adoption. Other states did allow contact, but it was difficult to open the records. Today it is easier to search for and successfully find a child who was adopted.
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Instructions
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Investigate the laws pertaining to adoption in your particular state. Find out what rights the biological family has to find an adopted child. Some states have an open-record policy where the involved parties can see the adoption records at the state's Bureau of Vital Statistics. These adoption records will identify the adoptive family where the child was placed.
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Do a "People Search" with the child's name. If the child's name was not changed, it may be possible to find him through one of the many People Search sites on the Internet. These sites often charge a small fee.
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Ask for the court records for the county in which the child was adopted. Search for the child's adoption information, which will include the names of the adoptive family.
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Do a People Search for the name of the family that adopted the child (if known).
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Contact the adoption agency or intermediary that arranged the adoption. Ask them what procedure will be needed to obtain the information about a child who was adopted. Ask to see their records. Depending on the local state's laws, it may be possible to view these records.
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Ask to see the records of the hospital where the child was born. These records sometimes have information about subsequent adoption arrangements.
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Check court records in the county where the child was born to see if the child's name has been changed. Do a People Search with the child's new name, if you are able to obtain it.
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File a letter with the state's Department of Social Services, as well as the Department of Social Services in the county where the child was born. The letter should state that if the adopted child approaches the DSS with his own request for contact with his biological family, the biological family gives permission for such contact information to be provided. DSS offices in all states will honor such a mutual request.
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Ask for a court order to unseal adoption records in the county where the child was adopted. A judge will decide whether the request will be granted.
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Comments
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sue was born on 2/28/1994.
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You have to understand that this information for the most part is not public information original birth certificates with the adoptees adopted name and original birth certificate, along with C.I. and court files are sealed and only obtainable by adoptees or adoptive parents. Not even birth parents, or siblings are allowed access to it. They can be allowed to register with the state run registries and or leave letters with the adoption agency or court if the adoptee ever comes forward to request information. The release and exchange of identities has to be agree to by both sides. This is why groups are fighting for adoption reform of archaic and outdated adoption law and policy.
