Each state has its own laws concerning open and sealed adoption records. In general, if an adoption occured before a certain year, the records may be opened at the request of the adoptee. If the adoptee is below a certain age, the adoptee and the adoptive parents cannot search records unless the birth parents or biological siblings have signed a release of their contact information. If you are having trouble searching for birth parents, or a child given up for adoption, here's how you can find sealed records.
Instructions
1. Visit your states department of health, family services, or governmental agency that oversees adoptions and vital records. Check to make sure the url ends in ".gov" or ".state.[your state's 2-letter abbreviation].us" so that you get official information. Here you will find adoption laws and the rules for access sealed information.
2. In most states, sealed records can only be opened with a court order, so you will need to have a valid reason to request information, other than curiosity about biological family. If the birth parents are deceased, you may be able to access original birth certificates and adoption records.
Also, if you suspect that the biological father was not informed about the adoption, you may be able to open the records to contact him.
3. Many states have an adoption registry where adopted people, birth parents, and sometimes siblings, can submit their information. If a match is found, the state registry will contact the parties. To increase your chances of finding relatives, interested parties should register as soon as they are eligible.
4. Submit your information to registries that are open to the public. The birth parents or biological siblings may come across the information on the web. They could try to contact you directly, or at least be moved enough sign a waiver granting access to the sealed records. Many birth parents have no idea that the children they gave up for adoption are trying to find them.
5. Some states have a registry where birth parents can choose to release medical history only, but not contact information. Check with your state's department of health and human services.
6. Check local newspaper archives for birth or wedding announcements that coincide with the birth of the adopted person. You may be able to find names of relatives.
7. Put your information out there. You can post personal ads and contact people who may have known or lived near the birth parents.
8. Be persistent and keep track of every little bit of information that you uncover. A private investigator can help you track down a person who has moved frequently.
Tags: birth parents, sealed records, access sealed, adoption records, biological siblings, birth parents biological, contact information