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Birth Mother Search – Obtaining Necessary Identifying Information

A birth mother search can be quite difficult for an adoptee to successfully resolve.  That’s because most adoptees have very little identifying information on their birth mother when they begin to search. They also lack state-of-the-art search tools that are currently available to professional adoption researchers and investigative agencies such as OmniTrace.  These tools allow access to and the capability to sort through virtually millions of public records.  With the above mentioned search tools, you may be surprised to read that, in most instances, very little identifying information is needed to find your birth mother!  Provided here are a  number of examples of minimal identifying information that you may already have or can readily obtain that can allow a search professional (and even you) to find your birth mother.  Any one of the following examples may be enough information to find her:

  • The first name and date of birth of your birth mother
  • The date of birth and state where your birth mother likely resided at the time of the birth
  • The horoscope sign and last name of your birth mother
  • The first name of your birth mother–if the name is uncommon
  • The first name and middle initial of your birth mother
  • The occupation and area where your birth mother resided when you were born
  • The age and address of your birth mother at the time you were born
  • The age of your birth mother and her address at the time of your birth
  • The age range of your birth mother and where she and her siblings attended school (you may need age range of her siblings too)
  • The occupation of your birth mother’s parents along with the area and age range of her parents at the time of your birth
  • A criminal background of the birth mother allowing for use of Freedom of Information Act to request police records
  • Description of your birth mother and education information along with the area where your birth mother resided

Once again, any one of the above examples or a combination of identifying information from the different examples might allow you to quickly resolve your search and reunite you with your birth mother.

One way to obtain your birth mother’s identifying information is to request what is referred to in adoption agency jargon: Non-Identifying Information.  When you receive your non-identifying information there’s a chance that you will have enough identifying information (inadvertently supplied to you) to complete your search.

Very shortly, in a future post, we’ll explain what Non-Identifying information is, how to request it, and where to request it.  Also, in future posts we’ll provide much information about the search tools and databases used by professionals.  Visit us often.  We type quickly!   :)

Please make a comment with any questions or thoughts you may have about this post. Thanks!

Find Your Birth Family

There are 30 Comments

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  1. Dave says:

    I feel like im betraying my current family that adopted me. Yet going thru a difficult time in my life. Once I was working at a bar, hosting a football fan club on a Sunday Football Day. This woman comes in. Tall slender, older…possible 50 or in her 60′s. I asked if she like anything to drink and she said,”NO”. I turned around to go pout a beer for someone else and when I came back, she was gone. The guy that was sitting next to her said, “That woman said she was your Mother.” I had never been more starled than any other time in my life. I went outside looking for her and never saw you again.
    I always wondered if she was my natural mother or some crazy woman.

  2. Gisela says:

    I am the birth Mom, and have been looking for my child, that I gave birth on April 8, 1968 — have been looking for her for years with no sucess! Lord, I asked for your help, please help me and forgive me for being so selfish today but I was so young and it was all so out of my control– I named her Maryanne Irizarry, don’t recall the first correct spelling but for sure the adoption took place in BKLYN, NY and all Iam asking is to please let me know she has been well. I was so young and never wanting to let her go it was just out of my hands and my worst nightmare and until this day I can’t stop but think of her, so please as you see I am still dreaming to hear from her, so, please, please, if she or YOU the adoptive parents read this and don’t wish her to know about me, please know that I understand — I just need to know she is alright and is okay, all I ask is that you tell me something about her, I would be so grateful and may the LORD be with you.

    • Maryann says:

      Hi, I am Maryann and I just decided today to start searching for my birth mom because I finally received some information about my adoption. I have read many of your posts and they are very similar to my information. I really want to see if we are a match. Please contact me. I was born 4/8/1969 and was adopted in Brooklyn.

    • reese says:

      Dear Gisela,
      Please register at Adoption.com. Maybe your daughter is registered there. Also register with the states of NY, NJ, and Penn. Conn, RI, and the many other states that are in your area.

      It is a lot of paperwork to register with all the different states but the outcome is worth it.

      I have been looking for my mother for over 30 years. IL has finally opened up their adoption files and I now have my real birth certificate. My birth mother was from out of state and came to Chicago to give birth. I have still not found her and at this time I fear she may have passed away.

      Continue living and enjoying the life you have made for yourself. I have always loved my birth mother, and felt so proud of her for the courage, love and sacrifice it took for her to give me up for adoption.

      Tomorrow is my 54th birthday and I still dream of one day meeting my mom and telling her I love her to and touching her face, before it is to late. I would love to meet my birth siblings and see who I look like.

      Maybe one day I will bite the old bullet and pay one of these investigators to do the real search for me. Until then I keep hoping I will have a reply to one of my post.

      Do the leg work on the computer, and don’t give up hope. You did a beautiful thing. Don’t have any regrets. If anything it should make you blossom and glow. You gave birth to a wonderful daughter, and she in turn gave so much joy to a couple that were able to spread that happiness to their entire extended family.

      • Dana says:

        Hi Reese. Thanks for the post. We do hope that you call us someday to complete the search that you began 30 years ago. Adoption reunion registries are wonderful resources, but they reunite a very small percentage of birth parents and adoptees who are searching.

        Also, you have found, as many others are finding, that having an original birth certificate does not equate into locating your birth family. Our proprietary databases and genealogy resources allow us to successfully reunite family members.

        If you are ever inclined to call us, our number is 1-888-965-6696.

        Best regards,

        Dana Betz
        OmniTrace Corp.

  3. Joyce Smith says:

    I gave birth to my son on October 21, 1967. He was born at Booth Memorial Hospital in Buffalo, NY. He was baptized as Robert Francis Allen and adopted through Catholic Charities in Erie County Buffalo in 1968. I have searched for many years for him and never have been successful. I never wanted to give him up but I was young and being a Catholic my parents presided over the decision. I loved him so very much and the day I had to sign those paopers, it took a piece of my heart. I am 64 yrs old and still looking for my Bobby. If you know anyone that might be a connection to my search, please contact me.

    • Colleen says:

      Do you know if the adoptive parents could have received the baby through Monroe County (Rochester) Catholic Charities in 1968? What would Roberts nationality be?

  4. Henrietta Brown says:

    I am looing for my moth er and for my Brothers and sister that I want to get to Known.

  5. marilyn says:

    lookineg for birth mother of joseph paul bogle. Her name is alice bogele alsbury she gav gave birth 3\10\1987 in batonrouge louisiana. I’m. The adoptive parent

  6. Paul says:

    I was born in seattle on 4/8/1964 and I am looking for my family.

  7. kirk says:

    me and my twin brother was born in raliegh.he was born 11:59p.m. may the 11th,i was born 12:01 a.m. may the 12th both of us were born in 1967.we have to step sisters that were 3 and 5 at the time of birth.we were giving to social services for a year before we could be adopted.my foster father worked for social services in raliegh.My bioligal mom went buy the name peggy,thats all i know.i hope to find here one day!

  8. Dawn says:

    I am a birth mother looking for daughter born June 16 1966 at booth memorial hospital ( a salvation army facility) in Pasadena ca…. I named her Cherie Louise Anderson … I think she was adopted in Ventura, Ca in July or August of 1966…I will keep watching this site. Please look for me… You have two sisters ..

  9. Kathy says:

    I was born in 1950, I was put up for adoption at 3 months, my birth mother’s name was Betty Wilcox nee Mentzel. She is in the Census of Plymouth IN in 1940 at the age of 11 as Betty Lou Mentzel. She was born in 1929 approximately. My father is Ralph Wilcox, he is deceased. Afer 1954 she has fallen off the face of the earth, according to Ralph Wilcox’s sister. No one knows where she is….my parents were divorced in May 1950 and I was born in October. She may have remarried – last name Murrin. I have traced my family tree (blood family) in ancestry.com, but I’d like to know what happened to my mother.

  10. Sharon says:

    looking for Raymond Eugene Nichols & Shirley Jean Nichols born 9/3/1938&9/4/1939 born in Aurora Il.S Joesphs Hospital was raised by a foster Family but they may have been adopted they lived around the Phillips Park area

  11. carrie says:

    my mom was not adopted but was left on the steps of friend. she do not want anything from them just to get to know that side of her family her mother name is anna marie basey she was born in mississippi around the 1919. she moved to vicksburg mississippi and there she married and had one or two more children. and later to st.louis

  12. Tiffany says:

    I am searching for my son Trevor Austin Taczak, born 11/03/1999. Born in Newfane NY. His father William (Bill) Myrtle, gave him up. I have never stopped searching for him, everyday I think of him.

  13. brian says:

    looking for my birth family,I was adopted and born in jacksonville,fla. Born on 11/25/1964,adopted immediatly soon after. Thank you.

  14. Carol says:

    My name is Carol. I am the mother of an adopted son,born 11/29/72.My maiden name was “CLASS”My son was born at Lankeneau Hospital.
    Please contact…

  15. amanda says:

    Looking for my aunt birth name given was Candida..maybe spelled Candita im not sure.. born sept.28th 1968 in either appleton or sheboygan wi… all i no is u were living in north carolina i believe… would love to find you.

  16. Julie says:

    I am a birth mother and I am looking for my birth daughter born in Oak Lawn, Illinois in July 1988. Her birth name is Jaclyn, and her adoptive name is too, as far as I know.

    • reese says:

      I live near Oak Lawn, so I know what hospital you are referring to.
      I do not know you, but I was adopted and have been searching for my birth mother for many years. I also have a daughter that was born a year after your daughter that you placed for adoption. My daughter was born at Palos Hospital.

      Have you registered with the State of Illinois? They have opened their adoption files. Perhaps your daughter has filed with the state also. Its a start. I wish you luck with your search.

  17. Debra thorn says:

    I am looking for my two daughters their names have been changed birth names were Emily Ann Edmunds and Trista Noel Edmunds one was born 12/28/83and 10/06/86 so if this is your birthday it must be my little angels. I would give more info but you know the problems email me @preciousbay2660@gmail.com

  18. Carol says:

    I am looking for my neice Victoria McKee’s birth family. She was born 3/30/1990. Her b-mom was around 28 years old at the time of birth. from Lakeland,Fa. The b-mom wrote a beautiful poem for her daughter, so i know in my heart she would like to know how beautiful and smart her daughter has become. Her birthfather was from Michigan.

  19. marie avott says:

    I am still Praying I find my niece born 10/28/86 cushing Oklahoma, her name was vickie marie Ellis ,she has brown eyes ,I helped her get thru a lot .she was removed from her mother s custody, dhs placed her in foster care and. I became a foster mom at the age of 19 to get her w me .last I knew she was in stillwater and a family adopted her immediatly ,I divorced before that and they room her from me due to I was staying w friend .there rulesn cushing Oklahoma ,she has her mothers name is Mary Elizabeth( Elliishe divorced shortly after, and took her madian name.back . I spent a lot of time with vickie she is pride and joy I have several pics and they are still Hung on my wall .I’ve spent hours and years hoping god will bring her to me .if anyone has any idea where she is email me at reemariec@ yahoo.com ,I miss her and I won’t give up till I have found her.,my son and husband are the only ones that know I’ve been searching for her .

    • marie acott says:

      Typo,her mothers name was Mary Elizabeth (Ellis)booten she divorced shortly after. Her mother has seusures and learning disability.mother born October 17,1969. I onieda ny .

  20. marie acott says:

    I need help finding my niece how much is it

  21. GAY says:

    I am still looking for my birthson his name was kevin troy schotts born 07/03/1972 in saskatoon city hospital sask my maiden name was schotts know it is kowall

  22. Jennifer MacDonald says:

    Hi I was born in Brooklyn Hospital October 21, 1969 and was adopted through Angel Guardian Orphanage. I very much would like to find anybody in my biological mother and fathers families. I don’t know anything about my birth family, but I am petite pretty with brown hair and green eyes. If there is any possibility we have a connection please contact me at 404-227-4273 please text this number thank you so very much! Much love, J*

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