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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!
You might enjoy these related posts:
I WAS BORN NOVEMBER 17 1964 AT SANTA ANA COMUNITY HOSPITAL ON WASHINGTON STREET IN SANTA ANA CALIF.TAGED AS BABY BOY JONES GENE DELBERT ALDERSON/MARY ANN ALDERSON MAIDEN NAME STEVENS KATNIK,KATNIK and gerald were paid attorneys on north broadway st in santa ana calif. records thru hall of records in los angels calif.in records department.the son of gerald is running the attorney service department because the attorneys are deceased gerald informed mr alderson for $1,600.000 FOR THE RECORDS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE BIRTH MOTHER AND INFORMATION OF HER NAME AND WHEREABOUTS AND ALL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE ADOPTION OF BABY BOY JONES
Hi John. We believe we have found your birth name! We researched California Birth Records, and it appears your birth mother’s maiden name may be Iverson. Below is what we found:
Baby Boy Jones
DOB: 11/17/1964
County: Orange
Mother’s Maiden Name: Iverson
*This is the only Jones baby born in Orange County on 11/17/1964. The fact this child is named Baby Boy is a strong indication that he was put up for adoption.
Do you have your Non-Identifying Information? (We’ll be explaining in depth how to obtain non-identifying information in a future article shortly.)
If not you can request it from the agency which handled your adoption. If you don’t know the adoption agency you can send a request for your Non-Identifying Information to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). CDSS will then send you a letter with the contact information for the agency that handled your adoption. Below is the contact information for CDSS.
California Department of Social Services
Adoption Support Unit
744 P. Street, MS 3-31
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-8088
I was born March 26, 1990 at the Kaiser hospital in Riverside. My birth mother and possibly my birth father was born in 1971. I only know first names. Her name is Valerie and his name is Mike.
I was adopted in June of 1986, I was born on June 13, 1986 in Phoenix AZ, I am looking for my birth mother I believe her name is Cindy Gilchrist…Adopted through Birth Hope
Hi. We have done some preliminary research and have found two women named Cindy Gilchrist who have ties to the Phoenix area around the time you were born. Do you know about how old your birth mother is or where she was from? Thanks.
Hi again. Also, do you know if Gilchrist is/was her maiden or married name?
I was born August 7, 1974 in La Jolla, CA. I was carried in Scotland so it has been hard to find out anything. I’m not sure of ages, names, occupations, etc. I weighed 7 lbs 11 oz and I believe I was born around 4:30 p.m. Any info is appreciated. Thanks for all you do!
Thankyou, I know that she was 25 when I was born, making her 46 now, She also had 8 brothers and sisters. I know she was married one time and divorced in 1983. Not sure of any further marriages. She also had another daughter in 1981 and had put her up for adoption as well. Thankyou. Im unsure if it was her madien name or married name.
Hi Joan. One of the women we found named Cindy Gilchrist is 46 years old. We are going to do a little more research and send you our results to your email address–by the end of today. For privacy reasons, we don’t want to post address information on your possible birth mother on the front page of our website.
Best regards,
TheSearchAdvisor
Attention Joan. We have emailed you your free search results.
I was born in November, 1957 at Binghamton General Hospital at 10:50PM; birth mother was born in 1932; Caucasian. No other information. Looking for birth mother who was not married at the time.
im 19 years old and i recently gave my baby boy up for adoption
he was born 1month premature…on November 14, 2007
i gave him up through Adoption Alliance
and i just been thinking about him alot lately…
so i just posted this just n case later on in life if he wants to look for me he can try n google this o sumthing…
luv
lonely mama
Hi Vanessa. We’re sure it took a lot of courage for you to place your baby for adoption.
You can also register for free with the International Soundex Reunion Registry. That will also allow your birth child another way to search for you some day. Just visit: isrr.net. They can supply you with a form to fill out your information.
its me again, and a few days ago i finally got up the courage to pick up the first pictures of my baby and letter from his adoptive parents about how he’s doing from the adoption agency…at 1st i wasnt to sure if i should pick up or look at any pictures of my baby because i was afraid i would just break down and cry but surprisingly im relieved too find out that he’s doing GOOD and he looks so CUTE with really big eyes…n e ways …i filled out the form on the reunion registry and
im glad i did…
I just hope when he grows up that he doesnt hate me and he that he would want to meet me…
luv
lonely mama
(feeling better)
We are glad you are feeling better “lonely mama!”
I am searching for my birth mother. All the information I have of her is on my birth certificate. She was born October 28, 1956 in South Carolina, GA and her maiden name is Bonnie June White. My father and I left when i was an infant so I don’t remember anything about her. If anyone has any info about my case, you can reach me at 404-545-2975. (serious inquiries only)
So it is possible for you to search for a birth mother with only a first name and date of birth? I have some non-identifying information from my adoption agency in New Jersey, but am still looking for more detailed contact information. Thanks. My birth date is 11/8/69, my birth mother’s birthday is possibly 2/22/65, she was 24 at the time of my birth. Thanks.
I just posted and made a typo. My birth mother’s potential birthday is in the year 1945, not 1965. Thanks.
Hi MJ. You said your birth mother’s date of birth was “possibly 2/22/65″ and your date of birth was “11/8/69.” That doesn’t add up and there must be a typo. Can you resend your info?
One caveat: Your birth mother’s date of birth must be accurate. If you are off by even one day, there will be no way to obtain a possible match. And, of course, we’ll need her first name and non-identifying information.
You can supply that via a comment or via our contact us page.
Thanks.
The Search Advisor
I will send an email via your contact page as well. Thanks.
When we send an email via your contact page, do you get back to us via email? Thanks.
Yes MJ. Our email will come from either an omnitrace.com address or from support@thesearchadvisor.com.
Thank you very much, I really appreciate it!
I was born on April 24th, 1986 in Pitsburgh, PA. My name given at birth was Ashlee Lauren Matthews. I am not currently sure of the exact date of my adoption. I’m not really even sure about the actual location of my adoption agency. However, any help at all in finding my birthmother would be greatly appreciated. My e-mail address is hairflair424@yahoo.com, if you have any information at all please feel free to write. In the e-mail please list the subject as “birthmother” thank you very much.
Cara Rhoads-Coulson
Attention MJ. We have found your birth mother and her sister (Yeah!) and will send our results to your email address.
Best regards,
The Search Advisor / OmniTrace Staff
My mother and I are looking for my grandmother. My mother was surrendered to a Catholic church, and put up for adoption in 1951 in Jersey City, New Jersey. We know that her birth mother’s Maiden name is Edith Tomei. My mother’s date of birth is 6/20/1951. Her name is Dianne, and she was named by her birth mother, Edith. The father is listed as Unknown on her adoption papers. We would love to find her, as my mother now has no surviving adopted family members, and is all alone. Thank you!
Im looking for my sister she would be she would be 24 turning 25 soon.My mother gave her up for adoption in 1983 and my mothers maiden name is Shirley Ann Poe and was born 08/ 2/65.i think my mother gave her up for adoption when she stilled lived in North Carolia. I dont know the exact date she was born or even her name but i would really like to find her. please send help me find my sister.
i just wanted to that my was 18 when she had my sister she could have been born in either 1983 or 1984 so she might be 25 already.please help me in any way you can i dont know how to search for her since i know so little about he.
maria
i just wanted to update my info i guess my mother had her baby in michigan. When she was 18 her parents sent her their to have the baby. It was a place that excepted pregnant teenagers who were going to give up their babies
maria
Hi, I’ve been looking for my mother for several years now. My father and I left when i was just a little boy. I know my mothers maiden name was Patricia May Carver her birthday is 6/12/1965, and I was born in Alachua County Florida. Any information would be helpful. Thanks, Charles
Correction My mothers middle name was spelled Mae. Thank You
Hi Charles. We will be working on this search for you.
The Search Advisor Staff
Attention Charles. It looks like we have located your mother, Patrica Mae. We can’t be 100% certain without contacting her. We need to protect her privacy and discuss a few things we found about her. Can you please give us a call during normal business hours (we are on eastern time) at 888-965-6696.
Please ask for Sari who will review everything with you.
I am VERY interested in finding my birth mother; my father gained custody of me shortly after I was born. My name is Joshua Adam Preston, and I was born in Knoxville, TN on March 24, 1984. My mothers madien name is April White. Any help would be greatly appericiated.
I am searching for info on my birth mother and any birth siblings. I was born on 2/8/71 at 11:31pm, in Phoenix, AZ. The info that I have is as follows: birth mother’s name was Janet Perez (her maiden name), born on 1/7/51. She had been living in Flagstaff, but came to Phoenix to live in an unwed pregnant girls’ home (called The Florence House, or something similiar). The adoption was through Family Service of Phoenix, nka Family Service Agency, located today at the same street address as back in 1971. Although there is one letter to my (adoptive)parents that is on some letterhead “Office of the Yavapai County Attorney”, Prescott AZ. (?) From the info I received from the Family Service Agency (“non-identifying info”, perhaps), it stated that Janet came to sign the relinquishment papers on Feb. 16, 1971, and would be returning to Flagstaff later that same day. I was referred to as Baby Girl Perez, except one spot that was detailing eating/sleeping schedule and read, “Carol Lynn is a very good baby.”
One more thing I must add…I have always been curious about finding my birth mother/sibs, but only recently did my interest peak so much I can’t let it go. I have a friend who is psychic (and ‘scary accurate’)and just out of a different conversation, she told me that my birth mother had passed away years ago (when she was 37, the same age I am now), but that I have a bio sister that I need to find. It peaked my curiosity, but I have hit so many road blocks on trying to deny/confirm my birth mother’s death(in 1988). I need to start with her in order to find any siblings.
Sorry this was so LONG, and take what you will from the psychic thing. But I am very interested in trying to locate the Janet Perez that gave birth to me. Thank you.
In all that I wrote, I forgot to mention one more thing. I have two daughters now that were each born with a rare genetic kidney/liver disease known as ARPKD. It is a recessive gene thing, which means that my husband also has this recessive gene. We got together, never knowing anything about this until our first daughter got very sick and was diagnosed. I know it’s a long shot, but it could also be a clue, if there was any known kidney disease. Thanks again for any help at all.
Try the Search Angels
Yes, Search Angels can be very helpful when trying to locate birth family for free. However, because the search is free, there is only so much time and costs they can expend on a particular case.
If any Search Angel would like to post their contact information here on the thesearchadvisor.com, please feel free to do so!
Best regards,
TheSearchAdvisor.com Staff / OmniTrace.com Staff
I am searching for my birth mother.I was born April 21,1984 which makes me 24 years old. Im a black female born in Wilson,N.C. Im hoping to find her i know she was 21 when she had me and stayed with her parents which were very old, in Wilson county. She was the youngest of 13 children,and my birth father was married.I also know I have other siblings. Any info please contact.
The adoption was done through Social Service in Wilson County N.C. Need any other info please contact!
I am searching for my birth mother and any other siblings I may have. I am a female born 3/7/63 in LaJolla, CA., Scripps Hospital at 1:07am named Kelly Michelle Reed. Birth mothers name on birth certificate is Marie Elaine Roach she was 20 years old at the time of my birth, Father Clarence Riley Reed. I was given away with my older Brother Wayne Edward Cook, born 1/26/62. Birth Mothers name on Waynes Certficate is Marie Elaine Pardee. Our Birth mother was born in Washington D.C. and put two different maiden names on our birth certificates.
Attention Kelly Downing… Wow! Our head of research has been working on your search and it appears your birthmother has been married at least 6 times in a period of 13 years. There could be more marriages that we havent been able to find yet.
In order to go further with this search, we’ll need to speak with you by phone. Please provide your phone number to our email address: support@thesearchadvisor.com and we’ll provide you a free and friendly consultation. Also, please provide a best time to call you.
I have been searching for my birthmother since I was 18 off and on. I am now 43. I have been sick the past 20yrs. I have advanced rheumatoid arthritis, the doctors say it is genetic. Could you help? This is all I know.
I was born 2/25/65, my birthmother named me Tina Marie Anthony, I was born in Trenton,NJ. I was placed in the Childrens Home Society. My birth father never was told about me. My adoption was final May 27,1966. My adoptive parents named me Rose Mary Rathbone. My birthmothers name was Sharon Lucille Pepe.
Rose
Hi I am the adoptee girl looking for my birth mother. Her name is Janet Love and she came from Oregon to give birth to me in Sacramento California. SHe had a sister who lived there and I was born in Sutter Memorial Hospital on 52nd and F streets, As im getting older i really hope to find her and I hope that im not to late. I want to meet Janet and give her thanks for the life and chance she gave me when she gave me up for adoption. I have such wonderful and supportive adoptive parents who are encourging me to search for Janet as well as a supportive husband. Please help me find her. I hop that its not to late.
I forgot to post that i was born November 19, 1965 and hopefully that should also help out in finding Janet.
I have been searching for the last 6 years without much luck. I know I was born January 31, 1984 in Houston, TX. My adoption was finalized in Orange County California because that is where my adoptive parents were living at the time. I know that my birthmom gave up 2 other daughters for adoption. One was born April 1, 1988 and one on November 17, 1993. I have been told by the adoption agency (lutheran social services) that her name is Susan. I am not sure if that is accurate. Any help would be appreciated!
hi my name is brenda goodman and i am writting for my husband and his family. they are looking for there sister that was adopted. She was born in St louis and was in may. my mother n law madden name was Allison Renee Wilson and her birhtday is sept 13 we are looking for her her iological father was corol bunch and we would really like to find her if know any information or were we can begain to look please get a hold of me.
we dont know her name because it was state issued and we cant get no information except was born at missouri baptist in may
Please if any information please contact us thank you very much and god bless you
Hello, I am 38 years (born in 1969) and my adoption was handled through Children’s Home and Aid Society of Illinois. The only information I have is non-identifying as follows: birth mother, caucasian 20 year old woman. Her mother died three years earlier at 53 of emphysema. I was born at Cook County Hospital—the non id says on Sept. 27, 1969 at 8:45 a.m.
It also says that I was released from the hospital on Oct. 15th and placed in a temporary boarding home. I was placed with my adoptive family on Dec. 16th 1969.
This is all the info I have. Is there any information here that I can use to try and locate my birth mother? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Cece. OmniTrace can obtain name information on your birth mother in Cook County for 1969. Having your birth mother’s name (likely her maiden name) and knowing how old she was should allow us to locate her for you.
Unfortunately, there is a cost associated with obtaining name information in Cook County. We wish there wasn’t. If you would like to write us and provide your phone number, one of our search consultants can assist you (the consultation is free). Our email address is: support@the searchadvisor.com. You can also call us toll free at 888-965-6696. Make sure you mention your correspondence to TheSearchAdvisor.com.
Best regards,
The Search Advisor / Omnitrace Staff
I have been trying to think of any other information that might be helpful. Other information that I have is that she graduated from Texas A&M university in criminology. She might have had 4 other children which i have their first names. I know the hospital that the other two daughters were born at. Our social workers name was ruby douglas through lutheran social services of the south. i found a paper in my file with the name johanna on it which could possibly be my birth name. I also have one picture of her from around 1988. Please let me know if this search might be possible.
Hi Lany. This search is indeed possible but might get a little complicated since you were born in Texas and the adoption was finalized in California. Records from both states would need to be accessed and cross-referenced.
If you would like to speak with one of our search advisors for a free consulation, please write us at: support@thesearchadvisor.com
Please provide your phone number and a best time to call you.
Best regards,
The Search Advisor/OmniTrace Research Team