Colorado Court Pulls Curtain Back On Adoption Records

When Patricia Dukeman started trying to find her biological parents, Ronald Reagan lived in the White House, Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” was record of the year, and the Supreme Court decided it was OK for us to use those new VCR things to tape TV shows.

In the 25 years since, Dukeman, 48, has spent a lot of money and learned a Read More

Colorado Adoption Law – Pertaining To Open Records

Here is new information about Colorado Adoption Law pertaining to open records from Rich Uhrlaub, director of Adoptees In Search:

“The Colorado State Board of Human Services has approved a new rule in compliance with the recent Court of Appeals ruling which opened records to those whose adoptions were finalized between Julyl 1, 1951 and July 1, 1967. This means that, along with original birth certificates which are available through the Colorado Department of Publice Health and Environment (CDPHE), adoption records as defined by statute which are under the Read More

Assembly Considers Unsealing New Jersey Birth Records

New Jersey Birth Records

Currently, original New Jersey birth records are sealed when an adoption occurs.  Adoptees searching for their birth family cannot access their original names or their birth parent’s names.  Birth parents are also denied access to birth records. 

There is legislation in the works that will give adult adoptees and adoptive parents access to original birth records. 

Birth parents will have a 12 month period to file a request to redact their names and addresses from the birth records and then have 60 days to fill out a form with medical, ancestral and social history. 

Learn more details about legislation to open New Jersey birth records  here:  http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/

(Type s611 in the Bill Number field, click the search button and then click on the PDF Format or HTML Format Link)

Eight states currently have open Read More

Man Seeks Son Given For Adoption But Records Lead To Wrong Person

Mistaken Identity Shatters Adoption Reunion

OmniTrace is involved with many wonderful reunions between adopted children and their biological parents.  Most go very well and are wonderful experiences for the reunited family members.

The following reunion (not one of our cases) has a truly startling twist.  Here’s a story shown on ABC News about an adoption that took place in New Jersey.  It involves a mix-up between two people who waited their entire lives to meet, and it is absolutely heartbreaking:

ABC News Story

It’s hard to know exactly where things went wrong.  It could have been at the hospital.  In that case, the hospital records were likely destroyed years ago and the mystery will never be solved.  Or, the mistake may have taken place at the New Jersey adoption agency– the son was one of six other children adopted around the same time and a mix-up might have occurred.

Unfortunately, those agency adoption records that might help to reveal the Read More

Troy The Locator On WE tv

Troy The Locator

Troy The Locator has been reuniting birth family for over twenty years and is one of the most viewed shows on WE tv.  Millions of people have witnessed Troy The Locator conduct reunions between birth parents and adoptees.

A new episode of  Troy The Locator airs Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009,  9:00 PM Eastern Time and 8:00 PM Central. 

Here is what WE tv has to say about Troy The Locator: Read More

Using Social Media To Conduct Your Adoption Search

Adoption Search

Social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and Google can be very helpful when conducting an adoption search.  Not only can you search these sites for listings your birth family members might have posted, you can also post your adoption search details on many of these sites.   

Here is a New York Daily News video and article on how Jonathan Frank conducted an adoption search and found his birth brother and birth sister with the help of Facebook.

Here is a CNN News Story on how a Pennsylvania woman used Google to resolve her adoption search and find her birth family. 

When OmniTrace begins a new adoption search, we utilize state-of-the-art databases, a worldwide network of researchers and private investigation methods to find birth family.  We also take advantage of the many free social media websites so we have every chance to successfully complete your adoption search.

If you are conducting an adoption search on your own, please be sure to visit the Read More

Requesting Adoption Records

Adoption Records

Requesting your adoption records in a closed adoption records state, while sometimes daunting, is definitely worth doing.  You may obtain:

• Non-Identifying Information (Redacted Adoption Records)
• Information On The State Reunion Registry
• Intermediary Program Details

Obtaining your non-identifying information (redacted adoption records) can be very helpful in finding your birth parents.  We have already written several posts covering non-id, but because this subject is so important, let’s review again (we’ll cover reunion registries and intermediary programs in our next post). 

Non-identifying information / redacted adoption records typically contains Read More

Open Adoption Records In Colorado!

Open Adoption Records In Colorado

(Special thanks to Joan of nyadoptees who notified us about Colorado Open Adoption Records.)

Great news for those adopted in Colorado who are searching for their birth parents.  Persons adopted in Colorado will soon have access to their original birth records, as long as their adoption was finalized between July 1, 1951 and June 30, 1967.

OmniTrace contacted the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to confirm that Colorado open adoption records will soon be available.  They have informed us that forms will be available to request original birth certificates on June 29, 2009.

In addition, Richard Uhrlaub, Co-Director of Adoptee in Search/Colorado’s Triad Connection,  has indicated that Read More

Have An Old Address Of A Missing Person?

If you are searching for a missing person and have their old address, here is a FREE investigative trick, provided by the head of our OmniTrace research department–Chris Maione.  This may allow you to identify and contact prior neighbors of your subjecct:

First, visit free web resource www.zillow.com. 

1. At the top of the Zillow homepage, there is field where you can input your missing person ’s old address. 
2. After submitting your search, you will see a map of the neighborhood where your missing person once resided (you can view this map in street view, aerial view and hybrid view). 
3. The old address, that you submitted will appear, as well as tiny icons that represent homes surrounding the address you submitted. 
4. By clicking on the icons, you will obtain exact address information. 
5. Jot down the addresses surrounding your subject’s old address.  In particular, you will want the addresses on the left, on the right and directly across the street from the old address of your subject.

Then, visit free web resource www.whitepages.com. 

1. On the upper center of the home page, click on Read More

Marriage Records – Great Resource When Conducting A BirthMother Search

Accessing marriage records can be very helpful when conducting a birthmother  search.   In most instances, you are trying to develop your birthmother’s married name.    

(Of course, searching marriage records can help anyone who is searching and working with only a maiden name.) 

Marriage records may contain:

• Maiden and married name of birth mother
• Dates of birth of birthmother and groom
• Date of marriage
• Place of marriage
• Birth places of birthmother and groom
• Addresses of birthmother and groom
• Parents of birthmother
• Employment information
• Religious affiliations
• Previous marriages
• Divorce information
• Relatives of birthmother and groom
• Social Security Numbers (sometimes)
• Witness names

Please note:  Information obtained from marriage records will vary greatly from Read More