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How The Pros Find An Adoptee And Find Birth Parents
Many adoptees and birth parents who search are curious about the search methods used by professional researchers and search companies to find an adoptee or find birth parents.
Every search to find an adoptee or find birth parents is unique, and the tools and techniques used by professionals vary from case to case. In addition, various search companies and researchers have their own proprietary methods, resources and favorite procedures. Of course, the case first has to be reviewed to determine a course of action. In many instances, a search begins without a name and/or without much background information.
Below are some of the methods and resources that a birth parent and adoptee search professional may use to obtain name information or confirm name information and background information on an adoptee or birth parents:
- Conduct Interviews With Any Knowledgeable Parties To The Adoption
- Utilize The Assistance Of Local Birth Parent And Adoptee Search Specialists And Genealogists
- Identify and Research Birth Indexes (Birth Records) In Area Of The Adoption
- Request Medical Records, Nursery Records, And Hospital Billing Records
- Request Non-Identifying Background Information
- Locate And Contact Any Attorneys Involved With The Adoption
- Identify, Locate and Contact The Delivery Physician
- Determine If Court Minutes Are Available In The County Of Adoption
- Research Birth Announcements In The County Of Adoption
- Research Marriage Announcements In County Of Adoption
- Research Announcement Of Relinquishment In County Of Adoption
- Research Church Records In County Of Adoption
- Research Census Records And Genealogical Databases
- Research High School And College Yearbooks
- Contact Reference Library In County Of Adoption For Additional Resources
- Utilize The Freedom Of Information Act To Request Government Records
- Utilize Proprietary Database Resources
Once an adoptee name or the names of the birth parents is determined, and historical background information is established, search professionals utilize many of the following resources to find a current location of the adoptee or birth parents:
- Research Old City, Old Phone And Reverse Directories
- Research Voter Registration Records
- Contact Chamber Of Commerce
- Contact County And City Clerk’s Office
- Contact County Sheriff’s Office
- Contact Possible Ex-Employers
- Contact Possible Ex-Landlords
- Contact Military Locators
- Contact Motor Vehicle Department
- Contact Tax Assessor’s Office
- Research Government Depository Libraries
- Contact Local Post Office
- Contact Vital Statistics
- Contact Utility Companies
In addition to the above resources, some researchers and professional search companies (such as OmniTrace) have access to specialized, locator databases consisting of literally billions of public records.
In addition to the above aggressive approaches to find birth parents and an adoptee, there are more passive techniques used by professional searchers: (1) File Waivers Of Confidentiality (2) List Birth Parents And Adoptee’s Information With Major And State Specific Adoption Registries (please read: What Is A Reunion Registry) (3) Search All Major Registries For Information On The Adoptee Or Birth Parents (4) Post Your Information In Local Classified Ads (5) Post Your Information In Adoption Related Magazines and Newsgroups Many researchers and research companies such as OmniTrace will also act, on your request, as an intermediary when an adoptee or birth parents are identified and located.
We hope this answers some of your curiosity about professional birth parent and adoptee search companies. Of course, we understand that some of the above terminology and methods are unfamiliar.
Please share you comments and questions with us in the comments box. Thanks!
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I am looking for my half brother. He was born January 26, 1960 at Dameron Hospital in Stockton, CA. His father’s name was Russell Evans, and his mother’s name (and mine) was Alice Fontaine. Our mother is no longer with us, but I just found out from an aunt about him. The Dr. that delivered him and placed him with his adoptive parents (supposedly in Sacramento, Ca) was a Dr. Pelgin. I don’t know if he would like to find out about our mother and the circumstances of his adoption or to even meet his half brothers and sisters, but I would like to explain.
Found! Thank you very much for all your help, but alas at this time he is not interested in knowing anything about his mother or brothers and sisters.
sometime that happens but maybe in the future? I think the male species has a harder time coming to grips with all of this. As a female that has given a child up for adoption, i understand the depths that one goes thru with that option. A male does not. So i don’t think a male adoptee understands what the mother went thru to do that for him and won’t be so accepting. But hang in there and best of luck to you, Robin
I am looking for my birth mother. I would really like to talk to her at least just once. I am going into the Navy and also I am getting married next year. My fiance’ really wants me to find her and I have been looking for her for seventeen years now. I my self am twenty eight years old. Any suggestions?
Hello Patrick,
Just curious if you know where you were born and just the Month and day? Possibly the name of the hospital and your birth mother’s name. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.
Christina
I know the hospital and all the way down to time of birth. I was born in 1982 one year before if things had been sealed I could still look.
My birth mother’s name is what I pieced together from all the paper work. From the shapes of letters that had been blacked out it took me five years to identify her name.
Hello, Iam looking for my birth parents, and birth family. I was born july 8th 1965 in chicago illinois at augustana hospital and was adopted thru lutheran social services.
Hi. I am looking for my birth family and ancestry. I was born Feb 1 1965 at Crawford Long Hospital. The adoption was arranged before my birth. Dr. William Thompkins, deceased, was OBGYN for my natural mother and my adopted mother. He arranged adoption. (Nurse: Virginia, deceased). From what I understand, my natural mother was a college student.
Looking for mother, Lora Maguire, who lived in Drayton Plains, MI. She is by birth mother. I only want to know health information and if I have any brothers or sisters. I know my father is Stephen Brummett.
hello I’m looking for my adopted daughter,she was born in Indianapolis Indiana,and she was born at wishard hospital on January 17, 1985 any help would be greatly appreciated.