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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!









Iam looking for my daughter, born 10-31-74 in Warren,Ohio.Forced to give her over to Children Services of Trumbull Co.,Ohio by parents.
I am trying to find my birthdaughter
Toni L Quinn. Her birthdate is 01/11/1973.
I am trying to find out if she lives at
14547 Evans Dr., Surprise, AZ 85379 with
her adoptive parents or in San Diego, CA
on her own. Any help that you can give me
will be very much appreciated.
Thank you.
DorothyCGeorge@aol.com
i am looking for my half brother, he is 19 years old and was born in st.louis ,missouri in 1989. our birthmothers name is elizabeth hackett, thats all i know please help me find him.
I was born on 12/15/1951 at cannon memorial hospital in pickens, south carolina. I was placed with the children’s bureau of s.c. in columbia, s.c. and was adopted by my adoptive parents when I was six months old. I was named, at birth, “james robert” and all I know is my last name started with a “J”. please help me find my birth parents or siblings.
My name is carla julius and I am searching for my children who where adopted in new York city
There names are Demetrius D’Aloisio, Robin Julius,walter julius jr,Robert Julius and Ian julius please any help anyone can give will be appreicetied I miss y’all so much with god’s graces I will find u some day
looking for biological son born Dec 29, 1980 in Agana Guam. He was listed as Baby K at the time and suppose to have been adopted by a military family. I too was military (USN) stationed there and circumstances just got in the way at that time so i had to give my child up. I have never forgotten him and think about him all the time. I would appreciate any help/info available. Thank-you so much, Robin
I am looking for my niece and nephew. Names given at birth by their real mother before given up for adoption were Candis Marie McCormick and William McCormick. William was given up for adoption in Albany New York thru Catholic Charities. Candis was given up for adoption in Worcester Massachusettes also thru catholic charities. Williams birthday is 1/11/80 Candis was born in August of 82 or 83. They were adopted it out to 2 different families but are natural siblings. Their mothers real name is Colleen McCormick Tersigni and real fathers name is William Kross. Any information on them would be greatly appreciated. Their real mother Colleen would love to be in contact with them.
I believe I might be the Candis you are looking for. I was born 8/27/1980 in Worcester, MA by the name of Candis Marie. My adoption was through Catholic Charities. Placed in foster care September 2, 1980. My biological mother was about 17 and, according to a summary I just recently found, a “pretty girl who has a lovely smile, although she has such a mass of hair that her small features seem lost.”
Emily, Colleen traveled from New York State and came to stay with me (Colleen’s oldest sister) in Westboro, MA for a few months until it was time for her to go to the home in Worcester, MA. We were able to visit with her on weekends until we moved to Virginia the end of June 1980.
The same could be said of you, ‘a very pretty girl (young lady) with a lovely smile.’
In early 1982 Colleen traveled to Virginia to help take care of my newborn son, David, for several months when I returned to work after David was born. Colleen then returned to New York State.
I am looking for my son, given birth on October 1, 1968 at a hospital in Ogden, Utah. He was given up for adoption in Ogden. During my pregnacy, I was placed through the Salvation Army with a wonderful family in Ogden, Utah named Rory and Barbara Youngberg. After giving birth, I returned to Rhode Island where I remained until May 2008; I then moved to Round Rock, Texas. His father is still in Rhode Island in the Lincoln area, near Providence. His name is Douglas F Paterson. His father and I loved each other, but due to personal circumstances, I allowed my son to be adopted. His birthday is approaching and although I think about him all the time, October 1st brings me to a standstill. I would love to make contact with him, so any information would be really appreciated.
looking for birth mother jeanette perez i was born on june 23 1988 and i was adopted at an early age
hello my name is patricia Evans Delaney,and I am looking for my son who I was forced to give up for adoption in 1979.his name then was steven shane evans .and he was born on june 4 1979.he was a premie.and was born in mobile ala .at usa medical center .I would love to know that he is alright and I would like to share medical information to him
HELLO I AM THE MOTHER OF A CHILD NAMRD AT BIRTH.STEVEN SHANE EVANS. HIS FATHER.S NAME WAS NEIL JARMAN,I WAS 17YEARS WHEN I HAD TO GIVE STEVEN UP FOR ADOPTION .HIS BIRTHDAY IS 6-4 -79 HE WAS BORN IN MOBILE ALA AT USA MEDICAL CENTER,AND WAS A PREMIE AND TO STAY IN THE HOSTAPAL FOR A LONG TIME.FOR ALL THOSE YEARS THERE HAS BEEN A HOLE IN MY HEART,I HAVE BEEN WANTED TO BE ABLE TO JUST FIND OUT IF HE IS ALRIGHT,I LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH,AND I NEED TO DISUSS MEDICAL INFORMATION WITH YOU .PLEASE KNOW I AM NOT TRYING TO MESS UP YOUR LIFE ,I NEED TO SHARE MY STORY WITH YOU.I PRAY EVERYNITE THAT YOU READ THIS AND WANT TO CONTACT ME.BUT IF YOU CAN.T I WILL UNDERSTAD.ILOVE YOU SO MUCH STEVEN,AND THAT WILL NEVER CHANGED ,
I was born May 11/71. Adopted thru Catholic Charities near Roanoke or a southern Va town. Looking for family. I’m fine if you don’t respond. I’m a nurse and live in MD.
i was 3 when i was given away. my name then was broyles.i have a sister marie and pattie,and a brother ernie. our mothers name is margrett. she has a sister named margie and a brother named jim lane. i was born in viginia in 1965. thank you very much for any information.
Hi, my name is Michele. My dob is 10/28/1965; i was born in Cadiz, Spain to a wonderful woman, Ramona Ruiz. I do not know my birth father and it truly upsets her to discuss him. I have a wonderful relationship with my “dad”–He found my mother and me while stationed in Spain in 1965 to 1968. he married my mother and adopted me. I have an older sister and 2 younger brothers. I don’t want to hurt my mother’s feelings by asking to many questions so figured I could start here. I was diagnosed with Celiac disease this year and now have medical concerns. Thanks for your time.
My twin brother and i were born January 8, 1972. We were adopted by a wonderful family in St Louis, Missouri. We are looking for our birth parents. We are fraternal twins, a girl and a boy.
I suspect that a former girlfriend had a baby by me and gave it up for adoption because I wouldn’t marry
her. Our fling only lasted 3 weeks, at which point she packed up and moved out of city without saying why or when she might return. We knew each other from High School. She resurfaced almost exactly 1 year later saying she had lived in Greenwood County,
Kansas. If I’m right, baby was born in Greenwood County, Kansas about 1982 to 1984. Her maiden name is Joyce Walker. We both lived in Wichita, Kansas.
Can’t contact her because of her new husband.
i am looking for my mother glenis ann tydfiil jones age 70 i was adopted in 1956 from st bernardoes westham london i also have a brother
I am the birthmother of a boy,born 11/29/72.He was put up for adoption,by my father and it was a private adoption,so I do not know if he even knows he IS adopted.
He was born in Lankeneau Hospital,Philadelphia,Pennsylvania.
I was only 17 years old.
Not a day goes by that I don’t think about him.
There is a hole in my heart.
He needs to know that I love him.