Adoption Records Self-Help

"In all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to know our heritage, to know who we are, and where we have come from. Without this enriching
knowledge, there is a hollow yearning; no matter what our attainments in life, there is the most disquieting loneliness." Alex Haley

          An estimated 1 in 10 Americans are adopted. At least as many more Americans have an adoption in their immediate family. DEFINITION: "Immediate family" includes: one's grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, spouse, children and grandchildren. -The Family History Center, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; reprinted in "Dear Abby," Los Angeles Times, 5-30-92.

IMPORTANT EARLY STEPS TO TAKE

1. The absolute first most significant thing you can do is register with the International Soundex Reunion Registry, ISRR. Their new location is: P.O. Box 371179, Las Vegas, NV 89137. By phone call (775) 882-7755 or 888-886-ISRR. You need to be 18 to register. They do NOT accept applications via the internet! Your free registration form can be filled in and printed out afterwards from their only official website at: www.isrr.net and then snail mailed to the above address. This is the oldest and largest free reunion registry in the world (but donations are accepted) and the most likely place to find a match if anyone in your birth family has registered as well. It is a confidential, mutual consent registry, which means that information sent to the ISRR will not be given to any third party or used to solicit business for professional searchers. If you are already registered you should call the phone number above to update your contact information if it has changed.
   
   
2. Second, send a Waiver Of Confidentiality first to The Department Of Health, then the adoption agency, state records agency, and/or the attorney who handled your adoption, etc. If your birth family has also filed a Waiver Of Confidentiality, this should give you your birth record information in most states.
   
   
3. Third, send a letter requesting Non-Identifying information to The Department Of Health, adoption agency, state records agency, and/or the attorney who handled your adoption, etc. Most states will supply you with non-identifying information at the very least. The addresses for vital records by state can be found at the National Center for Health Statistics.
   
   
4. Last, if none of the above steps have produced your information for you after waiting a reasonable length of time, often determined by state law, you can file a Petition with the Court where your adoption was finalized in order to request an original birth certificate. As most searchers know at this point, patience is your best friend. Courts move slowly, releasing information even slower, if they release it at all.
   
   
5. Of course, you can bypass all of the above (except for number 1) if your adoptive parents are understanding and helpful enough to request a copy of the original adoption decree for you. You can't request it but they can. The laws in some states, perhaps most, will allow the original petitioners who filed to finalize the adoption to have a copy of that legal document. Once you have a name, then you will want to update your information with the ISRR. Then the next step in your search will begin. The Adoption Records Handbook will guide you through a vast amount of unique search resources for both a name and a locate.

           An important thing for all searchers to remember is to always keep copies of every form, document, or written communication you submit to anyone in your search efforts. As with any of your valuable papers (insurance, titles, deeds, birth certificates, etc.), putting an extra set of copies in a large envelope to leave with a friend, family member, or originals in a safe deposit box is prudent in case of fire.