Helpful Documents and Resources

None but a mule denies his family. ~ Anonymous

As discussed previously, the best places to obtain the documents you need to resolve your search include:

  1. The Internet, including the many search engines and databases;
  2. Public libraries and other online libraries; and
  3. Adoption agencies or state agencies.

This chapter will discuss the databases available to help in your search, the documents that you want to obtain, and where to get them. Please note that in a few states, it has been documented that information on birth certificates and other adoption documents has been intentionally altered.

  • Adoption Agencies/Maternity Homes

Network with others who may be doing a search involving the same agency or maternity home. The forums at Adoption.com have discussion forums for people searching at several agencies or maternity homes.

If a maternity home or orphanage is no longer operating, or has changed its name, here are some suggestions:

  • Look for a book in your local library for a book called "Adoption, Orphanages, Maternity Homes: An Historical Directory", by Reg Niles. All institutions in all 50 states from the 1800s to 1981 are listed. Information includes addresses, year founded, years in operation and a wealth of other items.
  • Type the name of the original institution into a favorite search engine such as Yahoo or Google. A historical article may pop up and provide you with the name of the new entity or where the records have been archived.

Below are some of the main agencies and the resources available for those involved in adoptions through these agencies. These resources may be directly through the agencies or separate groups not connected or run by the agencies or maternity homes.

Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities Adoption Triad Ring
http://k.webring.com/hub?ring=cctriad
This ring is for those who are affected by the Catholic Charities or Catholic Adoption Agency and searching for family.

Contact your local Catholic Charities agency for information about a national registry.

Children’s Home Society
CHS Organizations Around the Country
http://www.chs-wa.org/1_resourcesontheweb.htm

Bethany Christian Services
There is a box on their contact form to check for an adoptee or a birth parent who desires information.
http://www.bethany.org/A55798/bethanyWWW.nsf/F_CONTACT?OpenForm

Adoption Records

Obviously, your adoption records may help you to locate your birth family member. Unfortunately, there are generally only two ways to get your adoption records in most states:
  • From the adoptive parents; or
  • By petitioning the court to release your records (See petitioning the court below.)

Below is a list of 17 pages of documents an adoptee in California received after his successful petition to the court:

  1. Report of Adoption Agency;
  2. Relinquishment;
  3. Minutes of the Court Granting Petition;
  4. Notification of Subsequent Action;
  5. Declaration and Report of Expense;
  6. Consent of Husband and Wife and Agreement of Adoption;
  7. Notification of Pending Action;
  8. Decree of Adoption;
  9. Petition for Adoption; and
  10. Certificate of Adoption.

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Credits: Jan Baker