Where do I start?
Getting Started with Search
As you consider starting a search for family members, there are several things to remember:
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- Adoption law and regulations differ from country to country, state to state and, in some states, from county to county. These laws and regulations address the age at which an adoptee can receive information, who can request information, how, and what types of information are available.
- Alabama, Alaska, Kansas, and Oregon are "open records" states where adoptees can receive original birth and possibly other adoption information on request. Some other states have provisions to release original birth and/or adoption information with restrictions.
- When requesting information, start with the state where the adoption was finalized and not in the state where the adoptee was born, if different.
- It's wise to know why you're searching and be as emotionally prepared as possible since your very first steps may result in contact, or your search could last for years with the possibility of never producing results.
- Unfortunately, there have been cases of people contacting searching adoptees and birthparents claiming to be their parent, child, or sibling when this is not the case. Be aware that this can happen.
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Visitor Comments
(112)
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Chris
- 4 weeks ago
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I am a female that was born in June 1965 and my brother was born February 1964. I was born in West Chester, PA, I believe we were adopted when we were in Dowingtown, PA or that is where our mother was from. I believe my mother's name was Jeannie Tucker. We spent sometime in foster care and then time at the adoption agency before we were adopted. I think at one time in my life that someone mentioned that we may have siblings. We have no knowledge of who our father's were. I believe my brother and I had different fathers.
#1
Michael
- 3 days ago
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I am a male born on may 2,1977 and I am looking for my birth parents! I know I have siblings and and aunt named PAT. I was born in Baytown, tx and my mother went by TINK. I would love to contact them and my adoptee family has and will not give me any information. They even knew my biological parents. My adoptee mother died when I was 13 and my adopted father is a loner. I really want to find my biological parents if they don't want to have a relationship that is understandable but, for my children's sake and a piece of mind I would love to know medical information. Thank you!
#2
Angel
- 2 weeks ago
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I am in search of my niece of whom was place for adoption in Maryland. She was born 12/12/1988 at Howard County General Hospital. I believe her adoptive parents may have resided in Virginia, but I am not sure exactly where in Virginia. All I have are two pictures of her after her birth and a crib card, stating her D.O.B.; weight; length; time of birth; mothers doctor; and her doctor. I know that the birth mother also went through Catholic Charities. The birth parents are also on board with me finding my niece for they too would like to meet her. Please help if you have any information. I have ran into some complications along the way and seem to end up against a brick wall.
#3
Karena
- 3 days ago
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Hi I am looking for my biological grandmother.
My mom was adopted from the Florence Crittenton home in Souix City, IA, 3 weeks after she was born. Her name was Karena.
Her birth date is March 19th, 1966.
My mom hired a private investigator about 15 years ago to try and find her real mother but it was a closed adoption so my mother could never find her maternal mother.
My mom now has super curly red/brown hair and a lot of freckles. We know for a fact there was a history of bipolar disorder in their family.
We also know that my mom's maternal mother was adopted as well. She was also going to college when she got pregnant.
#4
Rebecca
- 4 weeks ago
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Searching for Birth Mother or Father. I was born on Sept. 8, 1968 (female) in Tampa, Florida. The adoption was handled by The Children's Home Society. I know my birth mother was 17 and my birth father was 19 at the time of my birth. I am fairly certain that I must have been born at Tampa General. My mother says that she remembers them saying that my birth mother's father was a prominent contractor in the Tampa Bay area back in the 1960's.
#5
Victoria Crenshaw
- 1 month ago
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I am looking for my uncle he was given away by my grandmother and later in life he found her she and my father turned him away but me and my sister would like to know who he is. He's maybe 51 or older and his name that we know of is joe amato we have been searching on ancerstry.com but cannot afford to make an account we just want to find him, and meet him thats all and we have had no luck.
#6
Angela
- 4 weeks ago
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Im looking for my 2 lil boys named alex Mario Moreno and Xavier Anthony ruelas alex is 9 his birthday is dec.17 2003 and Xavier is 7 his birthday is april. 7 2006 rite now I heard they are being put up for adoption idk who is gonna take them but I just want to say I love my kids and miss them so much I wish I can hold them and see them again if anyone knws anything I do have a facebook I go by Angie Moreno and my sons picture is on my profile from are last visit on june 26th 2012 at the child protective services building here in san Antonio tx thank u.
#7
Fong
- 6 days ago
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I am looking for my adopted niece who was born in January, 1983 in Taipei, Taiwan (I don't have the exact date, the family name is Fong). She had a little deformation on the foot and hand, but absolutely a sweet and lovely baby (I heard from my relatives). She was adopted by a western family. I live in Southern California now and pray to meet my niece who is 30 year old now.
#8
Sandra
- 4 weeks ago
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I am looking for a female born in 1974 in Dallas, Texas at the Edna Gladney Home for Unwed Mothers. Her birth mother's name was Rebecca Whaley and her father's name was James Edward Hawkins. James (Pete) was my first cousin and like a brother to me. His girlfriend Rebecca (Becky) became pregnant while still in High School and was forced by her parents to give up the baby for adoption. The father or the father's family did not have much to say about it back in those days. My cousin Pete recently died of cancer and besides breaking my heart, he left no other children to carry on his life or his memory. I would love to just find this young lady and talk to her and see pictures of her and tell her about her father and his family (a very large family) and maybe just hug her. I don't know much except the little I have written here and I have no access to the mother either to ask her questions. I know she did not have any other children either. The birth mother has beautiful red hair.
#9
Patricisz
- 1 week ago
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My name is Patricia I am 55 yrs old and looking for my birth brother William Carlos Kiskaden born Feburary 2nd 1961 in West Palm Beach Fla to Helen Cathern Coyle Kiskaden and Robert Samuel Kiskaden .The adoption took place in Fla when he was 4 moths old taken into custody by the FLa children services;Billy also has a older brother and a half siters.As far as I know mom said your name now is Valentine but not sure
#10
Kasey
- 1 week ago
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Searching for my birth mother. Her name is Jeanette Kirby, she was born in Lancashire UK and I was born on the 3rd of September 1989. All I know is that she was very young when she gave birth to me. And I don't blame her for choosing adoption at such a young age, I just want to know where I came from. It was a closed adoption but now I'm nearly 24 and I'm more than ready to find her.
#11
Laura
- 1 week ago
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I'm in search of my birth parents. I was born on Nov. 1, 1967 at Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, NY (Monroe County). I was in foster care for 9 months and then adopted through Catholic Charities in Syracuse, NY (Onondaga County). I know my birth mother was 28 and my birth father was 30 at the time of my birth. I believe I have half siblings on each side. I was given the name Patricia and was called "Patty". The adoption was granted at the Family Court of the County of Onondaga.
#12
karen
- 2 weeks ago
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I was born Dec 26, 1965 in Pittsburgh PA, I was adopted in Feb 1966 thru Catholic Charities either Greensburg/Westmoreland County or Pittsburgh/Allegheny county the attorney handling the case was Joseph Bonidy. Unfortunately this is all of the information I have, I am seeking my birth mother or birth father and any possible siblings
#13
Jason
- 2 weeks ago
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I am male that was born April 11th, 1965, adopted in columbus ohio, i was adopted @ 9 months, I am looking for my birth mother or father, my adopted mother told me , that at the time my mother was 16 years old and wasnt able to take care of me, I am curious to find my birth parents, thanks .
#14
angela
- 2 weeks ago
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Angela Cicchetti
im in search of a son I was too young to have he is now well over 18 im scared and would like nothing else in the world to see or speak to him he was born may 30 1993 in a Columbus, Ohio hospital I was the birth mother age 14 it was threw lds services in Columbus ohio ID LOVE NOTHEN MORE TO SEE MY CHILD BEFORE HE TURNS 19 I was too young and had no choice in what was going to be
#15
angela
- 2 weeks ago
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Angela Cicchetti
im in search of a son I was too young to have he is now well over 18 im scared and would like nothing else in the world to see or speak to him he was born may 30 1993 in a Columbus, Ohio hospital I was the birth mother age 14 it was threw lds services in Columbus ohio ID LOVE NOTHEN MORE TO SEE MY CHILD BEFORE HE TURNS 19 I was too young and had no choice in what was going to be
#16
LAURA
- 2 weeks ago
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I AM SEARCHING FOR MY BIOLOGICAL MOTHER/SIBLINGS.FAMILY..I WAS BORN BABY GIRL GAY ON JUNE 2, 1960 IN CHARLESTON WEST VIRGINIA AT CAMC HOSPITAL. HER NAME WAS NANCY L. GAY. SHE WAS ABOUT 20 WHEN I WAS BORN..THE DRS NAME WAS MARSHAL CARPER. I NO THE RECORDS ARE SEALED. I HAVE SEARCHED BUT NO LUCK
#17
john h.jackson 3
- 3 weeks ago
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hi am looking for my son his name is jacquez marcel jackson i have been looking for him he is in foster care he was taken at age 3. I went to work and when i came home he was gone. I had nothing to do with him being taken. son if u ever read this pls call me at xxxxx i love u and i want u back
#18
Sandra
- 2 months ago
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Looking for my half sister that was born 2 13 65 in Waynesboro VA Her birthname is Teresa Frances Beard. Parents are Russell Beard and Margaret Bryant.A private adoption in Sherman TX when she was 9 months old. The grandfather of adopting parent was in law enforcement. Would love to find her as I am only child. Find me on facebook Sandra Perez Galveston Tx
#19
Steve
- 1 month ago
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Almost 20 years ago my siblings and I were seperated from one another and our parents. Three to four years after we were taken away my olders sister reconnected with my parents, then myself in 2000, my younger brother in 01, my little brother in 06 or 07. My older sister and I have been searching for the last two siblings in our family for quite sometime. they were adopted out in 97, they are fraternal twins who are named Louisa Marie Granado and Lucio Miguel Granado and will be 22 on November 13. If the adoption was finalized out of state it is unkown to the family, but we were and still are living in Austin, TX when were informed by CPS. We dearly miss them and wish them to be a part of our family again, please help.
#20
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