Adoption is a complex and often challenging reality, which forever shapes the destiny and outlook of all parties involved. As our ancestry is responsible for an important part of our appearance, health, temperament, and identity, it is only natural to want to know everything about the ones who brought us into existence, even if they were not the same people who raised us and who we called parents. Being left with unanswered questions can make us feel incomplete, like there is a missing piece in the puzzle that is our life. Furthermore, in certain situations, knowing specific information about our birth parents, such as their medical history, can be crucial in receiving a timely and accurate diagnosis or making informed decisions regarding our health.

These are some of the reasons why many adoptees choose to search for their biological parents at some point in their lives. But where would you even start when you know next to nothing about your birth relatives? Maybe you have just received the information that you have been adopted and are trying to piece together all the available information. Or maybe you have known about it for a period of time but have been reluctant to ask your adoptive parents for more information, or they were unable to help.

Regardless, one of the first pieces of advice you may be given to start your search is to try to access your adoption records. The straight truth of it is, in many cases you simply can't access these records. (We will go into more detail below). However that does not mark the end of the road. There are fast, easy, and effective alternatives available to accessing your adoption records, as you will see.

Here is a practical guide for accessing your adoption records and beyond.

What are adoption records?

Adoption records represent private documents which contain information regarding your identity at birth, the identity and characteristics of your birth parents, and sometimes the circumstances of your adoption. These can be kept by local authorities or private entities and they often include:

  • Your original birth certificate - Once you have been legally adopted, the birth certificate issued immediately following your birth (which contains your pre-adoption identity and the names of your biological parents) was replaced by a new one, known as an adoption certificate, containing your post-adoption identity and the names of your adoptive parents.
  • Court petitions and decisions - In order for your adoption to become final, your adoptive parents had to petition a court of law to grant them parental status. The court then decided to admit their petition and recognize you as their legal child. These documents also contain information about your pre-adoption identity and that of your biological parents (where they are known).
  • Adoption agency records - Agencies which intermediate adoptions, especially private ones, often keep more detailed records regarding the socio-demographic status of the birth parents, as well as the circumstances and reasons for the adoption. They may also have letters or photographs provided by your biological parents if they chose to share some with you.
  • Medical records documenting your birth - If you were born in a hospital or medical facility, it is likely that this record was kept, alongside information regarding any complications or interventions you may have had.

How can you access your adoption records?

There are two main questions you need to answer before determining if and how you can access your adoption records.

  • Are you looking for identifying information or would non-identifying data be enough?
    • Identifying information includes elements such as the names, date of birth, or the address where your birth parents were living at during the time of your adoption. These can only be accessed in open adoptions or with birth parent consent.
    • Non-identifying information may include elements such as the ethnicity, age, occupation or medical history of your birth parents, and the reasons for adoption. It can usually be obtained if solicited (some countries provide it automatically to the adoptive parents at the time of the adoption).
  • Was your adoption open or closed?
    • Open adoption - Involves legally allowing the adult adoptee to access their biological parents’ identifying information and other adoption data simply by submitting a request to the authorities who are keeping the records.
    • Closed adoption - Involves sealing the adoption records and not allowing the adoptee access to identifying information. Should you find yourself in an emergency and have an objective reason to contact your birth parents (e.g. needing a compatible organ donor), you may petition the court to grant you access to the identifying data. That said, many legal barriers need to be overcome before the petition is approved.

We cannot provide you with specific information regarding the procedures you would need to undergo in any of the cases above, as adoption legislation differs greatly between regions, as do the institutions which are tasked with maintaining and granting access to adoption records. However, most commonly, the following rules apply in most cases (please check your local legislation for confirmation).

  • Non-identifying data (and identifying data in the case of open adoptions) are usually obtainable by submitting a written request to the local authorities of the region where the adoption took place.
  • Identifying data cannot normally be accessed if the adoption was closed and the records are sealed.
  • Unsealing adoption records requires evidence of your imperative need to find your birth parents and is achieved through the obtaining of a court order. Further conditions may be in place, such as mandatory counseling or the right of the record-keeping agency to refuse to provide the information if they have legitimate concerns.

Frustrated by the complexities of adoption records? At Adopted.com, we simplify the search for your adoption information. Create a free profile today to join our Adoption Records voluntary database.

Barriers to accessing to your adoption records

Even if the information you were looking for is legally accessible to you in theory, the process of actually receiving it can often be lengthy and frustrating, due to a number of logistical and operational issues which may arise. So, as you embark on this journey, these are some possible scenarios:

  • Not knowing (or being mistaken regarding) the state your adoption took place in.
  • Outdated information (e.g. your parents may have moved, changed their name or passed away since the documents were created).
  • Long application response times due to staff shortages and large workload.
  • The need to fill in the application in person, even if you don’t live in the state where your adoption took place (many state agencies do not provide online or remote options).
  • Loss of records due to accidental damaging or misplacement.
  • The possibility that the private agency which intermediated your adoption is no longer operating.
  • Lack of support in identifying the proper institutions to address and which forms to complete.
  • Additional bureaucratic red tape set in place by specific local authorities.
  • The possibility that the records you ultimately obtain are incomplete or have been falsified.

If your adoption was a closed one or you have been faced with some of the issues above, do not despair. While adoption records can be helpful in searching for your birth parents, they are neither the only nor best way to find your biological family.

Adoption reunion registries as an alternative to accessing your adoption records

The global adoption reunion registry is a consent-based online database where people sign up to find their biological relatives. The principle behind it is quite simple: you create a profile on the website and enter relevant information about the adoption. Should the party you are searching for also have a profile registered, a match will be made at that moment. If not, once they register the match will be made. While trying to access your adoption records in a traditional way can be frustrating, exhausting and sometimes ultimately without a positive result, the global adoption reunion registry has the following benefits in comparison:

  • It is a modern, fast, and easy-to-use solution that can be accessed from the comfort and privacy of your home.
  • Multiple search options reduce your requirement to know lots of specific information about your parents and adoption location.
  • A complex algorithm finds matches for you even when there are some errors on one or both sides.
  • If you have no information whatsoever regarding your adoption, you can use a DNA sample to find a match.
  • You have the support of the site founders and also of a tight-knit community of fellow members throughout the process.
  • Finding a match means the other person was also searching for you. This eliminates the need for cold calling, which is often the only recourse with adoption records. This is the only search method that doesn't involve surprising the other party in some way.
  • Even if no match is found immediately, there is always a chance one will be found in the future.
  • While adoption records can only help you find your biological parents, the global adoption reunion registry can also help you find other birth relatives, such as siblings, grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins etc.
  • It is currently free to register.