How to Find Your Birth Parents
When adoptees have decided to search for their birth parents, an ideal place to start is the Internet. Providing extensive avenues, the Internet will help by detailing pointers that will be beneficial in the search. And regardless of the reasons involved, whether it is curiosity about where you came from or for medical history, the Internet will be a starting point when you want to learn how to find your birth parents.
Searching for your birth parents will be a difficult journey. However it is important to keep at it. Part of growing up is knowing who you are and where you came from, therefore to know your family you will also know your history.
Below are steps that can be taken which will help in your search.
- The first thing you should do is talk with your adoptive parents. This may prove to be one of the most difficult steps in your search as every adoptive parent will react differently. However it is important to keep things honest by letting them know your intentions. They could prove to be of vital support and could also help with any questions that you may have. Any information that you can find out from them will prove helpful when you pass this information onto your local adoption agency. You may also want to expand your research to other family members and friends who may provide additional clues about your adoption.
- Obtain your original birth certificate. Ask your adoptive parents to see if they have this. Another way is by contacting the appropriate government official where you can gather information on your adoption petition and the final decree.
- Contact your local adoption agency. They can provide any non-identifying information that you may not have. One thing to keep in mind is that the information you find may be limited, depending on what was recorded at the time of your adoption. Non-identifying information can include information on the adoptee, adoptive parents and birth parents such as medical history, health status, religion, professional achievement, ethic origins and level of education.
- Search your State Adoption Registry. This will allow you to search the names of your birth parents as well as find any other relevant information you have not found. Also make sure to add your name to the system. This will help if your birth parents are in turn looking for you.
- Seek out support groups. They will give you the emotional support that you will need during and after your journey and will also pass on tips that will help to find your birth parents. A support group also allows you to talk to other adoptees who are searching or have searched for their birth parents.
- Speak to a counsellor. Whatever the reason for your search you may find the prospect of finding your birth parents difficult. As a result talking to a counsellor will relieve your worries and will help you to focus on what you want from your search.
However when it comes down to it, when you decide to learn how to find your birth parents, you may find that your feelings are mixed. This is natural. You are after all about to find out who your birth parents are. However it is important to realise that when you do meet, whatever you feel – excited, anxious, angry or nervous – it will take time to get through the feelings you are harbouring. Just remember, it may be a slow process, but it is a learning process you will all take.
This entry was posted on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 9:00 am and is filed under Birth Records. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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