| Deciding to find your birth parents is hard enough | | | | parents. |
| without struggling through child adoption information. | | | | Myth: It takes years to search through all the |
| Far too many adopted children go in search of their | | | | records. |
| birth parents only to be stopped when they realized | | | | Truth: In the past, if you were to go through all the |
| their adoption records are sealed. This disheartening | | | | records individually it would take awhile. You would |
| experience does not have to be the end of your | | | | have to drive from one courthouse to the next in |
| adoption search. You can continue on and still locate | | | | search of records that may or may not be there. |
| your birth parents. Avoid the following mistakes, and | | | | However, with the Internet you can search through |
| you just might find the one you are looking for. | | | | records in the comfort of your own home. No need |
| Myth: If the adoption records are sealed, it means | | | | to travel and no need to let anyone know you are |
| my birth parents don't want to be found. | | | | searching. |
| Truth: Adoption records are sealed for many reasons. | | | | Myth: All Adoption Databases are the Same |
| It is no use to speculate why the records are sealed. | | | | Truth: This is what discourages more people than |
| Many are sealed because the law requires it. Even if | | | | anything. They mistakenly believe that all databases |
| the law didn't and your birth parents requested it be | | | | are the same. Then they find the "cheap" adoption |
| sealed, years have gone by and they may wish to | | | | search and discover nothing. Worse, they pay a |
| contact you. | | | | genealogy site and find the adoption record list their |
| Myth: My adopted parents won't help me find my | | | | adopted parents. |
| birth parents. | | | | When searching for adoption records, you need a |
| Truth: While it is true that not all adopted parents will | | | | site that will give you the information you are looking |
| help you locate your birth parents, many will be glad | | | | for. Genealogy sites are nice but they do not help |
| to share information. They love you and they know | | | | track down lost people. You need a site that can |
| how much this means to you. They understand that | | | | access criminal records, divorce records, phone |
| they will always be your mom and dad, but they also | | | | records and more. You need a site that searches |
| know you need a sense of connection. Nevertheless, | | | | everything for you. That way, you have the best |
| if they do not help, you can still locate your birth | | | | shot of finding the information you need. |