| This is meant to be used for both adopted children | | | | that adoption record, you'll keep trying until you |
| and biological parents to search for adoption records. | | | | succeed. |
| As the child, you may want to know who your | | | | As a parent who gave a child up for adoption, you |
| biological parents are and this may help you on your | | | | may have a more difficult time finding your child. First |
| journey. As a parent that has had to give a child up | | | | thing is first: make sure the child is at least eighteen |
| for adoption, you have a chance now to try and find | | | | years old when you start searching. No agency will |
| your child though these adoption records. | | | | give out adoption records for children under eighteen. |
| If you are the child, there are a number of websites | | | | If the child is of legal age, then the search begins. |
| that you can visit to try and find your biological | | | | Start off by contacting the initial agency you gave |
| parents, if you so wish to do so. If you know for a | | | | the child to. If they don't have any records, check an |
| fact that you were born in the United States or | | | | online database, with the last known name that the |
| Canada and you are over eighteen years of age, | | | | child goes by. Yes, sometimes adoptive parents will |
| simply find a national adoption registry and type in | | | | give children new names, whether they are first or |
| your name, date of birth or social security number. If | | | | last names. If that yields no results, try other names |
| you know what state you were born in, that will help | | | | and birthdays that the child might go by. If you still |
| too. If you don't know what state you were born in, | | | | don't get results, try another search with another |
| asking your adoptive parents may help, but | | | | site. If you really want an adoption record with your |
| sometimes even they won't know. Once you have | | | | child's current name and location, then you won't give |
| filled in your information, begin the search. If you are | | | | up under any circumstance. |
| lucky, you will get your adoption record on the first | | | | An adoption record can be one of the hardest things |
| try. If not, try other websites and agencies until you | | | | to find when trying to track down a loved one. But |
| do. If you have to, narrow down your national search | | | | with a little bit of hard work and research, it can be |
| into many smaller state searches. If you really want | | | | done. |