If you are an adopted person from a closed adoption and are trying to find your birth parents, you can use a search and reunion registry, go the route of doing your own online research, take a DNA test, hire a professional genetic genealogy service, or all of the above. There are many avenues available to you in your journey.
According to studies, almost 6 million Americans are affected by adoption. Many adult adoptees have actively sought out their birth parents for various reasons.
Take a Genealogical DNA Test
The most effective and accurate approach for locating your adopted sibling or biological parents is to take a DNA test.
Not only will a DNA test show your health information, but it will also offer a list of DNA matches. These DNA matches could lead you to unknown biological relatives in addition to biological siblings, half-siblings, and parents.
Following the DNA test, an experienced genealogist can assist you in evaluating the results and identifying genetic matches.
Do Online Research
If you know names or other identifying information, you can look for your birth parents on Google, Facebook, or other online platforms.
Finding your biological parents is a difficult task. It takes a lot of courage to track down the person who placed you for adoption.
You might be worried about whether or not your parents will accept you. You’re also wondering about why she put you up for adoption, what she thinks of you today, and a range of other topics.
Reunions Registries
If you are the legal age of 18 or 21, depending on the state where the adoption took place, you can find and reconnect with your birth mother and father through search and reunion registries. These are essentially matchmaking websites and organizations that exist to connect biological children with their birth parents.
With a search and reunion registry, one party enters their identifying details in the hopes that the other party has–or will do so in the future. Adult adoptees can search the database to see if their biological parents have registered, and vice versa.
Obtain a Copy of Your Birth Certificate and Your Adoption Records
Obtain your original birth certificate, as well as any identifying or non-identifying adoption records. These can normally be found through the court system or through the adoption agency that handled your closed adoption.
Keep in mind that the regulations governing identifying information differ by state. To obtain adoption records, you must be at least 18 years old (18 or 21 years old, depending on your birth state).
When It Comes to Genealogy, DNA Testing is a Must
While archival research might be helpful in discovering biological parents, a smart genetic genealogist will not rely solely on stale historical information.
The state where the adoption took place locks all identifying information for both parties in a closed adoption. Many adoptees put off looking for their original family since they have so little information.
As a result, DNA testing has become a popular tool for adoptees looking for their biological parents
Even if you have no idea who your parents are and are unable to have them tested, genetic genealogists can sometimes deduce their identity by comparing levels of genetic relatedness (known as centimorgans) with your various genetic matches and triangulating among them.
A good genealogist will also bolster genetic evidence with online and offline detective work and deliver all of the accumulated evidence to you in a nice package.
Check with Your Adoptive Family
The type of adoption you had—closed or open—will influence how easy or difficult it is to track down your biological parents.
Asking your adopted parents or other family members about your biological father and mother’s identity is sometimes the simplest way to find out. Older family members such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles may have some wisdom or insight to help you on your search.
Finding Birth Parents Can Be Challenging
Often, finding your biological mom and/or dad can be extremely difficult. Additionally, you risk disappointment in the end: maybe they don’t want to meet you, maybe they are no longer alive, etc.
However, if your heart compels you to undertake the search, these risks are worth it for the chance at meeting, and potentially having a relationship with, the people who gave you life.