Finding information about your birth family can be extremely difficult in many states. Even with the rise of adoptee rights groups fighting for unrestricted access to records and information, there are still no federal mandates regarding adoption records, as each state sets its own rules. If you live in a state with extremely strict rules, it can be difficult to get in touch with your birth parents if you were part of a closed adoption. However, even if you do live in a state that’ll give you records upon request, potential challenges still exist. One of those challenges arises if you discover that your birth parents are deceased. Will it may seem like a dead end, many ways exist to find biological relatives, especially if you have the legal names of your birth parents. Here are just a few.
Ask your adoptive parents or guardian
Sometimes, your adoptive parents will have certain information that can help you in your journey toward finding biological family members. Whether it’s information they were given by the state, knowledge your birth parents gave to them, or even certain biological family members who gave them contact information, they might be able to help you in some way. Biological family members may have as much of an interest in meeting you as you do in meeting them, so it’s something you shouldn’t rule out. Even if you don’t have a direct link to your biological family through your adoptive parents, they can definitely help you in your search. They may have ideas that you’ve never even thought of, or connections that you don’t have. Asking for help is the first step.
Look for official records that include information about your extended biological family
Even though you may have found information such as your original birth certificate, there could be other information you don’t know about. Some states allow certain people outside of the adoption triad – for example, biological siblings – to request access to identifying information about the adoptee. If a request was made but access not granted, there could be a copy of the request on file, complete with the name of the person who made the request and his or her relationship to you. It’s helpful to at least call and talk to the clerk of the county in which you were born. He or she may not have all the answers but may be able to direct you to someone who does. If you’re still unsure whether there’s information left to access, it may be a good idea to talk to a lawyer, specifically an adoption lawyer, who can help you navigate the often-confusing legal system.
Use an online people search
One of the great things about people searches is that they can help you look through public records quickly and easily, so you can get the information you’re looking for without having to put in a records request and search through a pile of irrelevant information. With PeopleFinders, you don’t have to deal with those issues.
Because you have your birth parents’ full names, you can find information about them with the people search function, even if they’re deceased. Then, using the public records search, you can find relatives listed right there in the search results! Once you have the names of any relatives listed, you can go back and do a search for them, as well. With the detailed contact information you can get using PeopleFinders, you’ll be well on your way to getting in touch with them. Contact information that PeopleFinders can provide includes phone numbers, emails, and even physical addresses, so you can get in contact in whatever way makes you feel the most comfortable.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for members of your biological family, it may take a while to get in touch with the people you’re trying to find. If one or more birth parent is deceased, it can be even more difficult, both to deal with it emotionally and to continue your search. If finding people through traditional and legal methods isn’t working for you, try PeopleFinders. It’s extremely simple, and it’ll help you find potential relatives of your birth parents, even if they’re deceased. It’s an incredibly simple and effective way to comb through public records without having to do all the work yourself. Don’t give up without trying all your options; use PeopleFinders to get the information you need!
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