Although I have discussed making the decision to search in general, there are some different issues for birth parents who are considering a search. People seem to understand better why birth parents might want to search.

However, in general, I do not believe that people feel that birth parents are as entitled to search as adoptees. I have often heard people say that adoptees should be the ones to search. Even some adoptees say that they believe that they do not believe that birth parents should search.

However, I have also heard many... more

Preparations for the Rose Parade are under way in my part of the world. Driving to work shortly before Christmas, I noticed banners up for the parade. One of the streets that I take to work every day is where the floats are parked after the parade. Since I work in Pasadena, the neighborhood near my office is busily preparing as well. Grandstands outside the bank that I use were being constructed and readied for the big event.

As any year draws to a close, I reflect on what's changed during the year. With my close ties to the adoption... more

There are many search angels out there and I applaud each and everyone for the amount of time they volunteer to the search efforts that they do. On the flip side though I have seen search angels doing all the searching and making contact and then things go up in some because it was all done for them.

It is so important that triad members searching be involved in their own search and not just turn it over to a search angel. The reason I say this is because it helps the person who is searching to be aware of what is involved and appreciate the work the... more

When using the Social Security Death Index and viewing the field “last residence” try to remember that this is the address of record. It does not mean that this is the place of death. A perfect example is an elderly couple who had a summer home in the Northeast and a winter home in the south. The husband had passed on while residing in Florida but in the search results of the Social Security Death Index last residence is listed as a northern state. Many people have two official addresses especially if summer and winter home is involved.

Another... more

When searching the Social Security Death Index you can search b y date of birth and date of death as well as where a person lived and applied for their social security number. This is often times where the office that issued the Social Security number was located. You can also search using the residence at time of death which is the address of record but not necessarily where they lived or died and finally where the burial allowance or death benefit was sent.

According to the Social Security Administration a Social Security Number is composed of three... more

President Franklin Roosevelt said in a radio address on the third anniversary of the social security act on August 14, 1938 “"Long before the economic blight of the depression descended on the Nation, millions of our people were living in wastelands of want and fear. Men and women too old and infirm to work either depended on those who had but little to share, or spent their remaining years within the walls of a poorhouse. The Social Security Act offers to all our citizens a workable and working method of meeting urgent present needs and of forestalling... more

The natural mothers reading may be wondering how they can obtain a copy of their relinquishment papers.

One place that these papers can be obtained through is the attorney who handled the adoption or the state. To be more specific the county were the adoption took place. Both of these resources should also have a copy o f the adoption petition and will more than likely all be a part of the sealed adoption file.

If you are the natural mother requesting a copy of your relinquishment papers there is no reason that you can’t... more

In OH a natural parent or sibling can file an authorization form that gives permission for their identify to be released to the adoptee. if the adoption was finalized between January 1, 1964 – September 18, 1996 the form can be completed at any time. For adoptions after September 18, 1996 the natural parent can sign the disclosure statement when relinquishing the child to adoption.

In order to file an authorization form, you need to obtain a copy of the appropriate form. There is one for natural parents and a separate one for siblings. Both of these forms... more

If you were born in OH you may be able to access copies of certain documents in your adoption file. To be specific, section 3107.38 of the Ohio Revised Code provides that an adopted person whose birth occurred in OH and whose adoption was finalized prior to January 1, 1964 may request in writing to receive copies of the contents of an adoption file.

In order to request these documents you must complete a form called “affidavit for adopted person”. This form can be obtained at http://www.odh.ohio.gov/vitalstatistics/legalinfo/adoptpri.aspx... more

New Hampshire state laws provides a provision that provides natural parents an opportunity to file a form with Vital Records stating their preference about personal contact with the child they relinquished to adoption. When received by the state, this form is placed in the adoptee’s sealed record and provided to the adoptee when the records are requested and released.

If a natural parent wants contact he or she should complete a “contact preference form” and mail it to the NH Division of Vital Records. The address is on the form and the form can... more