"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all."

Emily Dickinson

Whether you are searching, considering a search or in reunion, keep on hoping!

Once you have a name, the Internet provides a wide array of databases to search for a person. Many of the databases are free of charge. Some are available only through paid subscriptions. Others may charge nominal amounts per search.

There are also many search guides which provide a wealth of information about adoption search. Here are some links to data bases and/or some search guides which could be helpful to you after you have a name:

Shea's Search Series
http://www.plumsite.com/shea/series.html
An awesome collection of essays on how to begin an adoption search. Highly recommended by most adoptees.

BirthQuest
http://68.33.85.12:8080/
An Online International Searchable Database Dedicated to Searching Adoptees, Birth Parents, Adoptive Parents and Siblings

Adoption Crossroads
http://www.adoptioncrossroads.org
"The largest search and support network in the world for Adoptees and Parents who lost children to adoption; a non-profit charitable organization with over 475 Adoption Search and Support Groups world-wide."

Adoptee Searcher's Handbook
http://www.ouareau.com/adoptee/
An excellent resource for those beginning to search.

Cyndi's List - Adoption
http://www.cyndislist.com/adoption.htm
An excellent resource! A comprehensive list of general sites, mailings lists, news groups, and chat sites. Professional and volunteer searches are listed as well as supplies and software.

Reverse directories - search for a person’s name by entering the telephone number or address:
http://reversedirectory.langenberg.com
http://www.thinkdirectmarketing.com/freesearch
By area code - enter an area code to find the city it represents.
http://areacodes.langenberg.com
By e-mail address - enter an e-mail address to see who owns it. (This is incomplete because many e-mail addresses are not listed).
http://my.email.address.is/efreverse.htm
http://www.iaf.net

Public records online - access to a gold mine of public records that can be found on the Internet.

http://vitalrec.com has links to sources for births, deaths and marriage records.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/alphabet.htm is a federal government Web site listing addresses where you can write for vital records, such as birth, death and marriage.

http://www.knowx.comhascharges that apply to some searches. A few, such as professional license, death and marriage searches, are free.

http://www.netronline.com/publicrecords_htm has links to state and county real estate records nationwide. A few birth and marriage records can be found here.

http://www.pac-info.com has links organized by state to a variety of public records available online

http://www.people-finders.ws/Summary.asp

http://www.searchsystems.net/

https://www31.ssldomain.com/peoplesite/join.asp?redirURL=post.asp


While, I believe that all these links work, please let me know if you find any that do not.