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 have them. You might be told that they can’t be located or whatever other excuse but they are yours and you have a right to obtain a copy. I have known some natural mothers to go to the extent of threatening an attorney that they will go to the Bar Association or the Better Business Bureau if they aren’t provided a copy of what is rightfully there’s. Some have even threatened to go to every news media outlet in the state. Although I don’t necessarily agree with this and believe that you can get more bees with honey.

I suggest trying a different approach. If you are a natural mother requesting your relinquishment papers and are being told that they are in existence but they the records aren’t accessible, try going to the court house and obtain a subpoena form and send the subpoena form with the request. The request by law can be denied, however, a request with a subpoena must be complied with.

Natural parents obtaining a copy of their relinquishment papers can also help with the legislative movement to help pass legislation in your state that would grant adoptees the ability to obtain an uncertified copy of their original birth certificate.

Natural mothers can provide copies of their relinquishment papers to show that natural mothers were not promised confidentiality. If this is something you are interested in doing, I suggest contacting your local search and support group or the American Adoption Congress State Representative for your state.