There are some counties within the states that allow a person into a room where files are kept. This is becoming less common since records are being stored behind counters with no entry allowed. However, in most counties someone can request a file and a clerk will look it up. Do not mention adoption. If you do, you will not get a file.

Records that are stored locally at the County Courthouse are adoption records. Case workers reports are normally filed under the case number and/or the date of birth. Relinquishments are usually filed under a file number and/or the date of birth.

Court dockets or minute books are the transcripts of court proceedings. To review these you need the date of the court proceeding to find them. If you can find, you may be able to find relinquishment and final decree proceedings here, as well as probate wills, and juvenile proceedings.
Marriage, divorce, voter registration, property owners, assessors, deeds, judgments, lawsuits, liens, criminal and business licenses may all be found at the county courthouse.

If you can’t find what you are looking for, ask…old records may be stored in local archives.

In the reference section of a public library you can find obituaries, school yearbooks, telephone directories (current and old), crisscross directories, city/suburban directories, old newspapers, periodicals and genealogy materials.

Some of these items may be on microfilm, microfiche, or a CD Rom. Librarians can be very helpful so ask for help if you need it.
Every state has a college library that is designated as a federal repository. Each state is required to have at least one. These contain phone books of major cities, city directories, old polk directories, and old newspapers. The federal government releases information every few years in huge amounts. These libraries are HUGE and have a wealth of information.

In the state archives you will find birth index, adoption records, census records, military records such as enlistments and discharges, old newspapers, city and suburban directories, old yearbooks, telephone directories, old county courthouse records (may adoption records over 25 years old are kept at the State Archives), genealogical records, and immigration/passenger lists.

The issues of late have been that the privacy laws are making it very difficult to get some of these records. Sometimes, it is easier to get records relating to a deceased person. So, you may want to seek information on birth grandparents or other relatives who have passed on.
There are other places to look for records as well. Adoptive parents may have entered information they knew at the time of the adoption and forgot. So, look in family bibles, family genealogical records, school records that have bee saved over the years and the family safety deposit box.

Other places that are sometimes overlooked is the Mormon Church libraries, civic organizations, professional organizations, church records, cemetery, funeral home records, and veteran’s organizations.
The key to get as much of the information that you can from these resources is to learn to be very tactful in requesting help. Always be nice, no matter how rude the person you are dealing with may be. Try not to burn any bridges behind you because you may need that persons help in the future.