When you are going through a search of any kind, no matter where you are in the triad (or even if you aren’t at all), there are certain documents you are going to wish you had in your possession. These records are easily obtained through the proper state agencies, and can usually be had for a small fee.
Be sure and check out the following sources:
- Birth Certificate – Try to get original and/or amended birth certificate. Typically they will not release the original birth certificate to the adoptee, and they will not release the amended birth certificate to the biological parent. But you never know, so give it a shot.
- Hospital records – Be sure and also request the birth index card which they typically store on microfilm and shouldn’t be too hard to get, the doctors log book or any notes he took, and any billing information.
- Doctors Files – This can be tricky, as patient confidence has become such a big issues. But give it a shot nonetheless. Especially if you have received your hospital records and there is a doctor listed somewhere.
- Newspaper birth notices – You can get these by going to any library in the city of birth and using their inter-library loan system.
- Birth Index on State or County Level – This is like the “book of births”. It’s located in nearly every library and is often on microfiche. It lists everyone born in that city or state for that day. On mine I was listed as “Infant girl of “birth moms name”. Most people are listed as Smith, Jacob Paul.
- Church Records – Check out baptismal records, confirmation, christening, cradle roll records. Any help you can get from the church is something.
- Adoption Decree – This is hard to obtain however your adoptive family should have a copy of this. Mine did and I was able to get it. It doesn’t say much as it’s the changeover to make me a full member of my adoptive family, but it was helpful because I could see the date that it finalized.
- Legal notice of adoption in the newspaper. These are really difficult to find, but you never know.
- Relinquishment Forms – These are only available to birth parents, at least that is what I’ve been told by everyone. Guess what? That’s not true. I have a copy of mine and they came from my adoptive mother! So just ask if you can.
- Court records of adoption and docket books. Names and dates are usually listed in there, so it’s possible the person you’re looking for is named.
Check out part two, More Personal Records Checklist, for more documents you might wish to obtain.