Adoption Resources for Your Family Tree
Resources for tracking down adopted children or birth parents. You are definitely not alone in your search.
Adoption Search - How to Find Your Birth Family
Start the search for your birth family with these step-by-step suggestions for locating birth parents, children, and other adoptees. Includes tips for researching adoptees in your family tree.
Start the search for your birth family with these step-by-step suggestions for locating birth parents, children, and other adoptees. Includes tips for researching adoptees in your family tree.
Top 3 Books for Adoption Search & Reunion
Adoptees and birthparents beginning the search for their roots will find expert guidance in these books about adoption search and reunion. There are step-by-step plans for conducting an adoption search, plus tips for getting around stumbling blocks and preparing for an emotional adoption reunion.
Adoptees and birthparents beginning the search for their roots will find expert guidance in these books about adoption search and reunion. There are step-by-step plans for conducting an adoption search, plus tips for getting around stumbling blocks and preparing for an emotional adoption reunion.
When Adoption Reunions Don't Work
Adoption reunions are not always a happy time. Sometimes birth family doesn't want to meet the adoptee. Sometimes an adoptee has no where else to turn.
Adoption reunions are not always a happy time. Sometimes birth family doesn't want to meet the adoptee. Sometimes an adoptee has no where else to turn.
About Adoption
Adoption expert Carrie Craft presents articles, resources and links for any aspect of adoption - adoptees, birth parents and search and reunion.
Adoption expert Carrie Craft presents articles, resources and links for any aspect of adoption - adoptees, birth parents and search and reunion.
Adoption.com - Reuniting with Birth Family
Browse through this excellent collection of articles and tools which walk you through the adoption search and reunion process.
Browse through this excellent collection of articles and tools which walk you through the adoption search and reunion process.
Adoption - How to Start Searching
Excellent article by Jeff Hartung presents steps for getting started once a decision has been made to search for one's birthparents. Most information also applies to birthparents searching for a relinquished child.
Excellent article by Jeff Hartung presents steps for getting started once a decision has been made to search for one's birthparents. Most information also applies to birthparents searching for a relinquished child.
Adoption Registry
Register in the Reunion Registry where thousands are searching for a lost birth relative.
Register in the Reunion Registry where thousands are searching for a lost birth relative.
Adoption Reunion Registry
Register for free in this large adoption reunion registry, then search for birth family.
Register for free in this large adoption reunion registry, then search for birth family.
Adoptive Family Trees
Create a family tree with room for both adoptive and birth families following one of these family tree project examples.
Create a family tree with room for both adoptive and birth families following one of these family tree project examples.
All About Adoption Research
Maureen Taylor walks you step-by-step through the research process you should follow when you uncover indications of an adoption in your family tree.
Maureen Taylor walks you step-by-step through the research process you should follow when you uncover indications of an adoption in your family tree.
American Adoption Congress
An international network of individuals and organizations committed to truth in adoption and to reform that protects all of those involved from abuse or exploitation.
An international network of individuals and organizations committed to truth in adoption and to reform that protects all of those involved from abuse or exploitation.
Canada - Adoptee Searchers Handbook
This site maintained by Madelene Ferguson Allen is an excellent place to start when searching for birth families in Canada.
This site maintained by Madelene Ferguson Allen is an excellent place to start when searching for birth families in Canada.
Falsified Birth Certificates
The likelihood that your birth certificate was falsified is small, but is a possibility.
The likelihood that your birth certificate was falsified is small, but is a possibility.
Freedom of Information Act
Learn how to obtain records from U.S. government agencies under the Freedom of Information Act.
Learn how to obtain records from U.S. government agencies under the Freedom of Information Act.
History of Adoption in the United States
A good overview of the history of adoption and adoption records in the U.S. from colonial times through present day.
A good overview of the history of adoption and adoption records in the U.S. from colonial times through present day.
International Soundex Reunion Registry
The world's largest reunion registry, this free service operates with the philosophy that the identity of neither the birth parents nor the adopted child shall be disclosed unless all parties are agreeable to a reunion.
The world's largest reunion registry, this free service operates with the philosophy that the identity of neither the birth parents nor the adopted child shall be disclosed unless all parties are agreeable to a reunion.
Irish Adoption Contact Register
Specifically aimed at people born in Ireland, adopted or fostered within or outside Ireland this is a new service launched in May 1999.
Specifically aimed at people born in Ireland, adopted or fostered within or outside Ireland this is a new service launched in May 1999.
Parent Finders of Canada
This support group for adult adoptees, birth relatives and adopting parents maintains the Canadian Adoption Reunion Register.
This support group for adult adoptees, birth relatives and adopting parents maintains the Canadian Adoption Reunion Register.
Preparing Your Search
The White Oak Foundation offers a useful guide to help you prepare to initiate your adoption search.
The White Oak Foundation offers a useful guide to help you prepare to initiate your adoption search.
Relatively Seeking
Reunion database seeks to reunite adopted children and birth parents searching for each other. Search the database or add your own information.
Reunion database seeks to reunite adopted children and birth parents searching for each other. Search the database or add your own information.
Searching in Ireland
Resources and tips for Irish-born adoptees adopted in the U.S.
Resources and tips for Irish-born adoptees adopted in the U.S.
Shea's Search Series
The definitive guide to self-empowered adoptee search.
The definitive guide to self-empowered adoptee search.
State Adoption Disclosure Laws
A good thing to read before initiating a search.
A good thing to read before initiating a search.
Their Parents Died Young, Now What?
Suggestions for a comprehensive research plan to track down information on the orphan children in your family tree from Michael John Neill.
Suggestions for a comprehensive research plan to track down information on the orphan children in your family tree from Michael John Neill.
Tracing Birth Parents in England & Wales
The Federation of Family History Societies expains adoption in the U.K., which began as a legal process in England and Wales on 1 January 1927, with a nice list of resources.
The Federation of Family History Societies expains adoption in the U.K., which began as a legal process in England and Wales on 1 January 1927, with a nice list of resources.
What Do You Do When You Have a Name?
Though geared toward adoption searches in the state of Illinois, this guide is packed with search suggestions for people facing the #1 question of most searching triad members.
Though geared toward adoption searches in the state of Illinois, this guide is packed with search suggestions for people facing the #1 question of most searching triad members.