Overview
Finding an adopted child can be a difficult task depending on the adoption stipulations, such as sealed vs. open adoption, and the amount of information publicly accessible. Some adoptive parents may change the child’s name or move the child to another country or region. In time, the birth parents, siblings or grandparents may become curious and want to reunite with the child. There are certain processes that must be gone through in order to locate the child.
Step 1
Speak with a family law attorney regarding the opening of sealed adoption records. If the records are in fact sealed, they may only be opened with a signed court order from a family court judge. This will take some money and time in order to show just cause regarding unsealing the records.
Step 2
Gather all information you have on the child. Names, dates, medical history: anything you can remember or have documentation of will prove helpful in finding the adopted child. Ask family and friends that were involved for any information they may remember as well.
Step 3
Search the Web using the information you already have in order to narrow down where the adopted child may be. Support groups and online reunion sites for adoptees are ideal ways to get the information out there that you are looking. You never know who on these sites may know your adopted child.
Step 4
Hire a private investigator or adoption search assistant to help you find any public records you may not have known about to aid in your search. If the adopted child is an adult now, addresses and phone numbers may be available.
About this Author
Sharin Griffin has been freelance writing since October 2009 and is currently working towards an associate’s degree in health care administration through Axia University. Griffin has had a successful five-year health care career as a CNA/medical technician with a private general practitioner and hospice care. She also writes fantasy fiction novels and has recently completed her second in a four-part series.
