Getting Started: Five Initial Steps for Researching Your Adoption Journey

Investigating your birth parents requires you to navigate a complex set of laws, records and family stories pertaining to adoption records. Be sure to take these five initial steps when beginning your search process for birth parents.

1. Gather all available adoption paperwork in the state where it took place.
Do this every few years to check on changes. Laws could have changed making records more open. If your state allows access to your original birth certificate, get it. If a previous request was denied, make another attempt since laws may have since shifted.

2. Gather every available piece of information within your adoptive family.

Think carefully about each letter, photo and memory to gather clues regarding the adoption and its process as well as your biological parents. Be open and willing to talk to everyone who might know more; asking questions of everyone can give valuable insights.

3. Complete an autosomal DNA test at every testing company available.
AncestryDNA may have the largest population of test takers, but don’t overlook 23andMe or Family Tree DNA’s Family Finder test either; their tests could put you together with close family members that you didn’t even realize existed! Ideally, find one with which you feel most at home–you won’t know until it happens!

4. Register in registries covering your area of adoption.
Search to see if anyone from your birth family may be searching for you; many states allow access to adoption records; you can also search online databases or add yourself.

5. Join online support groups.
DNAAdoption and the DNA Detectives group on Facebook could offer valuable assistance. Some members can teach you more about DNA testing and family tree building; others may assist you with record access issues or explain confidential intermediary processes; all can offer guidance when it’s time to make contact with possible relatives.