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Tip #1~It is best to write to agencies, doctors, attorneys etc. instead of calling, but if you must call, then try this. Put a smile on your face when making the call and no matter what happens during the conversation, keep it there. Your attitude and tone of voice come through as more appealing. Try it with a friend. It really works. Tip #2~If you are going to write a letter, make it sound and look as professional as possible. No one will take you seriously if you sound like a dunce, can't spell or end your sentences with prepositions. Go to the library and get a book on "how to write letters." Learn the proper way to address your Congressmen (women) and Senators. No matter what you REALLY want to call an attorney, they are always addressed as Esquire IE: Mr. John Smith, Esquire. You will call a Judge, The Honorable Judge So‘n So. Tip #3~Try to form some kind of personal relationship with the person/people with whom you are speaking or writing. Make them remember you as a nice, friendly person. Tip #4~Keep a note book and a calendar with it. In the book, keep all the information you have on your birth, adoption, etc. in this one place, at your fingertips. Put all your original important papers in a fireproof lock box of some kind. Just in case my puter crashes, I also keep hard copies of letters that I write. On the bottom of each, I make a note to myself when to F/U (follow up) on the correspondence and then add that to my calender. If I have not received an answer by that date, I make a call, asking if they received my letter. Tip #5~When writing for any information, ALWAYS send a SASE. You are more likely to get an answer to your inquiry a lot faster. Tip #6~If you have a name and possible county, learn what the city directories (Polk Directories) can do for you. About City Directories City Directories: Windows ON The Past City Directories: Example of How to Use
Really Easy Definitions Adoption Acronyms Non Identifying Information ~ Information that will not give you anything that makes it easy to find your birthparents or child. Depending on who is giving you the info, you will (probably) not get birth family names, birth cities and states, schools or exact birth dates. However, there are always exceptions. See my previous page under Florida Adoption Records for a list of questions you can ask. Birth Indexes ~ A birth index lists everyone born in that state and the date they were born. Some states keep birth indexes that are open to the public, some do not and in some states they are not called Birth Indexes at all, but have other names such as Docket Books as in Florida. Therefore, it is important to do a little research on your particular state. U.S. Census Records ~ Records kept by the government through 1920 are available on microfilm. Census records are protected for a period of 72 years. The next census records to be released for public access will be those of 1930, which will be made available in the year 2002. Some records are not indexed. This means you have to know what county, parish, or township you need to search. Political boundaries changed over the years so CHECK MAPS FROM THE TIME PERIOD YOU'RE RESEARCHING TO CONFIRM THAT YOU'LL BE SEARCHING THE RIGHT CENSUS RECORDS. Census takers didn't always spell names correctly. So check all the different spellings possible for that name. Consult the reference librarian at your local public library for more information about access to the U.S. census records.
Original Birth Certificate You can see what a legal original birth certificate and an ammended birth certificate looks like at: Birth Certificates ***** 
If you are Searching:
Everyone searching should develop a web page to get their personal information out to the public. *****
Support Organizations ***Below is a list of organizations to assist and support adoptee's and birth parents in search. Phone numbers may change. Check with Directory Assistance if necessary. ADOPTEE'S LIBERTY MOVEMENT ASSOCIATION PO Box 154 Washington Bridge Station New York, NY 10033 ADOPTION CIRCLE 401 East 74th St. New York, NY 10021 (212) 998-0110 ADOPTION CONNECTION 11 Peabody Square Peabody, MA 01960 (617) 532-1261 AMERICAN ADOPTION CONGRESS PO Box 44040 L'Enfant Plaza Station Washington, DC 20026-0040 (505) 296-2198 I.S.R.R. INTERNATIONAL SOUNDEX REUNION REGISTRY PO Box 2312 Carson City, NV 98702-2312 P.A.C.E.R. POST ADOPTION CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH 2255 Ygnucio Valley RD. Walnut Creek, CA 94598 (415) 930-6680 P.A.S.T. PROFESSIONAL ADOPTION SEARCH TEAM PO Box 24095 San Jose, CA 95154-4095 (408) 978-5430 TRUTH SEEKER IN ADOPTION PO Box 366 Prospect Heights, IL 60070-0366 (312) 625-4476 YESTERDAY'S CHILDREN PO Box 1554 Evanston, IL 60204 (312) 545-6900
Important To Remember
***** If you have received your non ident. info and it has been "blacked out" with ink **after** copying, check with a local printer or photography studio to see if they can do anything to remove it or see through it. Some people have had success by gently wiping hair spray, acetone or vinegar across it with a tissue but I think that should be a last resort. **(Mav confirms this. I have personally seen a document that this was done with, and the girl found her birth mother in this way. The girl is my daughter-in-law.)** |
