More Personal Records Checklist

by Nicole Humphrey | More from this Blogger

18 Jul 2006 06:18 AM

There are still even more documents and records you can check for possible information on your adoption or leads on finding the person. Requesting the information is easy and the worst part is just the waiting game. Everything takes time and many of these agencies just their sweet time about everything.

I found that being patient, however difficult it seemed to be, was the only way to get through all of the search. Several of these resources require you to have information about the person that you might not already have. Just be patient and remember it's an avenue you have to utilize in the future when that information is made available to you.

Here are some more places for you to research:

1. Passport Files
2. Social Worker Report - Sometimes a specific social worker has a report and other times it's the actual agency. If it was a private adoption you will need to check at state level.
3. Telephone Books
4. City Directories
5. State Bar Association - Yes, we're going after the lawyer/attorney! If you have the attorney of record that handled the case, or even a portion of the case, find him or her! Sometimes they have everything you could ever want.
6. Marriage Records - Don't just check out the marriage license, also look for wedding notice in newspaper, bride or groom registries, and other avenues.
7. Divorce Records - This is great if there is a custody agreement because typically the information you get at that point is current.
8. Obituaries
9. Death Index - Check state, county and city levels.
10. Probate Records - Another valuable resource. Be sure and check them at County Level.
11. School Records - If you can figure out where they went to school, go for it. Request a photocopy of their picture in the yearbooks, and all the past student records for the child. Also for older students, alumni records are great.
12. Employment Records/Credit Records - It is against the law to request someone's credit report so I don't recommend that avenue. However often companies will confirm that an employee worked for them for a certain time period, etc.
13. Census Records
14. Voter Registration - Usually current and updated, this is a great way to seek out an address or a full name if possible.
15. Land Records/Tax Records
16. Department of Motor Vehicles
17. Draft or Military Records

Just try to be resourceful and get creative when you are requesting records. Adoptee's be prepared to do a little fibbing along the way.

Good luck!

Learn more about Nicole Humphrey

Nicole Humphrey is a freelance writer, consultant for CTMH and a Sr. Blogger for families.com. She resides in St. Charles, Missouri with Mike and their five children and two furbabies.

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