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Hi All,
I am a Bmom who gave up my daughter at the age of 17. My family was Catholic and they used Catholic Charites out of Washington DC. When my daughter looked for me she went first to the state of Maryland because that is where the adoption was legalized. The state of MD asked her who handled her adoption and she told them CC. She was then referred to CC and a confidential intermediary (CI) was assigned to her which was a social worker. They do this because the state has enough to do for their own cases. She paid CC $400 to "unseal" the records, but received no paperwork what so ever for that money.
Now the state of MD enacted a law in Oct 1999 to open records through a CI. I am thinking that CC must act in accordance with the state laws. If I were you I would contact the state you were born in and see if they have any programs intact for search and reunion. If they do then CC must abide by those State laws!!
My daughter and I have been in re-union for 2 years now and I am now starting to ask for documentation of her birth. I have received a copy of the original birth Certificate, but am not being allowed to view the records that CC has on me. Which upsets me very much. I want the relinquishment papers as well, but have been told they are in the sealed records.
It is very frustrating to try and get anything out of these people even after all parties are aware!!
I am in the process of appealing the Archdiocee (sp) of Washington DC. I would suggest you do the same.
Fortunately for me my daughters birth date etc was not changed and she had correct information on me and her bdad.
In my opinion it is illegal to change a person's date of birth!!! And if I were you I would check this out with the vital records dept. in your State and ask to talk to someone in the adoption dept.
By the way your original BC should be attached to your "amended" one.
Wouldn't this make a great Oprah show??
Good Luck!!
__________________
Janet
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