[sleeplessinSea.]

Hi all, so glad i found this forum. I am 33, white, adoptee from seattle Wa. Searching for B-parents.........I have finally summoned the courage to search after all these years of self-inflicted pain and injury. Basically, im tired of fighting inside myself and am now seeking the relief from such mental turmoil.

Heres my problem..........Why should any adoptee have to pay to find out where they came from. This really burns me up!To me, its the same as if someone has stolen my identity and now wishes to profit from it. Why?

My latest reality check....... I like tatoos and have 1 myself. Lately i was considering a new one and thought it would be great to get something that represents my heritage or culture. My a-parents had always told me i was scandinavian......how am to know this is true?? This has really made me think about how much i dont know about where im from and WHO I REALLY AM!

With all said, i have sent my money to those @$$holes and now i must wait.

Thanks,and god bless
Dean 4-16-70

[KittyKitten]

Well, welcome to the world of adoption. From my view point you're right. WE shouldn't have to pay anyone to tell us who we are, but we do. You will find you are not alone, many(not all) adoptees feel the same way about our hidden identity.

Am I Irish, Jewish, or what am I? When people ask me I simply tell them I am American along with some other loyal comments about our "great" nation. This tends to slow down the "Who am I?" questions.

Words of advice; don't just give money to anyone do some homework on your own. Post your information on this web site, someone out there might be looking for you
.
Take your time and good luck in the search.
Kitty

[KristieMaureen]

Dean,

If you were born/adopted in Washington State, as I also was, are you aware that you can get some very basic non-identifying information from the State? Non-id in WA includes: birthparent's first names (although birthfather information wasn't routinely collected during the years in which we were born), birthparent ethnicity (I found out my birthmother was french/dutch/irish after believing for years I was german/ukrainian), birthparent date of birth, birthparent health at the time of your birth. You do not have to pay for ANY of this information - the law requires that you receive it when you request it. When I contacted the Department of Health and Social Services, they actually photocopied my entire adoption file - relinquishment petition, foster care intake/placement data, my adoptive parent's intake/placement data, social worker notes, and adoption decree (all identifying information blacked out, of course). It was still good to be able to read the history of my first few weeks of life.

For non-id, you can write to:

Department of Social and Health Services
DSHS: Adoptions
PO Box 45713
Olympia, WA 98504-5713

In talking about paying someone, are you by chance referring to WARM and the Confidential Intermediary system? You should know that you do not have to use them... you can hire any PI that you choose. However, WARM and their CI's have access to all the information in your files, so it's a bit easier for them to do searches (and a little less costly for you).

I agree whole-heartedly that we should not have to pay anything to receive our original birth certificates. Washington State denies us the right to be treated as full citizens under the law. But as far as I know, at this point nobody is trying to change the laws in WA. There was an unsuccessful effort a few years ago, but nothing I can find since.

Are you interested in helping me start a new effort to change this law in WA State? Is there anyone else currently living in WA that would be interested in helping lobby these legislators? Alabama and Oregon changed their laws... why shouldn't Washington be next??

Kristie
Adult Adoptee
DOB 12/22/71

[sleeplessinSea.]

Kristie, god bless you for that information.Others should know how easy it is to obtain that non-id info. It only took me about well,my whole life to be told of this. I did send my application to WARM and have just returned my signed petitions. Its been a rollercoaster for me lately,but im not breaking down.

Thanks Kristie,
Dean

[Mary Anne Y]

Hello GOOD POINT whey should we pay never thought of it that way.................... as you whear told becarfull who you are paying I did this 2 X and got noinfo but we will keep you on file Just another file sitting on a desk going no wear this site allways talke about kinsolving and some got a lot of info and found who they are looking for the fee for this well they quited me 3.000 only if they find do u pay with 4 children i dont think i will be useig them soon .. good luck in your search MAY we all find who we are looking for

[StarryNight™]

Hi there. I wanted to throw in my two cents worth. What burned me up is not so much paying for the non-ident. But paying for the ammended or what I like to call false birth cert! You pay for a copy of lie. Where is the reasoning in that at?

[SleepyinSeattle]

Well, my comp crashed and i have a new id. Anyway, i wrote to the dept of soc. services, and get this, I WAS DENIED ANY INFO PERIOD!!. That was very upsetting, however, i did get a call from the intermediary at WARM , and found out some info on my b-mom/dad, grandparents, and some other relatives. So, it looks like im getting closer here. Now im in the process of writing a letter and selecting a photo to submit to my b-mom (IF) shes willing to accept it.

I think its going to get worse before it gets better......................

[KristieMaureen]

Dean,

Excuse the language, but the answer you got from DSHS is crap! If your adoption was facilitated through DSHS, then they are required by law to release non-identifying information to you. I've listed what I believe to be the most relevant Washington State Statutes and Administrative Codes below. I'd write DSHS back and let them know you have a legal right to non-id, and cite these statutes.

If your adoption was facilitated through some other source (agency, private attorney) you should also contact that source for your non-id. However, DSHS should tell you who that source is.

Better still... call DSHS and ask to speak to a supervisor. Tell them about the denial you received, and then tell them that under RCW 26.33.340, RCW 26.33.020, and WAC 388-277-0110 you have a right to non-id and you expect your request to be honored.

Kristie
12/22/1971

(Codes copied directly from Washington State Legislative website)

RCW 26.33.340
Department, agency, and court files confidential -- Limited disclosure of information.
Department, agency, and court files regarding an adoption shall be confidential except that reasonably available nonidentifying information may be disclosed upon the written request for the information from the adoptive parent, the adoptee, or the birth parent. If the adoption facilitator refuses to disclose nonidentifying information, the individual may petition the superior court. Identifying information may also be disclosed through the procedure described in RCW 26.33.343.

RCW 26.33.020
Definitions.
(14) "Nonidentifying information" includes, but is not limited to, the following information about the birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptee:

(a) Age in years at the time of adoption;

(b) Heritage, including nationality, ethnic background, and race;

(c) Education, including number of years of school completed at the time of adoption, but not name or location of school;

(d) General physical appearance, including height, weight, color of hair, eyes, and skin, or other information of a similar nature;

(e) Religion;

(f) Occupation, but not specific titles or places of employment;

(g) Talents, hobbies, and special interests;

(h) Circumstances leading to the adoption;

(i) Medical and genetic history of birth parents;

(j) First names;

(k) Other children of birth parents by age, sex, and medical history;

(l) Extended family of birth parents by age, sex, and medical history;

(m) The fact of the death, and age and cause, if known;

(n) Photographs;

(o) Name of agency or individual that facilitated the adoption.

WAC 388-27-0110 How does an adoptee, adoptive parent, or birth parent obtain nonidentifying information from an archived adoptive record?
(1) Nonidentifying information about the birth parents, adoptee, or adoptive parent may be shared with persons identified in RCW 26.33.020 and 26.33.340.

(2) If the adoption was facilitated through the department, a request for information must be made in writing to the state office of Children's Administration, P.O. Box 45713, Olympia WA 98504-5713. The state office is the sole source for releasing information from an archived record.