[WildcatDan]

I've just received some info on my birth mother, but I am unsure what to do with it. The case worker that sent it to me told me that I should be able to "connect some dots" with the info, but I'm not sure where to go.

She send me some non-identifying info including my birthmom's birth date and her family make-up (sibs and ages) and a physical description. She also scribbled on the form my case number and original last name, but no first names.

What can I do with this info? Amazingly curious - just need some direction.

Thanks!

Daniel

[irisheyes33]

Hi Daniel,

That's exciting! I found my bmom with minimal information similar to what you have, but I wasn't lucky enough to get a full date of birth! That should narrow it wayyyy down...

I'm not a search expert by any means, but there are sites on the internet that you can at least do a preliminary search for free...that's how I tracked down my birthfamily. I'd post on the Search and Reunion boards and see if someone can help to point you in a more specific direction.

You actually have a lot of information to work with - that's great! I wish you the best of luck!!!

[zacchias]

Wow. You've got a last name. That's huge. I was able to find my bio-fam with the following: Mom's first marriage date, ages and first names of 4 siblings from that marriage, and the death date of her first husband. I took my location (town of birth) and contacted a librarian in the town and she searched for a obit. She found one in the next town and I was off and running. If you have a last name, I'd start with a people finder such as Yahoo or Zabasearch and start entering in the siblings first names with the last name. Limit your search to the state you were born in and look for matches that come up that meet the age requirements of the siblings and hit close to the location of your birth. I started with 4700 men who died in michigan on the month in question. Then I limited that list down to a potential range of birth date of 25 years. After that, I took the list of some 350 possible men who died in that year and month in Michigan and hit Yahoo and Zaba to enter in my half-brother's first name and all the possible last names. I got my list down to 108. From there I started limiting the search to a 100 mile radius of my birth town (I had an added advantage, my caseworker told me that my half-brother was 'living in the area') I got my list down to 30 names, 12 of which were names like smith or jones that became difficult to eliminate, even though they didn't hit positive on the people search). I got a call from the librarian at that point with the obit notice, which pretty much sealed the deal, but, the good news is, I had that name on my list of 18. So the process was leading in the right direction. Hope this might give you some things to work with.

[Sniffles]

I actually found my b-mom's first and last name and all I had was her age. What I did was a search for her in my states marriage records. There I found that she got married 2 months after I was born, so now I had a married name to go on. I gave all the info I had to a search angel and they were able to find her.

I would also suggest, since you have her last name and birth date that you search all the birth records for the date she was born. You might be able to turn up a first name that way.

[WildcatDan]

Forgive me if I am incorrect, but aren't birth records closed? How can I access them if they don't allow anyone to view them.

Of course, compounding this problem is that I do not have my birthmom's first name.

Does anyone know how to access birth records with a birthdate and a last name?

[alphagal]

Most adoption records and birth records are closed, but if your adoption went through a family court, you can petition the court to open it. I think you just need your docket number, then call the court and speak to someone about the process. I think it takes a few weeks, plus you have to physically go to the court to sign papers, etc.

Per the last name....that is a huge starting point. Good for you! You can use the above mentioned sites, and don't forget whitepages.com. Also some pay sites are very helpful. Yes they cost money, but with the birth date, that should make the search easier and less time consuming. Just make sure it is a reputable company.

Good Luck!