[Dylan]

I am an adult who was adopted circa July 1963 by my adoptive parents in Buffalo NY. The only thing I know about my adoption is that I *may* have been adopted in Florida and relocated to my adoptive parents' hometown of Buffalo NY.

I am searching for info on my birth parents (only want some medical information as I have children and need to know if there is any medical history I need to be concerned with, I dont want to shake up anyone's life).

My parents said there were no medical histories related to adoptions back in 1963 so my "file" that is house in the Erie County Surrogate's Court Office would be of no help.

Any advice or ideas on how to approach this?

There is a strange twist in all of this is that I have always know nI was adopted and my adoptive parents (whom I consider my only parents) always were very open about the fact that my sister and I were both adopted. The problem is my Adoptive father is the custodian of all adoptions and records in Erie County!
...and I don't have the heart to ask him to see my file.

Your thoughts/advice?

Dylan

[sonata]

Wow! Talk about the fox guarding the henhouse!

Your parents are probably right about there not being any medical history in your file. (I was born in '62) The one time I got the courage to ask my parents about medical history, I was curtly told, "They told us when we got you there were no medical problems in the family". End of story.

But of course you have to consider that 1) They didn't have the same knowledge of the importance of heredity in many diseases as we do today, and 2) Our birthparents were very young when we were born and weren't likely to have developed cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc. at that point. So even if there WAS some kind of medical history it would probably be all but irrelevant at this point. (Also, as far as their parents went, many cancers were spoken of vaguely and in hushed tones in those days such as, "Grandma had 'female' problems")

What it all boils down to is that if you really want an accurate medical history you are going to have to go to the source - your birthfamily - to find out. There is an outside chance that they kept your file updated with current information but I'd have to say that is pretty unlikely.

I'm assuming that your Dad is sworn to uphold the secrecy of the adoption files under his custody. But his PERSONAL knowledge of your birthmother's identity as may be revealed in his own copies of the adoption papers would certainly be within his discretion to share with you. But if he is anything like most adoptive parents from the 60's you may have a hard time getting answers from him. Only you know if approaching him with that request is the right thing to do! I imagine that in his line of work he is frequently contacted by adoptees looking for information so he must be familiar with where you are coming from.

Another tactic might be to ask your Dad, or someone else in the system, to contact your birthmother as an intermediary and asking her to update the medical info. If that's really all you want you may find someone willing to do it. (Some states specifically allow for that). If it is a reunion you are after that may be a little more difficult. Good luck and let us know how it goes. Sonata

[Taig]

Dylan: It was quite common in the 60's to have births in FL with adoptions in New York. The below website "Finding in Florida" provides some information on this and a registry.

http://users.yourvillage.com/pattyann/flmain.htm

Also, register with the Torn Asunder website -for Florida related adoptions.

http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpo...adoptionindex/

Sonata gave you some good advice -good luckwith your search