[Ishara]

Adopted three months after birth in Utah through LDS services. Born in Decatur, Ga. If you have any information please contact me.

[geogdeb]

Hi,

I am looking for my son -- also born in Decatur, GA -- but the birthday is 08/15/79 - so I doubt it is a match. I can give you some advice as to how to proceed in the search. Have you gotten any non-identifying information from LDS Family Services? If not, contact the GA office -- you can find their address online fairly easily. The social worker in charge now is Matt Watson and he seems friendly, but it is very hard to get information from them. The non-identifying information costs $50.00 and may or may not be helpful.

If I can be of any help, let me know. I will be out of town until mid-January, but after that I can help. Good luck,

Deb

[Ishara]

I don't think we have that information so thank you for the info. Do you know if the newspaper printed names of baby's born and their parents around that time?

[geogdeb]

I don't know for sure. I have never investigated that. Keep in mind that LDS Family Services will not be easy to work with -- but they say they have a mutual consent type of registry, so they should send you consent-to-contact forms. Make sure they do. Keep in mind that the birhmother probably was told she could not find her baby, or that if he wanted to meet her he would find her. I wish you luck and wish I could help more.

Debbie

[Ishara]

He actually got a checkmarked note thing from his birthmother through LDSSS she doesn't want contact with him from what he understands. He wants to find out who she is now even more and would like to find his birthfather. Do you know if LDSSS contacts birthfathers also?

[geogdeb]

Hi Again,

I am posting this information all over the forum, but I know that it could be especially important for you to know!!!!

I got some pretty exciting news today. I contacted a lawyer about unsealing my sons adoption records so I could at least find out what state he was adopted in and maybe have identifying information released to a confidential intermediary. After all, that is what the Georgia Adoption Reunion Registry (GARR) does for birthparents. The problem I have run into is that the GARR cannot access sealed records. They already have information in their files about children, birthparents and adoptive parents that were adopted through the state, but they don't have information from private adoption agencies like LDSFS. Therefore they could not conduct a search. I always thought it was strange that even though the searches were mandated by Georgia law (since 1990) LDSFS maintained that they had there own policies and did not have to follow that law. The workers at the GARR were even ignorant of policies that extended beyond the state agencies.

Anyway the lawyer emailed me today and told me that LDSFS had to comply to Georgia law and do a search for me!!!! I emailed the head of the LDSFS in Georgia today and told him what my lawyer said and included the code number and exact wording of the law. He hasn't responded yet, of course, but I am sure that I will hear from him by next week.

If LDSFS has information about the birthfather (or mother), then they can conduct a search for you. I am including the wording of the Georgia law, so you know what your rights are as an adoptee from Georgia!

If a biological parent has not filed written unrevoked permission for the release of that parent́s name to the adopted child, the department or the placement agency, within six months of receipt of the written request of the adopted person who has reached 21 years of age, shall make diligent effort to notify each biological parent identified in the original adoption proceedings or in other records of the department or the placement agency relative to the adopted person. For purposes of this subparagraph, 'notify' means a personal and confidential contact with each biological parent of the adopted person. The contact shall be by an employee or agent of the placement agency which processed the pertinent adoption or by other agents or employees of the department. The contact shall be evidenced by the person who notified each parent certifying to the department that each parent was given the following information:....

There is more, you can look it up under the Georgia code on the Internet. The code number is 19-8-23.

Good luck, and let me know if I can help.

Debbie

[geogdeb]

Just an update. LDSFS in Georgia found my son for me. It was not very expensive (much cheaper than going through the GARR). Call them and talk to them. The director is a great guy! Good luck!!

Debbie