[SARAH0065]

I HAVE GOTTEN MY NON-ID INFO. DOES ANYONE KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO PETITION THE COURT? I WAS BORN AND ADOPTED IN TEXAS IN 1965.

[blankenb4]

I would go to the department of social services.

Good Luck,

Barbara

[19seventy6]

I'm the exact same spot. I got non-ID info. The probate court says to write a letter to the judge saying what I'm looking to get released (parents identity info) and why. Is the reason "my b-parents are getting older and I'm curious" a real reason that will get the records released? Or do they generally need something better? Sarah, how are your efforts progressing?

[Nicole28]

I know it's been a week since the last post on this thread, but I have a lot of the same questions. I downloaded and printed the forms necessary to petition the court system for identifying records, and they are looooong, confusing, and full of legal jargon that I definetly don't understand! There's the infamous question that asks "What is your reason for petitioning the court for sealed, identifying records?" You can either check "Medical Emergency" OOOOOOR list your other "reasonable, legitimate reason." My question is the same as 19seventy6's: what constitutes as a "reasonable, legitimate" reason? MY reason would be that "I HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW!! I'm curious!! I want to know my ethnicity, my medical history, etc.!" But would that be enough to unseal my records? All I've heard is discouraging news from people who were unsuccessful at unsealing records, and it definetly isn't promising.

Can someone tell me what probate court is?

[19seventy6]

I looked up my probate court and called them. They didn't have any forms, just told me to write a letter to the judge. Here's the jist of what I put in it:

Your Honor,

I am writing you this letter to request the release of records that are currently sealed. I am looking to discover the identity of my birthmother. I have obtained a non-identifying summary from Child and Family Services.

This summary, of which I have included a copy, leads me to believe that the interest in a reunion may be shared by my birthmother and may be beneficial to both of us. I have been informed that the decision to release any identifying information is up to your Honor and the County Probate Court.

Another concern of mine is the current age of my birthmother, who I believe would be seventy-four years old at this time. I am concerned that I will regret not attempting to contact her, and would be remiss to let this opportunity pass me by.

I hope that you can take this request into consideration, and let me know of your decision. At your convenience, my contact information is below, and I hope that you can keep me informed. I thank you for your time.

-------

I'm wondering if this constitutes a legtimate reason? It seems to me as adults, we should have the right to obtain this. What is the reason for keeping it sealed? Anybody?

[Nicole28]

19seventy6, where were you born and adopted? You wrote "Child and Family Services" - that's the agency I was placed through. (could be a coincidence!) I figured I'd ask, hehe.

So all the could tell you was to write a letter to the judge? That sounds easy enough...I hope that gets a good response and that you hear something soon.

I'm still a little cloudy on the whole "probate court" thing. What is probate court?? How do I find out where the probate court is in my city? (I feel kind of stupid asking, but I seriously have NO idea.)

Thank you!

[19seventy6]

Nicole,

I was born in New Hampshire. The lady at the adoption agency was actually kind enough to give me the contact info for my county's probate court, which I lost so I looked it up on the web. You could probably do the same, just enter ______ County probate court and it'll probably come up. Good luck to you.

[SARAH0065]

NICOLE28, YOU SAID YOU DOWNLOADED THE PAPERS TO PETITION THE COURT, WHERE DID YOU FIND THAT? I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING. THANKS

[srchin']

My birth mother passed and basically I was told that I won't ever find out anything because of the sealed records thing so I started researching this thouroghly. You would not believe what we are actually up against. My brother and I were both adopted from the Gladney home in Fort Worth,TX. From what I understand how hard to get your records unsealed depends on the state and it's laws and what judge you happen to be under. The judge I'm under is impossible and won't even open records for MEDICAL emergencies. Actually there are some lawsuits going on right now for all of that.

It seems over whelming but I have faith that it will all turn out how it is supposed too. Don't give up!!

srchin'

[19seventy6]

Srchn,

Did they give you a reason for denying access? Why keep these records sealed? I don't understand the motivation. It almost seems unconstituional, or maybe I'm overreacting.... I still have yet to send my letter, hopefully the judge here is more leniant? It seems unneccisarily cruel to deny access if an adult is seeking this information.

Good luck to everyone in their search

[kdsmommie2002]

I just spoke with the District Judges office for Shelby Co. Texas.
She told me that unless it is a medical emergency, the chances
of opening records are extremly rare. I have the phone number there, if anyone would like it just let me know.

God Bless Everyone Searching

[smplmind]

I am having the same problem with opening sealed records. In my case I actually have the Final Decree of Adoption. On this doument my original last name was blacked out. I went to the clerk of courts office where a secretary actually looked at the original...told me yes your real name is there but I can't tell you without a court order. I currently have the private attorney that handled my adoption petitioning the court to get permission to release my own records to me. He has them...I have seen the folder and have been told everything possible that he can and still protect everyone even her date of birth...the only thing he could not tell me legally are the names. So far 1 judge has said NO! NOT FOR ANY REASON EVEN MEDICAL! but now we are trying a different judge. There is alot of information that can be obtained thru the attorney if you can find them. My next attempt may be to persue the fact that my Birth mom was only 15 when I was born, does anyone here have experience where there mom was a minor and her parents signed the documents in order for them to be sealed? Since she was a minor at the time the records were signed would this have any bearing on whether or not the documents are actually legal.

[thesearchguru]

Originally posted by 19seventy6
Nicole,

I was born in New Hampshire.

Welcome to the Search and Reunion Message Board!

Original Birth Certificate: Effective January 1, 2005 adoptees born and adopted in New Hampshire will be able to request a copy of their original birth certificates.

For adoption related information and records contact the adoption agency that facilitated the adoption or the office below:

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Division for Children, Youth and Families
129 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 271-4707
Fax: (603) 271-4729

Non-Identifying Information: Adopted adults age 21 or older and adoptive parents may obtain non-identifying information.

Identifying Information: Adopted adults age 21 or older may receive information regarding the birth parents if the birth parents consent to the release of this information. Birth parents may receive information on adopted adult age 21 or older if the adopted adult has signed a consent form releasing this information. If consent has not been filed, an agency may contact the birth parents or adopted adult for consent.





California Search Website:


Other great websites to check out:
http://www.adoptionchat.com
http://www.adoption.com
http://www.adopting.org
http://registry.adoption.com/

[srchin']

19seventy6,

I don't think your over reacting. The more I research these laws the more unfair it seems. From what I was told and I quote "It's the law, sorry!" Personally I feel that once you are of age those records should be given to you regardless if everyone involved gives consent. I do feel it is totally unconstiutional that anyone not adopted can take for granite who and where they came from. I've actually considered writing the law makers about this. Maybe they don't realize what they are actually doing to us. I feel that once your an adult you have the right to this information. Besides all of these laws are supposively made to protect the adoptee. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND!!Mashon

[shadeinfla]

HI,

On my husbands behalf I have been searching any of his birth family for dual reasons. genetic medical history ,and so hopefully he can be reuninted with his bmom and bdad. Our reason for the genetic medical history is three fold, one we lost a son years ago to a congential heart defect, we have a daughter with a rare but "inherited" blood disorder ( which no one in my blood family other then my daughter as tested positive for) so we wish to find out what else may lie within the blood flowing of our children.Additionally my husband would like to know what to look for in himself medically, he is 46 and this is the time to be on the look out for many illness that might be genetic. With all this in mind I wrote my local member of the Florida house , her reply was most favorable. I asked her to please look into and help have the adoption laws of the State of Florida revised. She got back to me within 24 hours and this is now on her list of things to do. Word for word here is her reply

"I agree that birth records should be open to adults, or at least the medical records should be. I thought it was possible to obtain medical histories even if the rest of the adoption record remains sealed—have you looked into that possibility? However that turns out, though, I will be glad to look into an update of Florida’s adoption law. The first thing to be done is to look up past bills, if any, that were introduced and failed, and then figure out why they failed and how to change the outcome now. It is possible, of course, that there has been no attempt to update the law, and that there would be no opposition to doing so. I’ll also see if I can find out what other states are doing.

As soon as my primary campaign for re-election is over on August 31 I’ll start working on this, and I’ll ask my aide to begin the preliminary research now. We’ll start with finding out about obtaining medical histories from sealed adoptions. I’ll let you know what we find out. Any legislation I sponsor would be filed after November 2, which is the earliest possible time."
Mary

I have had several emails from her AIDE since. So write or phone your district house member and senate member. Wirte letters to the editors of your local newspapers, write the govnenors of you states, the more they hear from people like you and me the more likely laws will be changed

Shade