States with Open Records

Pamela Elkins

Lineage Network www.lineagenetwork.com

Pelkins7531@gmail.com

951-623-7272

Finding your birth family can be a challenge. Sometimes it takes a lot of detective work, but it can be done!

Alabama

Colorado for adoptions finalized after 7/01/1951 to 6/30/1967, and 9/01/1999 to present.

Connecticut for adoptions finalized after 10/01/1983.

Delaware

Indiana for records prior to 1940.

Iowa for records prior to 7/01/1941.

Kansas

Maryland for records prior to 6/01/1947.

Massachusetts for records prior to 4/14/1974.

Michigan for records prior to 5/28/1945 and after 9/12/1980.

Montana for records prior to 2/02/1967.

New Hampshire

New Jersey will open in 2017.

Ohio for records prior to 1/01/1964.

Oklahoma for records after 11/01/1997.

Oregon

Vermont for records after 1986.

Washington

Non Identifying Documents

Other states have non-identifying records that are given to adoptees for health concerns. These records are vague, but putting together the information they contain can sometimes give the clues needed for success. Information sometimes found on Non-Identifying paperwork:

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  Age information of your birth mother and father.
  
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  Education of you birth mother and father.
  
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  The physical description of your birth mother and father.
  
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  The medical history of your birth mother and father.
  
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  The profession of your birth mother and father.
  
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  The religious affiliation of your birth mother and father.
  
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  If your birth mother and father were married.
  
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  The status of your birth grandparents (alive or dead).
  
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  The number of siblings of your birth mother and father.
  

Search Vital Records, Censuses, Newspapers, Place Histories. Using a spreadsheet, input all pertinent information.

Research all family members. You will be surprised by information you find when researching a sibling, cousin, or parents of your ancestor.

Bibliography__Printed_Sources'>Bibliography

Printed Sources

Noel Montgomery Elliot, Finding Anyone, Anywhere, Anywhen (Richmond Hill, Ontario; Firefly Books Ltd.).

Norma Mott Tillman, How To Find Almost Anyone, Anywhere (Nashville, Tennessee; Rutledge Hill Press).

E. A. Wrigley, Identifying People in The Past (London; Edward Arnold Publishers, Ltd.).

Paul Drake and Beth Sherrill, Missing Pieces: How to Find Birth Parents and Adopted Children (Westminster, Maryland; Heritage Books, Inc.).

Jayne Askin, Search: A Handbook for Adoptees and Birthparents (Phoenix, Arizona: The Oryx Press).

Joseph J. Culligan, Adoption Searches Made Easier (Miami, Florida; FJA, Inc.).

Joseph Culligan, You Can Find Anybody (Jodere Group, Inc.; San Diego, California).

Christine Adamec and William L. Pierce, The Encyclopedia of Adoption (Facts on File: New York, New York).

Virgil L. Klunder, Lifeline: The Action Guide to Adoption Search (Caradium Publishing: Cape Coral, Florida).

Sheila L. Stephens, The Everything Private Investigation Book (Adams Media; Avon, Massachusetts).

Kathleen W. Hinckley, Locating Lost Family Members and Friends (Betterway Books; Cincinnati, Ohio).

Lori Carangelo, The Ultimate Search Book: Worldwide Adoption, Genealogy and Other Search Secrets (Access Press; United States).

Bibliography

http://www.spokeo.com/

www.genealogybank.com $

www.newspapers.com $