Adopting.org Discussion Forums

Adoptive parent and reunited adoptee Tim Roberts offers his rebuttal to the most commonly heard arguments against the right to access to birth records for adult adoptees.

Continue reading Open Records for Adult Adoptees

I am 35 yrs old. I think it should be my choice if I want my records opened. Who are you to tell me I don't have the right to my own personal information? My mother (which is my bilogical mother) told me the same thing. Your always worried about protecting the mother what about the adoptee??????????? I just found out that my mother has lied to me my whole entire life. I want the truth, those records show the truth, and I will get the truth. I don't care if I have to pay a lawyer. It is my life I think I deserve to know about it. Also for medical reasons, heritage, etc. My mother has lied to me and protected herself enough. it is all about to change. This is suppose to be a free country who are they to tell me I don't deserve the right to know??????
Thank You
C.Parkhurst

I reunited with my mom when I was 30. I'm 35 now.

One of the worst feelings of my life was when I was in the beginning stages of my search. The feeling I had of not knowing what kind of barriers I was going to have to go through in order to find my birthmom was almost unbearable.

Fortunately, for me, my birthmom made it easy for me to find her. We are best friends now.

However, if I had been told that my records were "sealed" or whatever, I might have become suicidal or worse.

Their argument, "abortion rates are lower with sealed documents" doesn't cut the mustard.

What's the suicide rate of people who are denied access to their medical history and family heritage? Especially when you take into account some adoptions don't go very well.

If this person who wrote the article were to go spend some time on an "adoptee support" message board he would clearly see tons of deeply depressed people who are clinging to very very tiny shreads of hope.

It's as if the writer of that article for "birthmother's rights" is also the same argument that adoptees don't have any rights.

It's one-sided and heartless. Only an adoption agency whose income depends on adoptions would support closed adoptions.

Jeff

I am having a very difficult time trying to get any information about my birth. I have the non-identifying information and let me tell you NON-IDENTIFYING is right. I had basically nothing written on the sheet of paper. The only information that I hadn't known is I have a sibling born prior to my birth. Male or female, I don't know. Twin or older, I don't know. Father completly "unknown". I don't know the cirrcumstance to my adoption at all. I am almost 40 years old. I haven't a clue to where I am from. I have had some medical problems in the past and I think that is when I hit my all time worst. I couldn't ask my mom, aunties or grandma did they ever have to deal with the medical problems I was having at the time. I was born to a faceless woman. I was given the name "Baby Girl Rogers" born 11/12/1967 in Binghamton General Hospital at 1:15 p.m. I was a big baby at birth. Everything was handled through Broome County.

Can anyone tell me where to go to see about the bith index?
I want to petition the courts but do I have to physically go to Binghamton or can I petition the courts from my local area?

if you have any questions or comments or suggestion please feel free to e-mail me.
raeslaw39@hotmail.com