Searching for Birth Relatives

This factsheet provides guidance to adopted persons and birth families on the search process and information access as well as resources for further help in conducting a successful search. This factsheet is designed to address the concerns of both adopted persons who are searching for birth parents or other birth relatives and birth parents (both mothers and fathers) who want to locate a child who was adopted. While not a complete "how to" guide to searching, this factsheet provides information on the different types of searches and issues that might arise during searching. 

This publication is also available in Spanish.

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.