Adoption Search and Reunion

Where To Find What

There are some states and counties within certain states that allow a person into the room where files are kept. This is less common all the time as counties put records behind counters with no entry allowed. In most counties one must request the file they need and then the clerk will go look it up. If you mention adoption you will not get a file.




Local Records at the County Courthouse
Adoption records:
Case Workers reports are normally filed under Case #'s and/or DOB
Relinquishments are usually filed under a File # and/or DOB

Court Dockets also called Minute Books are transcripts of court proceedings. You need the date of the court proceeding to find these. You may find relinquishment and final decree proceedings here. Probate wills, sometimes juvenile proceedings are included here

Marriage, Divorce, Registry of Voters, Property owners, Assessors, Deeds, Judgments, Lawsuits, Liens, Criminal and Business license may all be found at the county courthouse.

If you don't find what you are looking for ask where old records are kept, they could be stored in local archives.

Family Tree Maker
Types of court records









Public Library Reference Section






Here you can find: Birth records, Census records and Obituaries. School yearbooks, telephone directories current and old, Crisscross directories City/suburban directories. Old newspapers and periodicals, Genealogy reference materials.

Some of this will be found on microfilm, some on CD Rom, and some on microfiche. Librarians are very helpful, ask them for help.

Skillbuilding

Nice site that explains how to use a city directory.




Links to Libraries Websites Alaska State Library Arizona Library BYU Libraries Information Network California State Library (The) Center for Research Libraries This site located in Chicago is a good place to start. Colorado Libraries Delaware Libraries Depository Library Program Laws Georgia Library Idaho Library Association Illinois State Library Indiana Library Iowa Library Kansas State Library LIBCAT introduction Guide to library resources on the internet, US Libraries Libraries Outside the United States Library of Congress Home Page Maine Library Michigan Library Minnesota Libraries Missouri Library Nevada State Library & Archives New Hampshire Library New Jersey State Library New Mexico Library North Carolina North Dakota Library Oregon Question Point Library Reference Service South Dakota State Library South Carolina Tennessee Library & Archives Utah State Library World Wide Web Virtual Law Library Indiana University School of Law Wyoming State Library







Every state has a college library that is designated as a federal repository. Each state is required to have at least one. They contain phone books of major cities, city directories, old Polk directories, and old newspapers. The federal goverment releases information every few years in huge amounts. These libraries are HUGE and have a wealth of information.

State Archives

Here you will find; Birth index, Adoption records, Census records, Military records enlistments/discharges. Old newspapers, city/suburban directories, old yearbooks, telephone directories, old county courthouse records many adoption records over 25 years old are kept at the State Archives. Genealogical records and immigration/passenger lists.




The problem is that the privacy laws are making it very difficult to get any of these records. It is often easier to get records relating to those who are deceased. This means you often must try to find information on birth grandparents or other relatives who have passed on.

Other Records

These are places people often overlook. Adoptive parents may have entered information they knew at the time of adoption and have now forgotten. Look in;
Family bibles, Family genealogical records, School records saved over the years and the family Safety Deposit Box.

Mormon Church libraries, Everton's Genealogical Helper, Historical societies

Civic organizations, Professional organizations, Church records

Cemetery, Funeral home records, Veteran's organizations

In order to get much of this information you have to learn to be very tactful in requesting it. Always be nice, no matter how rude the person you are dealing with may be. Don't burn any bridges behind you, you just may need that person's help in the future.

return to Adoption Search and Reunion

Before emailing for help, please read my search tips and use the resources on my website. It took me over six months to write all this.
I can't answer questions and put all this into an email.. {:-)~[

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