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Domestic Adoption

A domestic adoption is one where both the birth parents and adoptive parents are residents of the United States. This does not apply to children born in foreign countries and adopted by American parents.

Requests for Non-Identifying Information / File Review

Non-identifying information is any information that does not identify or expressly lead to the identification of the birth parent, adoptive parents, or adopted child.

Why Request Non-Identifying Information / File Review?

  1. While adoptive parents are given non-identifying background information on the birth parents at the time of the adoption, some of this information may have been lost or not shared with the child for some reason.
  2. Birth parents are given non-identifying information on adoptive parents, but this too may have been lost or forgotten.
  3. The amount of background information shared may have changed over time and it may be that there is some information that was not released at the time of the adoption. Over the years, information may have been added to the file.

Who Can Request Non-Identifying Information / File Review?

Wide Horizons fulfills requests for non-identifying information for:

  • Birth parents whose child was placed through WHFC
    Birth fathers must be either named on the original birth certificate or have filed a termination of parental rights in conjunction with the adoption papers.
  • Parents who adopted through WHFC
    On behalf of a minor child under 18 years old
  • Adopted persons who were placed for adoption through WHFC
    If under 18 years of age, parents' permission is required.

Learn more about obtaining non-identifying information / file review

Requests for Birth Parent / Adopted Person Search

The adoption journey will take some birth parents and adopted persons on a quest to find each other.

Why Search?

While searching for birth parents may not be of particular interest to some adopted persons, others may feel keenly curious, and for others, this may be the key to their feeling "whole." Contact with birth parents can answer questions such as:

  1. Who do I look like?
  2. Who do I take after?
  3. What is my health history?

For birth parents, the reasons to search range from:

  1. feeling a strong desire for reassurance that this child is alive and well.
  2. Feeling that the child deserves answers that only he or she can give.
  3. Feeling a need to explain their decision to not parent the child.

Whatever the reason for wanting to search, this process needs careful consideration. The success of the search may depend on setting realistic expectations from the start.

Who Can Request a Search?

Wide Horizons provides search assistance to:

  • Birth parents whose child was placed through WHFC
    Birth fathers must be either named on the original birth certificate or have filed a termination of parental rights in conjunction with the adoption papers.
  • Parents who adopted through WHFC
    On behalf of a child under the age of 21 years.
  • Individuals placed for adoption through WHFC
    Must be 21 years of age or older.

Learn more about the search process

Some states allow adopted persons to have access to their original birth certificate which includes the names of the birth mother and birth father if known. For more information about access to birth certificates in the state in which your adoption was finalized, please visit www.someurl.org.

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