POST-ADOPTION FAQ
| How do I begin the process of searching for my birthparents or searching for my son or daughter? |
| You must work through the adoption agency that handled the adoption. If you don't have this information, contact Sallie Sheppheard at the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Adoption Unit, 444 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155. Include your date of birth and your adoptive parents' names. She will refer you to the correct agency.
If your adoption was handled by LSS, call us at (612) 879-5248 and request that search forms be sent to you. Be sure to identify whether you are an adopted adult or a birth parent. Send the completed forms and deposit back to us and your search will be placed on our waiting list. |
| Can I search for both birthparents? |
| We only search for a birth parent if she or he was legally identified as a birth parent. Therefore, we can always conduct a search for birth mothers. We only conduct a search for a birth father if he signed paternity affidavits or was adjudicated in court. We can check the file to let you know if this is an option. The fee that you pay covers the cost of one search. |
| What happens if my birthparent does not want any contact with me, or if the search reveals that she or he is deceased? |
| If, initially, your birth parent does not desire contact, we would encourage her/him to think about it further and we would attempt to provide support and resources to the birth parent. If a firm decision for no contact is made, we would attempt to gather updated health history on your birth parent and provide that information to you, along with any other information your birth parent may provide. If your birth parent is deceased, we will attempt to contact a close relative, if you desire such contact. |
| I have a health problem and I am wondering how I can get updated health information from my birth family. |
| We can check the file for any health history which had previously been recorded. We can also search for your legally established birth parent. We request that your physician provide us with a list of specific medical questions, as well as a statement as to the medical urgency of the request. Requests deemed urgent by your physician are given priority. |
| I am searching on my own. How do I get a copy of my original birth certificate? |
| If you were born in Minnesota, your original birth certificate is at the Minnesota Department of Health. You need to submit a "Search for Affidavit of Disclosure" form to find out whether your birth mother has given permission for the birth certificate to be released. If the Health Department has her permission on file, they will release the birth certificate to you. Download this form from the Health Department web site at
www.health.state.mn.us
and link to "birth records after an adoption." |
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