DC METRO BRANCH
CONCERNED UNITED BIRTHPARENTS
SEARCH:
We offer search help by working with you to make a plan so that you can work on your own. We first recommend that each person ready to search register with the International Soundex Reunion Registry. ISRR is a non-profit, humanitarian agency which serves and promotes, through the reunion registry, the interests of adults desiring and seeking a reunion with next-of-kin by birth. The ISRR can be contacted by mail at P.O. Box 2312, Carson City, NV 89702-2312, or by calling 775-882-7755. The new ISRR website provides information on the organization and the services it provides to members of the Adoption Triad. Registation, Address Change, and Donation forms can be downloaded from the website. ISRR does not charge a fee for registration or matching. The organization is a non-profit, tax exempt corporation funded entirely by our tax deductible donations. In order to encourage registrations, a national ISRR Reg(istration) Day is held annually in early October.
ON-LINE RESOURCES:
The Internet contains a wealth of information for those who are searching. An excellent place to start is at the Adoption.com website. It contains a wealth of information and links to adoption registries which can be quickly and easily searched. You can also register your own information for reference by others who are searching. The VitalChek website allows you to order birth, death, and marriage certificates on-line at a reasonable price.
If you have a name and a state, you can do a search on LocateAmerica.com. Assuming the name is not too common, you can get good results without a state. The initial search displays a list of people with that name, their ages, and the cities and states where records were found. More detailed information on the person, from data bases of pubic records, can be ordered on-line for a very small fee. The Long Lost People website is another similar website for searching by name.
DC SEARCH:
If you are an adoptee searching in DC, it is likely that you will need to file a motion to break seal. The fee for this is $20 as long as you know your adoption case number. If you are a birthmother, you will most likely need to petition the court to open the record. The cost for this is $80 as you will not know the adoption number and this fee will enable the court to search for your record. If you were born, or gave birth, prior to 1956, you will contact the District Court (Mr. Hughes at 202.354.3191). If you were born, or gave birth after 1956, you should contact the Superior Court at 202.879.1261.
MARYLAND LAW:
We actively track and report on proposed legislation in Maryland which impacts adoption, searching, and reunion. The web page for the Maryland General Assembly provides uselful information including names and addresses of local representatives.
Email us at DCMetroCUB@aol.com.
