How To Find Your Biological Family if You Are Adopted

Most adoptions nowadays are open or semi-open, which has tremendously benefited the emotional well-being of adoptees and their birth parents. Open adoptions also decrease the need for spending long hours trying to find your adoptive parents. In contrast, closed adoptions make it much harder to find out about your biological parents and other relatives.

Finding your biological family may be a difficult and lengthy ordeal. We need to highlight that you must be mature and emotionally stable before starting a search for your biological parents. 

Truth be told, without your biological family, you may feel lost in your sense of identity. In this article, we’ll try and help you get the information you need in order to help you locate your biological family and work toward a possible reunion. 

Get a DNA test

Those who are interested in learning more about their biological background or locating a parent who is unknown to them may seek the help of genetic testing. 

Adoptees should start with an autosomal DNA (atDNA) test since it is the most comprehensive and accurate of the tests available. In the case of adoption, an autosomal DNA test could reveal genetic relatives within five to six generations back on both the biological mother’s and father’s sides of the family.

For this option to work, some of your relatives you haven’t met should have also taken the test. These types of DNA tests aren’t guaranteed to reunite you with your family but can be a good starting point. 

Use a helping hand

The experts at Australian genealogy services, such as Worthington Clark, have a proven track record of facilitating successful family tree investigations. These experts can help you find your biological parents by using DNA and genealogical research to find long-lost family members. 

Many people have found their parents with the help of private detectives. Of course, no matter which service you ultimately decide on, it’s nice to have an expert on your side. 

Talk to your adoptive parents

If your adoptive parents are still alive, it’s important to talk to them about your search for your birth family so you can get any information they may have.

They could know the name of the attorney, agency, or social worker who facilitated their adoption. They might have a copy of your original birth certificate and they might recall information about your birth parents that might help you find them, such as their age, name, or place of birth.

Also, this is a great moment to broach the subject of how your family members are feeling about your quest for your biological parents. It might be beneficial for all parties if you have an open and honest talk about your plans, comfort them about your own relationship, and explain the process.

Get your hands on your original birth certificate

If your adoptive parents don’t already have the papers, you need to figure out a way to obtain them yourself. First, you’ll need to get the name of the adoption service agency and go to them for approval. Then, you shall apply to the Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages for a copy of your original or corrected birth certificate.

After you get a certified copy of your birth certificate, you can ask the Registry to look for any marriages or deaths in your state that may be related. This is helpful if your biological parents have married and changed their name or surname.

The start of a search via the Registry will incur a fee. Keep in mind that the information above is only worthwhile for Australian individuals.

Use social media

These days, social media is the most effective tool for looking for people, but only when you know their names. Many times, those involved in the adoption process will already know the biological parents’ first and/or last names, as well as their city of residence. 

Finding your biological parents isn’t easy. You need to mentally and emotionally prepare yourself for the long process. This is why we recommend you use an expert service in your search. Make sure to be honest in the process and provide up-to-date information. With a little bit of luck, you’ll be on your way to the family reunion.

Author Bio

I am Zoya Arya, and I have been working as Content Writer at Rananjay Exports for past 2 years. My expertise lies in researching and writing both technical and fashion content. I have written multiple articles on Gemstone Jewelry like moonstone jewelry and other stones over the past years and would love to explore more on the same in future. I hope my work keeps mesmerizing you and helps you in the future.