ISO bmom SC 1960

Do you know if your mother was living in a maternity home at the time of your birth? Sometimes you can get additional information about your birth parents from the maternity home. California Adoption Genealogist Other great websites to check out: [url]http://www.adoptionchat.com[/url] [url]http://www.adoptionlists.com[/url] [url]http://www.adoption.com[/url] [url]http://www.adopting.org[/url] [url]http://www.adoptionregistry.com[/url]

Dear Guru, I know I was adopted through Catholic Charities in Charleston, SC. They told me they have no info. about my family of origin because my birthmother applied for assistance less than 2 weeks before my birth. I gave them a name i found in a newspaper and the woman (at CC) insited that name was not correct and became upset. I have searched using that name but have had no luck. The hospital where I was born is now a nursing home but I know where the records are currently located and I have requested that this particular hospital send them to me. The records are 43 years old. Do you know of anyone in the Charleston, SC area that could be of assitance. What else could I pursue? Does CC openly lie to people about their non-identifying info.? So many questions--so little answers. Margaret

I re-read your reply. I forgot to mention CC told me the referral to CC came form the hospital where I was born when my birthmother sought hospitlization to deliver me and placement for me. I know she was born in NC and CC said she was a resident of SC at the time of my birth because she had to sign a form stating that fact. I found the hospital listings from that area during the time frame when I was born and a Miss... was admitted the day before my birth and was discharged 6 days later. I was told I was released 6 days for adoption after my birth. Is this just a coincedence? I contacted the one and only family in that town with the same last name and they never knew of her. CC told me she was from a town in SC 2 hours west of York torward the mountians in the upper half of the state. BIG HELP. I am waiting to hear from the hospital that has my birth records. Any suggestions? Margaret

Hospitals are very good at telling people that the "hospital records are destroyed after 7 years". This is not true. Those records are microfilmed and stored in a medical storage facility. While the paper copy may be destroyed there is still a microfilm copy. If you have difficulty getting your hospital records you might have your family Dr. request your file using his/her letterhead. As far as Catholic Charities...they would have had a Social Worker interview your birthmother for background information regardless if she came through their agency two months before you were born, 2 weeks before you were born or 2 days before you were born. This sounds like a lame excuse. From your research it sounds like you might have the right name. It's possible that your birthmother may have come to South Carolina from North Carolina only to relinquish. An adoption agency could therefore say she was a "resident" of South Carolina regarless if she only resided there for 6 days. I would use the name that you have to search in North Carolina instead for families with a similar name. Since your adoption was finalized in South Carolina you might contact this office and discuss with them the lack of information that CC is providing for you. This office would also have a copy of your adoption file. South Carolina Department of Social Services PO Box 1520 Columbia, SC 29202-1520 (803) 898-7707 Toll Free: (800) 922-2504 Fax: (803) 898-7792 World Wide Web: [url]http://www.state.sc.us/dss/adoption[/url] E-mail: corf@dss.state.sc.us Adoption Genealogist [url]http://www.adoptionforums.com[/url] [url]http://www.adoptionchat.com[/url] [url]http://www.adoptionlists.com[/url] [url]http://www.adoption.com[/url] [url]http://www.adopting.org[/url] [url]http://www.adoptionregistry.com[/url]

Margaret, I also was born here in 1963. Have you been able to get any info from the now closed hospital? I have been searching for years as well. Thanks, Cathy

Margaret, this is a shot in the dark. I don't know how mich info you have or what may be important in your search.You can try going to the court records where the adoption was finalized. It may be possible for you to get an Adoption Decree which may list the b-parents. From that info (if you can get it) you may be able to get medical info and track that way.If you are unable to get the Adoption Decree, it may be possible to get some medical history info because that is non-identifying.I share your frustration. I have searched for 60 years for information from a closed state.I did finally get an Adoption Decree. It was a standard form listing only the b-moms and the adoptee name. This was due to name change at the time of the hearing.If you are able to access the court records, the only information provided in most court records, are the actions of the court at the time of the adoption. There is no personal information in regards to the b-parents.If this is something you want to pursue, try contact with the Clerk of the Orphans Court in SC or wherever the final adoption took place. States house adoption records where the finalization of the adoption took place. If you were adopted, there are court records. The Clerk of the Orphans Court will tell you the court procedure for accessing that information. That does not mean you will get it. That decision rests with the judge. The Clerk of the Court will not give legal advice. The information they provide in most cases is administrative for purposes of operation of the court.I wish you the best.