State making contact. . .how long does it take?

In case anyone is wondering. . .I finally wrote another letter to the state asking how long the wait is. Due to budget cuts, the staff has been reduced and they are just now working on people who paid in April 2004. Uggggg Dana

[font=Book Antiqua]Have you heard anything yet? [/font] [font=Book Antiqua]I mailed my formal request the last week of July 2004, they said they had a 3 month waiting list at that time so I was expecting to receive something around the first of November, however, I didn't receive anything. I called and then they said the staff had been downsized and they were very behind. So then I assumed I wouldn't hear anything probably until summer of 2005. Surprisingly, I received a letter the first week of January 2005 saying to send my $150 fee with proof of identity to confirm my eligibility. Now I'm waiting for the next letter, hopefully it will come soon. [/font]

I'm still waiting to hear. That's great that you didn't have to wait too long for the first part. I had to wait 9 months before I had to pay the $150. Once you pay, they'll send you a letter telling you to set up an appointment to view your files (this is the quickest part of the process). I had to wait 6 weeks before viewing my files so call as soon as you get your letter. Good luck and congrats. Please keep me updated on your process! Dana

Hello. Was just wondering if you have gotten anywhere with the state?

[font=Arial Black]Hi, [/font][font=Arial Black]Actually, just last week I received the acknowlegement receipt of my $150 fee for eligibility for access to my records. Now I have to complete and return the Sworn Statement for Access to Records along with proof of ID (again) and have it notorized. You have to agree not to contact anyone that might be on your records, however, "they" will conduct a search for you and contact the people you are interested in and see if they want to be contacted by you. The state will then let you know yes or no, or if they can't find anyone at all. I don't know how long that will take. So on with the next step.......[/font]

how long did it take from the time that you sent the letter requesting your information to the time that you received the letter requesting money?

[font=Arial Black]I sent my first letter to the state the last week of July 2004. [/font][font=Arial Black]I received my first letter from the state the first week of January 2005.[/font]

Just an update here. I called DCS last month and they were on April payees (on locating to see if you can contact). The lady I spoke with said it would probably be June before they get to people who paid in June 04. There are only two people working on locating birth families in the office. Looks like it's going to take a little over a year once you pay the searching fee just to start the search. No telling how long the average search takes.

Thank you all so much for your posts here! I sent an initial request for my son's file end of October '04. They immediately sent me a letter first of November '04 saying that they were "unable to give [me] immediate response". They stated that they would "advise [me] when [they] were ready to process [my] request". I have heard nothing since then. First, has anyone of you gotten a letter like that? Are you the adoptee or birthparent?What was the next step after this letter, was it another letter saying you were in line or was it phone contact, or what? Then what happened, did they send you what you wanted? Then, you had to pay and get in another line for the actual search? Did you get the file before or after the search? If they can't find the person, do you still get the file, but aren't allowed to contact anyone? Am I going to get the entire adoption record with all names and places, or are they only sending me "non-ID" info? You see I have many questions, so if anyone has a few minutes to expound on your experiences, I would really appreciate it!! Thanks for your time. LyndaISO son born 10-10-1983 in Memphis, TNsurrendered to Jewish Family Services in Memphis

OMG, what news I have to share!! I received a letter in April stating they are starting my search. During this time, any birth relative has 90 days to sign the Contact Veto. I'm not expecting to hear anything until September. I'm assuming up to 6 weeks to search and then the 90 day waiting period. This weekend (early June), I received a letter stating that my Maternal Brother wants to contact me!!! I'm so excited!!! I have phone numbers and an address. I'm going to write him a letter first so I don't sound like a complete goober on the phone. I'd be so nervous that I wouldn't know what to say. They are still searching for other relatives but I'm assuming since they found a brother, that means they've already contacted my birth mom. There is hope at the end of this journey. I'm so excited to be able to contact at least one family member. Dana

I'm meeting my birthmom tomorrow night and the rest of the family Saturday. I'm so excited. She and I talk at least three times a week (I upgraded my long distance). She and I have so much in common. Goes to show that some things are genetic. The State may take their time but it's definitely worth the wait! Dana

So Dana, how did it go? Hope everything went well. I was able to view and get copies of all of my files on June 30th and paid my search fee. I guess I'm looking at a year of waiting,huh? Just seeing actual names for the first time blew me away. Especially my name that I was given at birth. I have very detailed info on my birthmother and family but next to nothing on my birthfather. Good luck in finding yours. Keep us updated....Jennie

Jennie! Congrats on seeing your files! How exciting! I didn't have much detail about my birthfather either. Hopefully you won't have to wait as long as I did for them to locate. Have you updated all of your information on the adoption boards? Turns out my birthfamily isn't computer savy and had no idea there are online adoption registries. What was your birthname? Mine was Maegan Ann. Weird thing is that's a name we're thinking of using if we have a girl (Meagan anyway). The reunion was awesome. It was so weird looking at these people and seeing myself in them. My brother and I look a lot a like. I saw myself in my birthmother. Everyone says I look just like she did when she was 30. I didn't cry until my birthmom met my mom and dad. It was a very special moment. My birthmom said she didn't see a speck of my birthfather in me. She was really pleased with that. After how bad he treated her (she still hates him), she was scared how she'd be around me if I looked anything like him. Anyway, my family got along with the birthfamily really well. It's like we'd known each other all our lives. It was also a reunion for my ** and her brother. Their families hadn't seen each other in years. I'm hoping to post pictures to my website within the next week. We're already planning another reunion for either August or September (depending on doctor's approval to travel since I'm pregnant). I wish everyone a reunion like mine. It truly was amazing. I never expected anything like this to happen. We all kept saying this is like something you only see on tv. Dana

Dana, I'm so glad everything went well. I think just seeing people that look like me will be the most interesting to me. I can't imagine my parents meeting with my birthmother. They don't even know that I have my records yet. That had to be very strange for you. My birthname was Lori Lee. I was supposedly named after two staff members at the maternity home. I hope I don't have to wait too terribly long for the state to do their search because I have already done my own search and found her, so it will be very hard not to go to her town just to get a glimpse of her, but I don't want to go to jail. I wish I could just take the info that I have to the state and say "Okay, here she is.. contact her" but I don't think they would go for that. HaHaAnyway, I'm glad your reunion was a success!Jennie