Just starting my search for my birthparents, family, etc....

Do you have names? If so, you can use switchboard.com or military.com to possibly locate your birth father. If you don't have names, you need to write to St Peter's Home for your records. I would definitely contact them. They may be able to help you locate your birth parents. Good luck! Dana

Not yet....I have talked to the DCS and they told me to submit my full birth name, my parents full names (adopted parents) date of birth, and a paragraph about saying that I want the records open....etc. then it would take 4-6 months to respond. I did that but I am waiting to send it in in a couple of weeks. My brother is also adopted but not related by birth.I was born in 1971, he was born in 1974 my parents adopted again, then they had their own child, my sister in 1976. I talked to him last night and asked if he would be interested in finding out who his natural parents were. He said he would do that when he comes home for Christmas. An interesting fact that he found out was he was applying for addtional schooling but was not able to pay for it and thought he would have to back out. Someone suggested to him to apply for a grant. We have known that he is somewhere between 25-50% Indian. So he had to fill out this lengthy app online. And they actually opened his records and found out that he is at least 35% Cherokee Indian and he was approved for a Pell Grant for his schooling. But they couldn't disclose any other info in his file. But that is kind of cool that they could do that to check out his background........

Don't trust what DCS says when it comes to time frames. They told me it would take 4 months to locate my birth mother (that was June) and just heard back it'll be a few more months due to staffing being low. Anyway, it takes about a year for them to get to your name (you get put on a list) and then you have to pay $150 (which you have six weeks to collect and pay before being dropped off the list). After you pay the fee, then you get to set up an appointment (which will be an additional month waiting time) to see your files. You have to pay $0.25 per copy (mine was $20 total) per page of your files. Definitely worth it!!! Then if you want to make contact, you have to pay $130 for them to locate a birth relative to see if it's ok for you to contact them. Don't wait in sending your letter to DCS and start saving your money. It's a long wait but definitely worth it (reading my files was right up there with giving birth to my two boys. . .a day I'll cherish always!!). I guess they figure if we can wait 30+ years, what's another one or two. :) I'd definitely like to keep in touch through your journey to see how your progress goes. That is so cool that your brother was able to find out he's 35% Cherokee and was able to get grant money! Good luck!! Dana