Adoption Laws in Washington State

Just have your mom write a letter to the judge, (I will send it when I get it) have her get it noterized. Be sure she mentions that orginally she signed a no contact then she changed her mind. Include the name of the CI who contacted her. Possibly send a letter to said CI also telling about the reunion. My son's adoption was private, though a lawyer. So they took him home at 3 days old. Right after I left the hospital. The sad part for us, the adad was an alcoholic who abused his wife. I beleive the doctor who arranged the adoption knew them socially. They lived in the same neighborhood as the doc. In the 1960s it wasn't all that big a town. When my first searcher a CI, told me there was that possiblity that he went to foster care for awhile I was hysterical. No one told me that could happen. But then I wasn't told very much at all, except "go home and pretend it never happened." No one talked to me about it. It was awful. He was born 16 days after my 16th birthday. Six weeks later I was back in school, April 1964. By the summer I was trying to get pregnant again. I missed him so much. I met a salior and by the next February 65, we were married and I was pregnant at 17, delivered her in Nov. My bson and daugter are 18 months apart.

[QUOTE=Scarlet Moon 13]I believe it is family court. I would just call the county court house in Pierce Co and ask who handles the adoptions. /QUOTE] found something here.... SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON FOR THE COUNTY OF PIERCE Pierce County Adoption Services 5501 Sixth Avenue Tacoma, WA 98406 (253) 798-7978 Joni Irvin, Adoption Coordinator (253) 798-7976 Michelle Holeman, Secretary :) and..... some idea of what kind of info about what those records would include- (found this on a search site for a well known TX agency) I'd hope this kind of info would be in WA too 1. original birthcert 2. petition to adopt 3. final decree of adoption 4. adoptive parents homestudy 5. various reports from agency, lawyer such as initial interview w/ Original parents, their medical history, biographical info 6. signed relinquishment, or consent papers

I'm sending off a letter to my Mom, asking her if she'd be ok with going thru the process to get this info. I still worry, I guess, about bringing up painful memories for her (I still have a pretty good fear about her bolting on me) I guess its from the rejection days...........sigh Anyway, I've asked her to do this- for both of us. When I first met her face to face, nearly 6 yrs after she was "found" by the CI- she didn't even recall the season of my birth - little own the date. I'm sure there are many many things she had never known, or forgot. And so, I've asked her to look over this with me, talk about it with me, and then- put it away as the TRUTH. If you were one of those reluctant moms- would this be threatening to you? I just worry.......probably way too much

When I was searching, I sent to Olympia for a copy of the orginal birthcert.. my CI gave me a copy of the relinquistment out of my records. Since I had gotten my medical in in the 60s the doc had no idea I would ever get a copy of those records he wrote everything in them. Like how pissed he obviously was when I married a year later. Big letters across the page, "married now". He also wrote the last names or two different set of adoptive parents, and then crossed one out. I delivered almost 3 weeks late, so the first couple got a baby someone else gave birth too before me. Nice to play god isn't it? Giving babies away here and there. Though I did go back to the same doctor for both me other two pregancies. Maybe hoping he might tell me something. Matter of fact when I had my last child at 19. He actually told me that I should stop having babies now, let someone else do it. Like I was hogging the baby market. Any one else have Crealock in north Seattle in the 60s or 70sor 80s? I have met 2 other birthmothers who went to him. I didn't know he did so many adoptions until long after. Oh sorry I got lost.. Got to go anyway.. :flowergift:

Hi Scarlet- Your story sounds somewhat familiar to me. Were you ever in that old Yahoo group for WA?? Was on another server or two before it ultimately ended up on Yahoo Groups. (wish I could remember how to send private msgs on this board! lol) Was Crealock partnered with Dr Kelly? Kelly is the one that handled my adoption. My bmom had never even seen him before bmom showed up at the ER at Ballard General. Dr Kelly arranged my adoption. -Pennu in WA

Why yes, Crealock and Kelly... Heck now my count is up to 4. I wonder if it was the same lawyer? My mother took me to see her doctor when I told her I was pregnant. After hours too. Guess what she asked him to do? Never mind, she asked him to abort me. I said no, she didn't even look at me. Then he said no, I was too far along. See all I knew about being pregnant in 1963, if you missed 3 periods, that was it, you were pregnant. Sex ed from Catholic school. Then she asked him where she could send me, what unwed mothers home was close. HE SAID, I could come live with him and his wife, only bad girls went to those places. LOL I wasn't bad, I just made a mistake. sheesh. I liked that doctor. I ended up living with my grandmother. The doctor sent us to Crealock to "handle" everything. Crealock sent us to a lawyer. All very tidy. I closed up, didn't talk to anyone about anything. Cried every night. I was not a happy person I was 15. My mother threaten to send the cops after my boyfirend he was 19. Now, the story. My mother (divorced from my adad) worked for the same company that the bdad worked for. She was a bookeeper, he made deliveries. SHE, my mom, bought him home to meet me. Then let me date him. Even though I wasn't supposed to go in cars with boys until I was 16. I wasn't a virgin, I lost that at 14. Anyway, I had just turned 15 when he and I started dating. I got pregnant about May, my birthday is in February. He would have married me. Probably better he didn't, But I would have been able to keep my baby if she had signed. Oh well, water under the bridge. Well, anyway, LOL I went to Crealock when I was 4 months pregnant. He did try to tell me something once, my mother told him not to say anything at all to me about the adoption. It was written in my records. When he wrote everything. I too was at Ballard General. They knocked me out at delivery. Then they weren't going to let me see him. As I said, they wouldnt' let me hold him. I begged Crealock over the phone, crying begging, he said I might bond with my son so, no, I could not hold him. To this day I can still see that nurse walk away from me with my baby. I even asked my mother to take me back to the hospital to get my baby, she refused. Not a pretty picture. I mentioned that I got my records from the doctor who bought Crealocks practice after he retired. That was 33 years after I had given up my son. Incredible that they were still there. When I asked Crealock why they did what they did, his answer was and I quote, "that was the way we did things then". Oh and I suppose if your friend jumped off the Aurora Bridge you would too? Can we say that statement he made, p***ed me off? WHy yes we can... Hugs.. I have to go fold flyers for the Mediterranean Fantasy Festival.. get them stamped and mailed.. If you aren't busy July 21 & 22, come watch Belly dancing.. yes, it is a shameless plug. It's free.

Well, I finally got up enough nerve to call: (253) 798-7976. I talked with a very nice woman, who explained that they provided non-identifying information, and that to get into my sealed records I would need to go through Superior Court, and would have to use either a confidential intermediary, or a lawyer. She said that ALL records were sealed in 1971. She was curious as to why I would want to see the records if I was already in reunion with my bson. Like I've said before, "you take your laundry to the dry cleaners - you get a receipt. I relinquished my baby and got not one piece of paper. I'm entitled." My bson said that he thought the "records were sealed at the bmom's request." But, if ALL records were sealed at that time, then this must have been the arrangement through the adoption agency, LDS-SS. I will make contact with them and ask questions. I also got the name of a confidential intermediary. I'll call and ask some questions, and check back later. So, the summary is: the above contact info is for non-identifying information. But, at least I got over the fear of making a call. The woman I spoke with was pleasant and helpful...she just couldn't provide the service I was requesting, but she did give me further contact info. Thanks, Angry Adoptee :) More later...still looking for answers... Peace, Susan

I am looking for the article where the reunited bmom and adoptee just wrote to the judge in charge in King co and got the record open.. I can't find it.... I will continue to look. I have all the other newspapers I have saved with this or that.. but not that one.. sheesh looking

This is my brother-in-laws answer... Teri I don't know anything about the adoption process. I have never done an adoption, but I did some research for you. There does not seem to be any process or statutory authority allowing a court to unseal adoption files. There is authority to allow an intermediary access to the files. The statute you need to review is RCW 26.33.343. The court can appoint someone after the adoptee is 21 years old to determine if contact would be desired. You and Chris are past that point. Perhaps if all the parties involved in the adoption process consented to unsealing the files the court would do so, but the file is sealed by statutory requirement, and not court order. So I doubt that the court could unseal the files without statutory authority. All parties would include Chris, you, and his adoptive parents. I have no idea if it would work. Frankly, Chris's adoptive parents should have received copies of all the documents. He may be able get a copy from them. I can certainly refer you to someone who does practice adoption law, but it is way out of my practice area. Sorry I could not be more help.

huh,well, I wonder what would happen if I contacted my CI and updated her on my nearly 6 year reunion. Gesh, I'd hate to be nice to her again to get what I want LOL Maybe she can at least send papers to have mom reverse that contact veto she signed back in '96 ....altho, I rather like my tag line below- reunited without ~~~ approval :banana: and then maybe.......she can give us some agency notes.... Do you think its worth swallowing hard, gritting my teeth- and playing the nice adoptee? ::::::;shivers:::::

Gee...don't see any reason we BOTH have to suffer (grin). Want to toss coins, draw straws or something? Although I have the contact info, I haven't established contact with a CI yet. I wonder what would be more difficult... getting info from a superior court judge, or info from the agency... hmmm... Susan

Hi all. Well, I've done a few things towards getting moms and my info. I contacted an adoption lawyer in Seattle, and asked about the possibility of getting records opened to me and Mom...... His response was, that it would cost me $125. to just discuss the retainer fees. ookay! I just finished writing a letter to my CI. I hate the idea of having to go this route to be at their mercy to get any crumbs of info! I think I'll take the extra step and also send a copy to King County Superior Court - and see if I can get a response from them. Shoot.....while I'm at it- might as well do Childrens Home Society too. wish me luck! Susan, anything new on your efforts?

I did call the one agency that is a well-known organization, but the woman who answered the phone couldn't figure out why I wanted copies of paperwork when I was already in reunion. I had already decided, before calling, that if I had to explain WHY I wanted copies of MY PAPERWORK that was not provided to me at the time, then I probably would not want to do business with them (good grief!!!). She said she would have to ask someone else because she didn't know what to do, so she emailed them and cc'd me a copy. I haven't heard back from them and it's been a couple weeks. Right after talking to her, I called a CI, a nice woman and a reunited mother herself. She spent quite a bit of time talking with me, explaining how things work and such. Nice that I did not have to explain to her WHY I wanted a copy of my paperwork -- she understood completely! To get a court order to open court records would cost $500, although she said that maybe I might be able to find another CI to do it cheaper. She also urged me to first try contacting LDS-SS, because they might be able to provide what I want, and without the expense of a court order and court records. Well, that was a huge step for me to take. My hubby and I went to LDS-SS in Renton on Friday, March 23rd, and I spoke with someone at the window, who just asked me to leave my contact info and what I wanted, and that someone would contact me the following week (this past week). Yesterday (Friday) afternoon I called them, since no one had called me as I was told would happen. I spoke to the director and assured him that I only wanted MY records, and that I had no need of anything else, since I was already in reunion. I reminded him that "back then" none of the mothers got any paperwork, and that I considered it essential to my healing process...that I NEEDED to see something with my signature on it. The director said he would send me a release form to fill out and return, and that he would request the records, which have since been microfiched and sent to Salt Lake City. When I asked him how long that would take, he indicated about 6 weeks. He said that when the records arrive, that I could come in and present identification, and that someone would go over them with me. He seemed to be earnest in his endeavors, so, we'll see how that goes. I appreciate the fact that the CI suggested trying that route first. $500 is a lot of money to come up with, and CIs don't take credit cards. Plus, there will probably be more information in the agency records than in the court records. The CI that I talked with would probably suggest first contacting your agency, Childrens Home Society. Although, that would probably have to be your mom doing that, or both of you together would be a nice touch ... :dance: I got a list of about eight CIs, and would be happy to share the list with you, if you like. Send me a PM if you're interested. I'll have to say, though -- my knees were shaking when hubby and I went through the agency doors. He was just glad I kept it together and stayed calm. It was his birthday, and he didn't want to have to deal with any :cop: "trouble"... hahaha! Peace, Susan :hippie:

thanks, Susan, for sharing that info. I've sent off the letter to my old CI. And after reading what you've posted here, I don't really want to wait for a response from her on getting just the court records. Think I'll try calling CHS, and setting up a time w/ social wrecker for mom and me to have a 3 way telephone call with them. So, I get the feel that they will "allow" you to view the records but not take copies? I don't really want to sit down with someone and have them go over it. I'd like to process it with just me and mom. we'll see Thanks again Susan! Keep me up to date!

cool.... I got a phone call from my old CI today. I sent her a letter requesting some info.... and told her about my reunion. She honestly sounded happy to hear it! That made me feel good...... anyway, all she can provide is the OBC (which I already have... ) and adoption decree. She told me I should call/write my agency and ask. She said she works with them alot....and she is very doubtful they will give what I would like to get, but they should know of our desire to get access to the info/records. This should be interesting. have a great weekend happy easter!