Adopted through Hampshire County Probate Court, Northampton, MA

asias1961

November 1, 2007

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I hope the following information will help those searching in Massachusetts.While I believe I have always been searching, I actively began searching for my birth mother in 2000. I had contacted the agency that I was adopted from several times over the years only to be discouraged from searching. Mine was a closed adoption and I was told that no identifying information could be given out. In June 2001, a fellow adoptee suggested I send a letter to Hampshire County Probate Court, Northampton,MA, the court that handled my adoption, requesting my adoption records. Included in my request was my name, DOB, adopted parents names,the hospital I was born in and the agency that handled my adoption. Three days later I received a reply via the mail. My adoption file was located and ..." In order to access your file you would have to come down to our office and produce a license or some sort of picture I.D. and then you would be able to look at your file and make copies if you wish." I was speechless!!!! There must be some mistake!!! It could be this easy!! Within an hour of receiving this letter I was handing the lady at the courthouse my drivers license and she handed me my adoption file! Included in my file was a copy of my original birth certificate complete with my birth name and my birth mothers name and residence at the time of my birth. After making copies of the file I returned it and asked why I was able to access these records without appearing before a judge. I was told all adoption records prior to 1974 ( I believe that was the date) had been opened by their probate judge allowing those of us adopted in Hampshire County (prior to 1974) to access our records. If you were adopted in Hampshire County before 1974, you might want to contact this court to request your records. I realize it has been six years since I got my records but I recently learned adoption records in Massachusetts were open records until 1974 when the state closed them. I truly hope this information helps and good luck to all!