No Names

hey Gorilla, If you know where you were born, you could contact the court house there to see what you need to do to get an original birth certificate. I live in Montana and just found mine. But the court house where you were born could lead you in the right direction.

A good ole Illinois adoption. Even after I left that state, I find that I still despise the place. 1st thing is to register with the IARMIE. [url=http://www.idph.state.il.us/vitalrecords/adoptioninfo.htm]Illinois Vital Records - Adoption Records[/url] 2nd contact the state for non identifying information. They may be able to get you your case number and the court where your adoption was finalized. I've found the midwest adoption center to be very helpful, caring, and understanding. [url=http://www.macadopt.org/MACSite%20Folder/il-adopt-rec.htm]Midwest Adoption Center[/url] 3rd contact the agency that handled your adoption and ask for the same information as in #2. Stress that you want ALL non identifying information from your file. Sometimes birth mothers put in waivers for contact or letters or other things. I don't believe that agencies will find you to give them to you unless you request it from them. Be persistent. Especially with #3. Many agencies, Catholic Charities for one, like the stranglehold of control that they have over adoptees. They may say that they are looking out for us but I don't buy it for a moment. I asked for everything in my file that was non identifying and all I got was a happy happy joy joy letter in response. Once you get a case number and the county where the adoption was finalized, then you can petition the court to have your file unsealed. I am at this step or at least about to go through this step. Often times public notices of pending adoptions go into a newspaper. I am not sure if it is required to be in the county of birth or the county of adoption. If you have time it is always worth a shot to go through old archives. Best wishes and hope this helps.

Trust me, you aren't alone. And unfortunately, it isn't just in Illinois.:hissy: I'm searching in Ohio and I'm working with no names as well. It stinks, but I'm not giving up! Hugs, ~*Julie Christine Female adoptee ISO any birth relatives October 9, 1971 Columbus, Ohio