I'll start here

Welcome! Sometimes finding your bparents seems easy, and for many here, it has been a struggle. Have you received your non-identifying information from the state yet? It's a good place to start. Depending on what state you're from, there may be a registry you can check out. After getting my info from the state, I then asked for my non-identifying info from the agency I was adopted through. In my case, that had a ton more information about my families backgrounds, and as luck would have it, they neglected to white out the name at one point and I finding my birthmother after that was pretty easy. ( I should note that I have not made contact)Good luck, and people much more knowledgeable than I will help out soon.

I am in Michigan, haven't received any non-identifying information or anything, everything that the agency that I hired did, they kept due to my inability to pay them. Where would I look for this registry at?? I'm excited to start searching, and I'm doing it entirely alone because I just feel at this point it is something *I* need to do.

Abbygale, I am an adoptee relinquished in Michigan also. I also had a closed adoption and have done my search for my birthparents and birthfamily. The first thing you should do is to send for your non-identifying information from the court in the county where your adoption was finalized. As I recall there is a small fee for this but, sometimes there is a lot of clues in non ID. Sometimes there is even identifying information in there (probably by accident). The court will also check your file to see if either of your birthparents filed a consent form...giving you permission to make contact. Don't hold your breath though...as I understand it...there weren't many bparents that were told at the time that it was even an option. If you can gather enough clues from non-ID, things you've been told or possible records your aparents might have kept...you might be able to do the search on your own. Michigan is a tough state to search in when it involves a closed adoption though. If you are unable to get enough information to do your own sleuthing...you may be relegated to the Michigan C.I. system. Make sure you go to the Search and Reunion Forum and read the "Michigan Searching Resources" If I can help in any way or you have MI searching questions just send me a PM. Good Luck!

Just wanted to say best of luck to you for your search, I am a reunited birth father that knows how hard these times can be. Take care, never give in or never give up. You'll find what you seek. bprice215

Thank You very much for the support and information, I am definitely going to send in the information if I can somehow squeak it out of one of my parents. My father has dementia and my mother is my second adopted mother, my first adopted mother passed away in 89, so when my father remarried, his wife now, adopted me, and he adopted her two sons.......she was a widow as well.... confusing I know, but long story short, I'm not certain how much she knows, and I don't know how much he remembers........... stuck....... plus you throw in that he has discouraged me finding them and that adds an entirely different obstacle... But I'm determined to give it my best shot to find my bio parents. Again thank you, and I'm sure I'll be looking to you all for support on my journey....

The most important piece of information you can get from your aparents is what county (and court) your adoption was finalized in. Let us know how it's going. There is a lot of support here! Good Luck!

Well I downloaded the petition for non-identifying information, and finally got my afather to tell me that I was adopted in Bay City, Bay County through Catholic Social Services........ He has really bad alcohol dementia, and he was VERY irritated that I asked (go figure), so I am hoping that this is legit. My amother didn't tell me much because she's my SECOND adopted mom, my amother who adopted me at birth passed away when I was 13..... SO, I guess what I'm wondering now is do I petition Bay County court? Or do I petition Catholic Social Services?? And what court? I have no clue, lost lost lost and frustrated is what I feel right now *sigh* Nilesgirl any info you have or website links you can throw at me I will GREATLY appreciate... What is this CI that you spoke of? I don't understand entirely?? Thanks for the support thus far, it's helping me dig my heels in with this.

Hi abbygayle! Good work getting that info. I'm going to send you a PM. Now that you have that info, I know someone that can help guide your search. :)

I am a reunited adoptee who was also given up in Michigan. I will do my best to try to help where I can and be glad to listen to you. I live just over the stateline of IN into Michigan. NilesGirl... Nice to see you again kiddo. Things have not changed much since your last trip into your old stomping grounds. Minus the fact that Majerecks Hallmark caught on fire last month and they are vowing to rebuild.