I am trying to help my wife find her birth mother / father, where do I start?

You need the original birth certificate, if it is possible to obtain that in the state where your wife was born/adopted. An amended birth certificate is the 'new' certificate issued to an adoptee when their adoption is finalized. For example, I am an adoptee, and my amended BC contains my adoptive parent's names - - so it's not helpful when searching for biological relatives. The first step is registering with the adoption reunion registry in that particular state, and then requesting non-identifying information from the state, adoption agency that placed her for adoption [if any] and the hospital where she was born. It'd be helpful to know where she was born and adopted, if an agency was involved, etc.

We reside in Ca, we just recently sent off her request to the state adoption unit asking for non identifying information. Do you know if they change everything on the amended bc, would the dob and the place of birth be kept the same? Thank you so much for your response!

Blackghost, It depends on how long ago the adoption happened. In the 50's, 60's I know they took liberties in changing the date, place and even the hospital. If the adoption was finalized in California then they do not have open records laws yet. You should get non-id info. Was an agency also involved or was the adoption simply through the state. If agency request copies of everything in the file. You really can't do much until you have the non-id as far as requesting help from a search angel (free). What you can do is to register your search here on the reunion registry (see tab above titled reunite select reunion registry). Post search and search the registry as well. Do not limit your search to the day of birth or even the gender so for example search month / year / California. Memories fade and in the old days they would tell the mother she had a son when she had a daughter... You can also sign up at ISRR.net. They compare your search against the database and enter your search for future. They only contact you if there is a match. Kind regards,Dickons

Dickons, Thank you very much for your response, my wife was born in the 80's so hopefully the adoption policies have gotten a little more refined at that time in comparison to the the 50's and 60's. I have heard from someone that we should attempt to get a copy of the Adoption Decree as well as the non-id info. We are unsure of whether she went through and agency or was taken and placed by social services, hopefully when we are able to obtain the non-id info this portion of the puzzle will come to an end. I will make sure that we register at the above mentioned sites. I really appreciate your prompt and informative response to my inquiry. For my wife to find her bio family it would be miracle and a dream come true for her. Thank you both for your time.

Sadly - - those of us who were adopted in the 80's have no less trouble locating biological relatives than those born in the 50's or 60's! I am not trying to frustrate you, but only give you the facts. Are her adoptive parents willing or able to discuss the circumstances of her adoption with her? I assume that they know whether or not she was placed with them through an agency or social services. I see that you live in CA; was your wife also born and adopted there? Or in another state? If that's the case - her non-ID info, etc. would be available through the state where she was born and placed for adoption. Good luck with your search.

If your wife was born in California, we can find her birth mother's maiden name in the California Birth Index. Just send me her date of birth and the county in which she was born via private message (PM), and I'll see what I can find.

Thank you everyone for your assistance. We are in the process of getting her mother's non identifying information, I am hoping that from there we might be able to connect some dots. Thank you all.