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Hello there.
First, would like to wish much luck and encouragement to all who are searching, here. I know it can be tiresome and frustrating...but then you can get a break when you least expect it, so hang in there :)
I'm wondering what people's experiences have been with petitioning the Suffolk Court to unseal records, and release identifying information.
(The Jurisdiction for Suffolk Probate Court is: Boston, Brighton, Charlestown, Chelsea, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Revere, Roslindale, South Boston, and Winthrop)
On my mom's request, I was able to access info about her Birth Mom with the help of a search angel who went through public records in another state...but the identity of the father seems more cloudy, and might only be in the sealed Boston file, where adoption was finalized in 1939.
Is it kind of a toss-up as to how the Suffolk judges rule on unsealing a file...or do they seem to be pretty open now, if the request is made?
I'd like to hear what others' experiences have been like dealing with making an appearance about this.
Thanks, and again, best wishes.
PS: these are the forms that are used in Suffolk County, off the MA court system website:
[URL="http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/juvenilecourt/forms/petition-for-inspection-of-adoption-records.pdf"]Petition for Inspection of Records of Adoption[/URL]
with this attached:
[URL="http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/juvenilecourt/forms/affidavit-petition-for-inspection-of-adoption-records.pdf"]Affidavit in Support of Petition for Inspection of Records of Adoption[/URL]
Obviously, the thing you spend the most time wording in Answer #3:
"I am applying to examine the adoption records for the following reasons: ____________"
(This is one of those "Attach Extra Pages As Needed" situations!)
(Be sure to get help editing it from experienced searchers, professionals, etc.)
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Chris,
My family is in an almost identical situation down to the location, dates, and details. Did you end up petitioning Suffolk? Did you have any luck?
We are just starting the process by attempting to find the court the adoption was finalized in.