Here's a Challenge- Helen Tanos Hope Adoptions, 1972

Bldg, I just did some googling and the attorney does seem rather sketchy but nothing was proven that the adoptions were black market - but they do fall into the grey market realm - legal but sketchy. The Mexico finalization is really strange. When you get your amended birth certificate does it come from Florida? If yes, then they have to have something in their files for you - perhaps not a non-id per se but something showing the adoption was finalized - copies of the adoption. Have you considered petitioning Florida for those files? You should be able to do it without a lawyer just fill out a form. You might just get a judge to okay it due to the shadiness. As to Linda McIntrye - she won't contact you unless your mother contacts her at least from my understanding of what I found. There is a yahoo search angel group if your search angels fail - they seem to be pretty good and a second set of eyes never hurts. Send me a pm if you want the link. Post your search on the registry on this site. Also check the registry for matches. It's tedious as you have to look at each entry because you can't rely on the the A / B / O (other) indicator. Also do not search just your day of birth/sex because back then your mother may not have been told your sex and may have forgotton the day of birth - search month, year, state. You can even consider searching a bit into February as well even though indications are that THA did not change birthdates but you never know. You can also post and/or search gsadoptionregistry. I don't know alot about how it works but they do have it by month/year and also by agency. The link below is to THA but I did not see a match but you may gain clues from others in their "more info" portions. [URL="http://www.gsadoptionregistry.com/helentanoshoperegistry.html"]http://www.gsadoptionregistry.com/helentanoshoperegistry.html[/URL] Another name to make note of is the social worker for Helen T Hope - she worked for her for 25 years and may still be alive. Verlin B Fox [URL="http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1994-02-01/news/9402010184_1_adoption-records-court-files"]http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1994-02-01/news/9402010184_1_adoption-records-court-files[/URL] The final thought is would you not have something on file with immigration seeing as your parents would have had to bring you into the states from Mexico? Or with the Mexican government? Once you start wondering the questions kind of grow. One of the common triggers is kids. And once you find some sketchy stuff it makes you wonder. Back when you were born no one realized there was a difference in how things were done - most just went into it blind so I hope you don't think your parents did anything wrong - they would have assumed like other parents that "attorney" +"agency" = good. If you have any name that would show up in the 1930 census I can see if I can find it on ancestry. You can also try finding a family tree or something there as well and they have adoption message boards too. Take care,Dickons

Dickons- thank you SOOO much for your response. I will definitely try a few of the things you brought up that I have not tried yet. And believe me, I am 110% with you that if anything shady did happen, my parents were not aware. Like you said, times were more trusting, less inquisitive, maybe, and certainly the information we can find today does not even compare to 1972. They are riding this wave along with me right now, and much of what I am finding is startling to them, too. Regarding the Mexican finalization piece- that, along with the write-ups on Helen T Hope, is what is making this more of a mission and challenge for me. I, as a baby, was never in Mexico. I was born in Florida and taken to New Jersey to live. Apparently, my dad had to go to Mexico for a few days in order to finalize my adoption. From what I was told, at that time, Mexican finalizations were recognized in all 50 states of the US and they were able to be done faster than most states- regarding waiting periods, etc. Some families specifically went there for finalization to keep their anonymity. My parents said they were just told that was the process, so my dad went and did it. Thank you again so much for putting the time and effort into your response. If you think of any other ideas, please let me know. Going through the process of adopting my daughters, knowing their story and the people involved- even if I never see them again or they never respond to our contact- I have something I can tell my girls and show them so they can understand how and why we became a family. It has made me so much more curious about my own circumstances that led to my situation. Would never change it or the people in it for the world, but am curious none the less. Take care...K

Just found a whole bunch of yahoo private groups under Helen Tanos Hope. Some with - some without spaces etc - some are pretty active as well. One rainy day you may want to join up and see if you get anything. Have you requested non-id from Florida - it might also have something - I know you said you signed up for the registry but you might find her age and where she was from. Kind regards,Dickons

Hi again, Dickons! I feel like you and I are working on a secret project together! Anyway, the issue with getting an OBC from Florida (from their Dept of Health & Human site): Q: I was born in Florida and adopted. Can I get a copy of the original birth record? A: It is possible if you have a notarized consent from all the parties (yourself, birth parent(s), and adoptive parent(s). You can then request copies of the documents maintained in a Vital Statistics sealed adoptive file. If any of the required consents (with the exception of the adult adoptee) are not available because the party is deceased, you can submit a certified death record for that person in lieu of their consenting affidavit. Q: What if I don't know who the birth parent(s) are? A: You must have either the consenting affidavit or the death record to gain access to the Vital Statistics sealed adoptive file; however, you may want to consider contacting the Florida Adoption Reunion Registry (FARR) to see if the birth parent has registered. You can contact the Florida Adoption Reunion Registry at 1-850-922-6234, or write them at 1317 Winewood Blvd., Bldg A Room 102, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0700. Based on those two answers to questions, without even knowing the true spelling of my birthmother's name to locate her and get her consent, or locate her and realize she is deceased, I don't feel I will get too far. I did apply about a month ago to one of the private Yahoo groups you refer to. They have not responded or "accepted" me into the group. I kind of thought it would have happened within a couple days, but...... The Mexican finalization is really putting a curve in things. It's not like there is even a court system in the US I can contact. And, I certainly hope this is not the case, but knowing things were sketchy- there is the chance someone was told I was stillborn and doesn't even know there is someone to search for. Or, maybe someone truly does not want to be found and I am ok with that, too. I guess I would just like a little more info so even hearing a few more facts and then hearing so and so wishes to not have contact or communicate- it at least brings a form of closure to some of my curiosity. Thanks again for getting "on the case", Dickons!

But Florida may have your non-identifying info that they legally have to give you. If the records were turned over to DCF they should have been forwarded to the adoption unit. Apparently Hope took very detailed info and all they have to do is strip the names from the details. Finding out her year of birth or home town etc can help. I agree it is the unknowns that can haunt you - like you say - what if she was told you were still-born etc. Also a judge can go past the rules and open the records - you could get lucky just because of who did your adoption - shouldn't cost you anything to petition. Getting mine unsealed was easy because I was really sick and had doctors etc wanting info and then mom petitioned and mom and dad had very good known reputation in the county - they wouldn't ask if there wasn't a good reason thing. D

Hi, I am a Florida search angel and have been for quite some time and I'm familiar with HTH adoptions. Who are you working with? What is the name you have? What about other information, such as whether the birth mother was ever married or did she have other children? Where was she from? If you would like to discuss your search you can email me privately at mjgross1@bellsouth.net.

Hi, I have the same history.... can we talk? I'm from Helen Tanos Hope too... I was raised in Lma Peru