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I am a family member of an adoptee.. My mother in law was adopted.. She was born in Sept 1958 in Missouri .We are looking for her birth mom, all she knows is her birth last name is Follmer. It was an illegal adoption done by a Jesuit Priest that at the time that knew of a couple that was interested in obtaining a baby... basically, she was taken from her biological mother, and given to this couple by this priest. No papers were ever signed, but her birth certificate that she can see just states her name and date of birth.. She was older than a newborn when this went on, so we know her moms name is on the original certificate.
So why would her records be sealed ? Is there away to get the information on them ?
Any help on where to start would be so appreciated
Thank you
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Missouri is one of the worst states in my opinion. All adoptees original birth certificates are sealed at the time of adoption. Only two states have always allowed the adult adoptee to request their original birth certificate. Currently the number of states that allow adult adoptees to request their original birth certificate stands at 7 with some of those states still having exceptions. Missouri did minor changes to the adoption law - I will try to find it but I would not hold out hope that you will find them this way. Your best bet is to post a request on the Search Angel forum asking for help (search angels do not charge anything). Having a surname may make the difference. You should also post the search in the registry on this site - and search the registry but search the whole month for posting that might be a match - the day of birth has been known to change. Also post your search on ISRR.net. Make sure if you change the email address that you update your postings as matches can happen years later. Consider joining in the Adoptee Rights battle to change these archaic laws. Just google Adoptee Rights Coalition. Good luck,Dickons
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Dickons, This is the most bizarre case. I often hear from people thinking their adoption was illegal but in this case there was NO adoption. She has gone her whole life using her birth name. It appears that her "parents" got a baby thru their local Priest and never bothered to make keeping her legal. They admitted to never doing anything or even signing papers.Years later the Priest acknowledged his role in it but because of beginning dementia, remembered nothing that would help her. Attempts to get her full OBC have been unsuccessful because MO requires the name of the parents when applying. All she has is a sort of proof of birth form that does have a seal that she obtained in 1977. She sent it to me. Fortunately she still lives in the St. Louis area. I have suggested going in person to Vital records armed with school records, marriage cert. What ever it takes to prove that her records have not been sealed by adoption in an attempt to learn her b mothers full name :grr: I have also suggested a trip to the local court house, libraries and the Archbishop's office. Unfortunately the hospital where she was born burned down in 1970
Dickons
Missouri is one of the worst states in my opinion.
All adoptees original birth certificates are sealed at the time of adoption. Only two states have always allowed the adult adoptee to request their original birth certificate. Currently the number of states that allow adult adoptees to request their original birth certificate stands at 7 with some of those states still having exceptions.
Missouri did minor changes to the adoption law - I will try to find it but I would not hold out hope that you will find them this way.
Your best bet is to post a request on the Search Angel forum asking for help (search angels do not charge anything). Having a surname may make the difference.
You should also post the search in the registry on this site - and search the registry but search the whole month for posting that might be a match - the day of birth has been known to change.
Also post your search on ISRR.net.
Make sure if you change the email address that you update your postings as matches can happen years later.
Consider joining in the Adoptee Rights battle to change these archaic laws. Just google Adoptee Rights Coalition.
Good luck,
Dickons
Dickons, This is the most bizarre case. I often hear from people thinking their adoption was illegal but in this case there was NO adoption. She has gone her whole life using her birth name. It appears that her "parents" got a baby thru their local Priest and never bothered to make keeping her legal. They admitted to never doing anything or even signing papers.Years later the Priest acknowledged his role in it but because of beginning dementia, remembered nothing that would help her. Attempts to get her full OBC have been unsuccessful because MO requires the name of the parents when applying. All she has is a sort of proof of birth form that does have a seal that she obtained in 1977. She sent it to me. Fortunately she still lives in the St. Louis area. I have suggested going in person to Vital records armed with school records, marriage cert. What ever it takes to prove that her records have not been sealed by adoption in an attempt to learn her b mothers full name :grr: I have also suggested a trip to the local court house, libraries and the Archbishop's office. Unfortunately the hospital where she was born burned down in 1970
I am so so sorry that it was too late. You are a good daughter in law. Your MIL is blessed to have you. Hopefully now having some of the pieces, she will at least be able to find some peace.
lookingforfamily1977
We found her today.... Already have talked to the person that lived with her... I am so overly happy right now it is unreal.. My mother in law, is happy, & sad at the same time.. She passed away 4 years ago... Found her thru the cencus record..Can not believe we found her in 3 days...
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