Advertisements
Okay, so I'm new here. I have known I was adopted since I can remember but I've never been very curious about my birth parents until now. My adoptive parents recently gave me some papers my birth parents had filled out about their medical history and such and where they are from and grew up. Well, I have always been told I was born in Iowa but my birth parents never even mentioned Iowa in their papers, in fact they both say they were from St. Petersburg, Florida. I know that I was adopted through a private adoption but I just can't figure out how the heck I was ever born in Iowa when my birth parents were from and definitely lived in Florida when they were pregnant with me. I feel odd talking to my adoptive parents about this and I was just wondering if anyone could give me some advice on how to go about figuring this out?
Like
Share
It isn't unusual for birth moms to travel to other states to hide out while pregnant ..much depends on when YOU were born and how old they were. Your birth certificate, even though amended listing only your adoptive parents, should tell you what State and County you were born in no matter what State your adoption was finalized in..
wallflower47
Okay, so I'm new here. I have known I was adopted since I can remember but I've never been very curious about my birth parents until now. My adoptive parents recently gave me some papers my birth parents had filled out about their medical history and such and where they are from and grew up. Well, I have always been told I was born in Iowa but my birth parents never even mentioned Iowa in their papers, in fact they both say they were from St. Petersburg, Florida. I know that I was adopted through a private adoption but I just can't figure out how the heck I was ever born in Iowa when my birth parents were from and definitely lived in Florida when they were pregnant with me. I feel odd talking to my adoptive parents about this and I was just wondering if anyone could give me some advice on how to go about figuring this out?
Advertisements
I guess I should have mentioned that I've never actually seen my birth certificate, my parents say they don't have it, the state does. So I'm not even entirely sure what my birth certificate says because I have never seen it. I also know my birth parents were 21 when I was born and were in college in Florida. It all just seems a little odd and I feel strange talking with my adoptive parents about it.
Hmmmm YES very ODD. sounds like you need to talk with your parents and it is time to apply to Vital Statistics for your birth cert.... ask them which state Iowa or FL. You should have a copy of your birth cert....every one should
wallflower47
I guess I should have mentioned that I've never actually seen my birth certificate, my parents say they don't have it, the state does. So I'm not even entirely sure what my birth certificate says because I have never seen it. I also know my birth parents were 21 when I was born and were in college in Florida. It all just seems a little odd and I feel strange talking with my adoptive parents about it.
Depending when the adoption happened some state laws allowed the place of birth be changed - although perhaps not the state. New Jersey STILL allows for the city of birth to be changed from the actual birth city to the city the AP's reside in...yet they seem to think a mutual consent registry would work - go figure... Get your amended birth certificate which is all IOWA allows and request your non-identifying info from the state and see if it has anything about where the birth occured. Kind regards,Dickons
Wallflower,You will need your birth certificate for many things. If you are over the age of 18, you can request your amended birth certificate (the one with your adoptive parents names listed on it). Start with Iowa. If they cannot find your birth certificate there, then contact the Florida office.Usually, our mothers were not sent so very far away. BUT, it's not unheard of, and you may have b-relatives that your mother stayed with in Iowa while she was pregnant. The first thing you need to do: obtain your birth certificate.
Advertisements
As L4R said, you'll need your birth certificate for lots of things in life, apart from doing any sort of adoption-related search. Since your parents say you were born in Iowa, contact Iowa vital records and request a copy of your birth certificate.(I find it a bit surprising that your parents would tell you they don't have a copy of your birth certificate at all. They likely needed it to enroll you in school as a child, and possibly for other things as well - like obtaining a passport? - over the years.)It's possible that your birth mother was staying with friends or relatives when you were born. It's also possible, if you were adopted via private adoption, that she was brought to Iowa while pregnant and provided with a home to live in through her pregnancy, as part of the private adoption process. (That's how I came to be born in NY instead of Illinois, where my birth mother lived almost her entire life.)I agree with those above - your first step in any case is getting a copy of your birth certificate. Good luck.