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Originally Posted By Juliana MojicaI was adopted in 1972 in California and my records were sealed. I have had them pulled at least three times while I searched for family. I understand that if you were in a foster home, and not adopted, you can have full access to your files, but once adopted, your records are sealed and you can only request information from your file. How can I go about getting complete access to my files and does the Freedom of Information Act allow me to have full access to my files?
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This is what is wrong with sealed records. The person who originated this thread would now be 20 years old. Old enough to die for her country in war. Yet she is still treated as a juvenile by the adoption statutes. Adult Adoptees are forever envisioned as children in the eyes of 4 states.
.....Ray
[url]http://adoptee.cjb.net[/url]
[url]http://caucus.cjb.net[/url]
Ray....loved your final comment that *adult adoptees are veiwed as..... may I add to that, please? In my opinion adoptees are veiwed as the PROPERTY of the adoption agencies and the state. You know, its impossible to sale or trade a car without a clear title but the state actually allows and by its own actions encourages the illegal distribution of innocent babies.
Adoption is very old, it has existed since the days of Moses as recorded in the Bible, yet no one has taken the actions necessary to ensure its workability. We are a country that has walked men on the moon, you are now able to sit in your living room and see what I am typing in mine, if you happen to get lost while traveling down the highway you can press a button in your car and the on star device will direct you from where you are to where you want to be; yet we have no way for Ray to discover his name or why his eyes are blue or if he's prone to developing heart disease, or high blood pressure, or even something as simple as if the person he's currently dating is his blood relative. Thats b/s.... somebody either has the info that Ray and millions like him needs or someone should be held accountable for NOT HAVING IT! Even if the laws are currently being challenged and changed its too little too late. People have gone to their graves not knowing who they are. In this very forum we have people of all ages still searching for their very own birth records.....how sad is that? Very little has changed; we aren't the first generation to complain about this.
I am mad....I am a b-mom who was / is lucky enough to have known my daughter always, but why the heck was her future and mine, and a kazillion of others like us left in the hands of lady luck? Agencies were so quick to point out that placement was the best thing for the baby....why weren't THEY made to do the best thing for the baby ? Color me mad.....and so so sad>>>>Missy
I agree with all of you about sealed records, it's so crazy that in 2003 we are still trying to get our information!! I have been trying to figure out how & where I can get my original birth certificate. I was adopted by an American family from Greece and in my adoption decree it states that a "birth certificate has been filed" the adoption was finalized by an attorney in the state of WA. When my birth family found me through the Red Cross (I had been trying for years) I was so exited, they are still living in Greece & it isn't possible for them to come here so I started planning the trip of a lifetime!!
I called the attorney firm on the decree to get info regarding my birth certificate & what a shock to speak with the attorney that made the arrangement, but he told me my records are forever sealed. At the time I was just starting my search, this was in 1986 and I have gotten no further. As the years have passed I've started and then stopped my search because of all the brick walls I've encountered!! Over the years I have called Vital Statistics in WA and asked for my birth certificate, asked for it in many different ways, sometimes stating that I am adopted and sometimes not, and always being told "nothing on file". When I called the attorney back with this info he told me that it's probably in my "sealed file" and back then (1959) that's the way it was done & there is nothingI can do about it. Just last week I again called Vital Statistics and was told the same thing, no certificate on file. So now what do I do, who do I call, I can't even describe what I feel knowing where my birth family is, writing and receiving letters, having an address for them and yet......is this as far as it will go!!
I know that this is a depressing message to some, but we all know all to well the fate of sealed records, does anyone know any magical phone number for birth certificates & sealed records?? Finding this website has been so great to read, it's great to know I'm not alone with these thoughts, feelings, frustrations.
it's so crazy that in 2003 we are still trying to get our information!!
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