Adoption Searches & Correspondence

Catholic Charities adoption staff may be able to help

Depending on the timeframe of your adoption, you may have some unanswered questions.

 Catholic Charities adoption staff want to help, but the assistance provided depends on your role in the adoption.  Missouri law restricts what information can and cannot be disseminated according to your role in the adoption triad and their family.  Read on for more information.

 

Adoptees

As an adult (18 years and older) adoptee, you may request any correspondence—letters, pictures, cards, etc—from your birth family that is in your file.  This would include copies of correspondence that have been previously sent as well as any written correspondence that may have been stored in your file until the point you request them.

Some adoptees are looking for more than just letters.  If you are an adult adoptee seeking medical history information or non-identifying information, such as physical description, nationality, etc., you may conduct a non-identifying search through Catholic Charities.  See the link below for the Adoption Information Request Form.

Other adoptees are seeking answers that can only be answered by knowing exactly who their birthparents are.  This would be known as an identifying search, meaning that names, dates and places would not be redacted from the paperwork.  Catholic Charities does not conduct identifying searches so here are two solutions:

  1. Request your original birth certificate from the Bureau of Vital Records https://health.mo.gov/data/vitalrecords/adopteerightsact.php
  2. Contact the court that finalized your adoption and request an identifying search be conducted. Some courts use a confidential intermediary in this process because of the length process to track down birthparents when their file has not been updated with current addresses, phone numbers, etc.  Most, but not all, adoptions facilitated by Catholic Charities have been done through Jackson County.  Visit their webpage for forms and more information: https://www.16thcircuit.org/adoption-record-disclosure

All inquiries for adoptees under the age of 18 must be done through their adoptive parents.

Birth Parents

You may request copies of any correspondence—letters, pictures, cards, etc—that are in your file.  This would include copies of correspondence that have been previously sent as well as any written correspondence that may have been stored in your file until the point you request them.

Missouri law does not allow for birthparents to request any information about the adoptee or the adoptive parents.  If you are a birthparent attempting to find your child, it is recommended that you register on the adoption registries.  See more information below.

If you would like to request information in your adoption file, please complete this form.  Please note that this form must be notarized.

Adoption Information Request Form (pdf)

Adoptive Parents

Adoptive parents may request any of their correspondence with the birth family as well as any of their child’s correspondence while s/he is a minor.  Once your child turns 18, you are only allowed to receive correspondence addressed to you.

If you would like to request information in your adoption file, please complete this form.  Please note that this form must be notarized.

Adoption Information Request Form (pdf)

Other Family Members

Catholic Charities only has the capacity to validate the identities of adoptees, birth parents and adoptive parents, thus we are unable to directly work with other family members.  We understand that adoption affects many more family members and loved ones; however, we are an ethical agency that respects Missouri law.

Lineal descendants of deceased adoptees may contact the court where their parent’s adoption was finalized.  The court will need to verify lineage and proof of death before granting permission to release information on the adoptee.

Catholic Charities encourages any family members to register on the International Soundex Reunion Registry.  See the information below.

Adoption Registries

If you are an adoptee, birth parent, adoptive parent or another family member looking to reunite with biological family members, it is recommended that you submit your information on the applicable adoption registries:

International Soundex Reunion Registry

Missouri Adoption Registry (limited to the adoptee, birthparents and adult biological siblings)

When two matching individuals are discovered, validation is sent to the adoption agency for confirmation then each matched individual is notified by the registry.

If you have further questions, please contact us at 816-659-8285 or adoptions@ccharities.com.

In the news

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This