How to Search for Birth Siblings
Internet Websites and Resources for Finding Biological Family
Apr 24, 2009
Searching for birth siblings is often as important as finding birth parents to many adoptees. Some adult adoptees may begin to explore their birth history with a search for biological brothers and sisters as they feel this journey is less frightening than looking for birth parents.
Finding birth siblings is much like searching for biological parents, but there are more limits when it comes to looking for brothers and sisters. For example, many public documents can only be released to birth parents and not biological siblings.
However, with a growing number of resources on the Internet, it is getting easier for adult adoptees and their birth siblings to find each other. Here are some web resources that can help in the search for biological siblings in the U.S. and Canada.
Adoption Registries and Databases
There are several adoption registers in North America that can help adoptees find information about birth family by simply giving as much known information as possible.
The International Soundex Reunion Registry is a free matching service where adoptees begin the process by filling out a hard copy form that is mailed to the registry. If an adopted person’s birth siblings have also put their information on the registry, the searching parties will be notified of the match and given the authorized information.
Adoption.com has Adoption Reunion Registers listed by year, where searching adoptees can post inquiries about birth siblings and also read information posted by other members.
Many provinces and states in Canada and the U.S. have adoption registries where birth siblings can indicate they are searching for an adoptee. The American Adoption Congress website has information on the laws governing birth family searches in many states as well as each Canadian province.
Discussion Boards on Adoption and Siblings
Discussion boards often function as informal support groups and can offer advice and information to adopted people searching for birth siblings. Performing a Google search will bring up numerous adoption discussion boards generally focused around geographic location. Some of the discussion boards are affiliated with adoption focused websites and other boards are in genealogy forums.
There are a number of sibling search groups registered on Yahoo, many of them spearheaded by adoptive parents who are searching for the siblings of their adopted children. The website Karen’s Adoption Links includes adoption listservs, chat boards and groups specializing in international adoption.
Genealogy Websites for Adoptees
Genealogy websites are not just for history buffs as they can be helpful in the search for any member of a family. Adoptees can begin their birth sibling search by looking at genealogical databases and also by posting on forums.
The website Cyndi’s List provides a starting point for searchers looking at genealogy lists on the internet. The website has a specific adoption category which includes a number of adoption reunion registers and links to local support groups.
Adopted adults can also do name searches of their birth siblings on social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace if they have a sense of where birth family members are located. If specific hometowns and names are known, adoptees could consider using the services of an Adoption Search Angel to see if pictures can be found of the biological siblings in sources such as a high school yearbook.
By doing research on the Internet, adopted people can look for birth siblings through adoption registers, chat boards and genealogy websites. For adoptees and birth siblings, the search may lead to the answers of lifelong questions and lasting relationships.
References
American Adoption Congress website
International Soundex Reunion Registry website
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