If you were adopted, it is normal to want to find your real parents. It could be out of sheer curiosity, or you may need to know who your biological parents are to find pertinent information about your medical background. Searching for birth parents can be a long, grueling process. You have no guarantee that your parents will be found or that they will still be alive if you do. On the other hand, it can be the start of a new, positive relationship, and you may be able to find the medical information you are looking for. Make sure you are emotionally prepared for this journey before searching for your real parents.
Step 1
Interview your adoptive parents, your family members or your foster agency. Ask for the names of your real parents, their birth dates or where they used to live. Try to determine the name of the hospital or town you were born in. Write down all the information you can learn, even if it does not seem important. It may help you later.
Step 2
Call or visit the agency that handled your adoption and try to get as much information as possible. Often, the agency will not be at liberty to give you information, such as your real parents' names, but they may be able to provide information on your medical or psychological background.
Step 3
Hire an attorney and petition the courts if you had a private adoption and are unable to receive any information on either of your birth parents.
Step 4
Search online databases and registries. Databases can provide more information on people if you have some basic information (such as a name or date of birth) to start with. State governments have registries that gather information from people who are searching for lost family members. If both parties sign up, the system matches them so they can find each other.
Step 5
Hire a private investigator who specializes in finding family members. This is likely to be an expensive option.
