Birth Mother Search - Obtaining Necessary Identifying Information

December 14th, 2007 • Related • Filed Under

A birth mother search can be quite difficult for an adoptee to successfully resolve.  That's because most adoptees have very little identifying information on their birth mother when they begin to search. They also lack state-of-the-art search tools that are currently available to professional adoption researchers and investigative agencies such as OmniTrace Corp.  These tools allow access to and the capability to sort through virtually millions of public records.  With the above mentioned search tools, you may be surprised to read that, in most instances, very little identifying information is needed to find your birth mother!  Provided here are a number of examples of minimal identifying information that you may already have or can readily obtain that can allow a search professional (and even you) to find your birth mother.  Any one of the following examples may be enough information to find her:

  • The first name and date of birth of your birth mother
  • The date of birth and state where your birth mother likely resided at the time of the birth
  • The horoscope sign and last name of your birth mother
  • The first name of your birth mother–if the name is uncommon
  • The first name and middle initial of your birth mother
  • The occupation and area where your birth mother resided when you were born
  • The age and address of your birth mother at the time you were born
  • The age of your birth mother and her address at the time of your birth
  • The age range of your birth mother and where she and her siblings attended school (you may need age range of her siblings too)
  • The occupation of your birth mother's parents along with the area and age range of her parents at the time of your birth
  • A criminal background of the birth mother allowing for use of Freedom of Information Act to request police records
  • Description of your birth mother and education information along with the area where your birth mother resided

Once again, any one of the above examples or a combination of identifying information from the different examples might allow you to quickly resolve your search and reunite you with your birth mother.

One way to obtain your birth mother's identifying information is to request what is referred to in adoption agency jargon: Non-Identifying Information.  When you receive your non-identifying information there's a chance that you will have enough identifying information (inadvertently supplied to you) to complete your search.

Very shortly, in a future post, we'll explain what Non-Identifying information is, how to request it, and where to request it.  Also, in future posts we'll provide much information about the search tools and databases used by professionals.  Visit us often.  We type quickly!   :)

Please make a comment with any questions or thoughts you may have about this post.  Thanks!

There Are 32 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by john alderson on 29 December 2007:

    I WAS BORN NOVEMBER 17 1964 AT SANTA ANA COMUNITY HOSPITAL ON WASHINGTON STREET IN SANTA ANA CALIF.TAGED AS BABY BOY JONES GENE DELBERT ALDERSON/MARY ANN ALDERSON MAIDEN NAME STEVENS KATNIK,KATNIK and gerald were paid attorneys on north broadway st in santa ana calif. records thru hall of records in los angels calif.in records department.the son of gerald is running the attorney service department because the attorneys are deceased gerald informed mr alderson for $1,600.000 FOR THE RECORDS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE BIRTH MOTHER AND INFORMATION OF HER NAME AND WHEREABOUTS AND ALL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE ADOPTION OF BABY BOY JONES

  2. Comment by admin on 4 January 2008:

    Hi John. We believe we have found your birth name! We researched California Birth Records, and it appears your birth mother’s maiden name may be Iverson. Below is what we found:

    Baby Boy Jones
    DOB: 11/17/1964
    County: Orange
    Mother’s Maiden Name: Iverson
    *This is the only Jones baby born in Orange County on 11/17/1964. The fact this child is named Baby Boy is a strong indication that he was put up for adoption.

    Do you have your Non-Identifying Information? (We’ll be explaining in depth how to obtain non-identifying information in a future article shortly.)

    If not you can request it from the agency which handled your adoption. If you don’t know the adoption agency you can send a request for your Non-Identifying Information to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). CDSS will then send you a letter with the contact information for the agency that handled your adoption. Below is the contact information for CDSS.

    California Department of Social Services
    Adoption Support Unit
    744 P. Street, MS 3-31
    Sacramento, CA 95814
    Phone: (916) 651-8088

  3. Comment by Jenna on 14 January 2008:

    I was born March 26, 1990 at the Kaiser hospital in Riverside. My birth mother and possibly my birth father was born in 1971. I only know first names. Her name is Valerie and his name is Mike.

  4. Comment by Joan on 6 February 2008:

    I was adopted in June of 1986, I was born on June 13, 1986 in Phoenix AZ, I am looking for my birth mother I believe her name is Cindy Gilchrist…Adopted through Birth Hope

  5. Comment by admin on 6 February 2008:

    Hi. We have done some preliminary research and have found two women named Cindy Gilchrist who have ties to the Phoenix area around the time you were born. Do you know about how old your birth mother is or where she was from? Thanks.

  6. Comment by admin on 6 February 2008:

    Hi again. Also, do you know if Gilchrist is/was her maiden or married name?

  7. Comment by Laura on 9 February 2008:

    I was born August 7, 1974 in La Jolla, CA. I was carried in Scotland so it has been hard to find out anything. I’m not sure of ages, names, occupations, etc. I weighed 7 lbs 11 oz and I believe I was born around 4:30 p.m. Any info is appreciated. Thanks for all you do!

  8. Comment by Joan on 11 February 2008:

    Thankyou, I know that she was 25 when I was born, making her 46 now, She also had 8 brothers and sisters. I know she was married one time and divorced in 1983. Not sure of any further marriages. She also had another daughter in 1981 and had put her up for adoption as well. Thankyou. Im unsure if it was her madien name or married name.

  9. Comment by admin on 11 February 2008:

    Hi Joan. One of the women we found named Cindy Gilchrist is 46 years old. We are going to do a little more research and send you our results to your email address–by the end of today. For privacy reasons, we don’t want to post address information on your possible birth mother on the front page of our website. :)

    Best regards,
    TheSearchAdvisor

  10. Comment by admin on 11 February 2008:

    Attention Joan. We have emailed you your free search results.

  11. Comment by Cathy on 17 February 2008:

    I was born in November, 1957 at Binghamton General Hospital at 10:50PM; birth mother was born in 1932; Caucasian. No other information. Looking for birth mother who was not married at the time.

  12. Comment by Vanessa Dawn Reyes on 21 February 2008:

    im 19 years old and i recently gave my baby boy up for adoption
    he was born 1month premature…on November 14, 2007
    i gave him up through Adoption Alliance
    and i just been thinking about him alot lately…
    so i just posted this just n case later on in life if he wants to look for me he can try n google this o sumthing…

    luv

    lonely mama

  13. Comment by admin on 21 February 2008:

    Hi Vanessa. We’re sure it took a lot of courage for you to place your baby for adoption.

    You can also register for free with the International Soundex Reunion Registry. That will also allow your birth child another way to search for you some day. Just visit: isrr.net. They can supply you with a form to fill out your information.

  14. Comment by Vanessa Dawn Reyes on 27 February 2008:

    its me again, and a few days ago i finally got up the courage to pick up the first pictures of my baby and letter from his adoptive parents about how he’s doing from the adoption agency…at 1st i wasnt to sure if i should pick up or look at any pictures of my baby because i was afraid i would just break down and cry but surprisingly im relieved too find out that he’s doing GOOD and he looks so CUTE with really big eyes…n e ways …i filled out the form on the reunion registry and
    im glad i did…
    I just hope when he grows up that he doesnt hate me and he that he would want to meet me…

    luv

    lonely mama
    (feeling better)

  15. Comment by admin on 27 February 2008:

    We are glad you are feeling better “lonely mama!”

  16. Comment by Christina on 8 March 2008:

    I am searching for my birth mother. All the information I have of her is on my birth certificate. She was born October 28, 1956 in South Carolina, GA and her maiden name is Bonnie June White. My father and I left when i was an infant so I don’t remember anything about her. If anyone has any info about my case, you can reach me at 404-545-2975. (serious inquiries only)

  17. Comment by MJ on 12 March 2008:

    So it is possible for you to search for a birth mother with only a first name and date of birth? I have some non-identifying information from my adoption agency in New Jersey, but am still looking for more detailed contact information. Thanks. My birth date is 11/8/69, my birth mother’s birthday is possibly 2/22/65, she was 24 at the time of my birth. Thanks.

  18. Comment by MJ on 12 March 2008:

    I just posted and made a typo. My birth mother’s potential birthday is in the year 1945, not 1965. Thanks.

  19. Comment by admin on 12 March 2008:

    Hi MJ. You said your birth mother’s date of birth was “possibly 2/22/65″ and your date of birth was “11/8/69.” That doesn’t add up and there must be a typo. Can you resend your info?

    One caveat: Your birth mother’s date of birth must be accurate. If you are off by even one day, there will be no way to obtain a possible match. And, of course, we’ll need her first name and non-identifying information.

    You can supply that via a comment or via our contact us page.

    Thanks.

    The Search Advisor

  20. Comment by MJ on 12 March 2008:

    I will send an email via your contact page as well. Thanks.

  21. Comment by MJ on 12 March 2008:

    When we send an email via your contact page, do you get back to us via email? Thanks.

  22. Comment by admin on 12 March 2008:

    Yes MJ. Our email will come from either an omnitrace.com address or from support@thesearchadvisor.com.

  23. Comment by MJ on 12 March 2008:

    Thank you very much, I really appreciate it!

  24. Comment by Cara Rhoads-Coulson on 12 March 2008:

    I was born on April 24th, 1986 in Pitsburgh, PA. My name given at birth was Ashlee Lauren Matthews. I am not currently sure of the exact date of my adoption. I’m not really even sure about the actual location of my adoption agency. However, any help at all in finding my birthmother would be greatly appreciated. My e-mail address is hairflair424@yahoo.com, if you have any information at all please feel free to write. In the e-mail please list the subject as “birthmother” thank you very much.

    Cara Rhoads-Coulson

  25. Comment by admin on 13 March 2008:

    Attention MJ. We have found your birth mother and her sister (Yeah!) and will send our results to your email address.

    Best regards,

    The Search Advisor / OmniTrace Staff

  26. Comment by Kristina on 30 March 2008:

    My mother and I are looking for my grandmother. My mother was surrendered to a Catholic church, and put up for adoption in 1951 in Jersey City, New Jersey. We know that her birth mother’s Maiden name is Edith Tomei. My mother’s date of birth is 6/20/1951. Her name is Dianne, and she was named by her birth mother, Edith. The father is listed as Unknown on her adoption papers. We would love to find her, as my mother now has no surviving adopted family members, and is all alone. Thank you!

  27. Comment by Maria on 11 April 2008:

    Im looking for my sister she would be she would be 24 turning 25 soon.My mother gave her up for adoption in 1983 and my mothers maiden name is Shirley Ann Poe and was born 08/ 2/65.i think my mother gave her up for adoption when she stilled lived in North Carolia. I dont know the exact date she was born or even her name but i would really like to find her. please send help me find my sister.

    i just wanted to that my was 18 when she had my sister she could have been born in either 1983 or 1984 so she might be 25 already.please help me in any way you can i dont know how to search for her since i know so little about he.

    maria

  28. Comment by maria on 15 April 2008:

    i just wanted to update my info i guess my mother had her baby in michigan. When she was 18 her parents sent her their to have the baby. It was a place that excepted pregnant teenagers who were going to give up their babies

    maria

  29. Comment by Charles on 18 April 2008:

    Hi, I’ve been looking for my mother for several years now. My father and I left when i was just a little boy. I know my mothers maiden name was Patricia May Carver her birthday is 6/12/1965, and I was born in Alachua County Florida. Any information would be helpful. Thanks, Charles

  30. Comment by Charles on 20 April 2008:

    Correction My mothers middle name was spelled Mae. Thank You

  31. Comment by admin on 20 April 2008:

    Hi Charles. We will be working on this search for you.

    The Search Advisor Staff

  32. Comment by admin on 21 April 2008:

    Attention Charles. It looks like we have located your mother, Patrica Mae. We can’t be 100% certain without contacting her. We need to protect her privacy and discuss a few things we found about her. Can you please give us a call during normal business hours (we are on eastern time) at 888-965-6696.

    Please ask for Sari who will review everything with you.

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