Here are some types of documents you can look for family history and genealogy research.

Agency Records:

Was the child originally placed with a state agency, or a private organization? The placement records or case documents usually contain helpful hints such as data on other siblings, names of the birthparents and descriptive information.

Birth Certificate or Amended Birth Certificate:

The former provides the names of the birth parents and the child’s birth name while an amended certificate contains the names of the adoptive parents and the child’s adoptive name.

Census Records:

The relationship column can supply the verification you need. “AD son” signifies an adopted son.

Guardianships:

In cases where one or both parents have died, leaving minor children, the court can appoint a guardian to care for the children. In many instances, these guardians are family members. In the nineteenth century this is a clue to an adoption. I’ve been told that in King County, WA, Probates and Guardianships are handled by the same court. For years, Probate records were closed. Finally, the local genealogical society talked them in to creating an index, then removing the guardianship records. It worked and the records are now available.

Hospital Records:

Hospitals maintain birth records for infants and birthmothers. If you know the name of the hospital where the baby was born this might provide additional information.

Name Changes:

Petitions to change names can indicate an adoption.

Newspapers:

Look in the legal section of the paper for notices relating to an adoption hearing or an advertisement that tries to establish paternity. While doing research on this and not understanding what they meant by an “advertisement” I had to do more digging.

Probate Records:

Probate courts often handled guardianships and adoptions. Wills help clarify relationships.

State Legislative Records:

In some states the General Assembly accepted adoption petitions from prospective adoptive parents. These contain the child’s birth name and the name of the adoptive parents.

Internet Sources

If you’re looking for advice, expertise, or resources, there is a good chance you will find it on the Internet. The adoption community is active online at various websites, and here in the Genealogy Forum, we also have articles that we hope will give you some direction in your research.

The following list is introductory, not inclusive. It contains ten good places to begin exploring the online adoption community.

International Soundex Reunion Registry (ISRR)

ISSR is the nation’s oldest and largest mutual consent reunion registry. If you’re searching, make sure you register herepi[![/i] And you can register or volunteer for the RegDay event.

Adoption Registration Coalition (ARC)

ARC is a volunteer organization which disseminates information regarding ISRR.

Voices of Adoption

This site includes poetry, stories, essays and articles relating to adoption.

Adoptive Families of America

This nonprofit organization offers many amazing resources for prospective and adoptive families.

Concerned United Birthparents (CUB)

CUB is a supportive community of birthparents offering local meetings, articles, and an annual conference/retreat.

Bastard Nation

Dedicated to opening records, Bastard Nation is the place to find out about adoption activism.

An Adoptee’s Right to Know

This site offers invaluable resources for all parts of the adoption triad - especially adoptees. This site includes the extremely helpful “Shea’s Search Series.”

Terminal Illness Emergency Search program

Free search support is provided by TIES to those suffering a terminal illness.

Adoptees’ Internet Mailing List

Find out about, and join, the nation’s oldest and largest all adoptee mailing list.

Sunflower Birthmoms

Discover and join this supportive mailing list for birthmoms only.

Side note: need help to save peace in family life, tips about finding a marriage counselor.