Looking for her son

[2Curious]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Hawaii
When my mother-in-law was 17 yrs old she got pregnant. In a time that teenage pregnancy was definitely preceived as an embarassment to the family her mother made her put the baby up for adoption directly after birth. After many years of working through the feelings and issues that resulted from the adoption over 40 yrs ago she'd like to locate her son. Is there any information she has the right to access legally to assist with her search? Does anyone have any recommendations/suggestions to legal methods that she can utilize?

 

[Proserpina]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Hawaii
When my mother-in-law was 17 yrs old she got pregnant. In a time that teenage pregnancy was definitely preceived as an embarassment to the family her mother made her put the baby up for adoption directly after birth. After many years of working through the feelings and issues that resulted from the adoption over 40 yrs ago she'd like to locate her son. Is there any information she has the right to access legally to assist with her search? Does anyone have any recommendations/suggestions to legal methods that she can utilize?

I'm really sorry - but she doesn't have a son.

Not only does she have no recognized statutory right to access any records of that nature, but even if she did the likelihood of them being available after 40 years is virtually nil.

What she can do though is start researching online - there are many websites where the ex-parent can register and create a profile in the hopes that the adopted child is curious enough to search for his/her birth parents.

 

[nextwife]

She should also seek a therapist familiar with post adoptive issues and get counseling.

 

[txmom512]

OP- if it was handled through an adoption agency, that is a good place to start. Agencies have become a good go-between for parents and adopted children. They will take your mother in law's information and if her child is looking for her, will get her son's information to her...

 

[NellieBly]

How about merely running her name through an online search engine? A friend was just goofing online when he ran his late mother's name through a search engine and discovered that his mother (and father!) had a baby they gave up in the 1940's before they were married. Someone might be looking for your MIL, as well.

By the way, if she does find him, she should have an intermediary make the initial contact for her, to see if the individual actually wants to be found.

 

[nextwife]

How about merely running her name through an online search engine? A friend was just goofing online when he ran his late mother's name through a search engine and discovered that his mother (and father!) had a baby they gave up in the 1940's before they were married. Someone might be looking for your MIL, as well.

By the way, if she does find him, she should have an intermediary make the initial contact for her, to see if the individual actually wants to be found.

Ummmm, what NAME would that search be run under? It's unlikely either biomom nor adoptive child knows the name change that occurred at adoption. The continuity would be gender, race, and date of birth, as those would have likely remained the same on the new birth certificate.

 

[NellieBly]

Ummmm, what NAME would that search be run under? It's unlikely either biomom nor adoptive child knows the name change that occurred at adoption. The continuity would be gender, race, and date of birth, as those would have likely remained the same on the new birth certificate.

Her maiden name.

My friend's long lost brother knew his birth mother's name. I'll have to ask my friend how his brother knew that.

It is a good idea to run the date of birth, etc.

 

[Proserpina]

Her maiden name.

My friend's long lost brother knew his birth mother's name. I'll have to ask my friend how his brother knew that.

It is a good idea to run the date of birth, etc.

Nellie...this is the birth mother searching for the child...not the other way around.

 

[NellieBly]

Nellie...this is the birth mother searching for the child...not the other way around.

Yes, but my friend was idly running his mother's name through a search engine and found that his brother was looking for her.

Running the OP's MIL's name might find someone is looking for her in the same way.