Adoptees

Impact of Adoption on Adopted Persons is a factsheet that examines the impact of adoption on adopted persons who have reached adulthood. While it is difficult to make sweeping statements about such a large and diverse group as adopted persons, it can be said that adopted persons generally lead lives that are no different from the lives of non-adopted persons; however, they have experiences that are unique to being adopted, and these experiences may have an impact on their lives at various times. There are several themes that emerge from both the personal accounts of adopted persons and from the studies of academic researchers. This factsheet addresses these themes, which include loss, the development of identity and self-esteem, interest in genetic information, and managing adoption issues.

Regarding identifying and locating birth parents, the adoptee needs to have the adoption records that have been preserved by their adoptive parents or they need to do their own search for identifying information. The information below can help in a search or reunion.

Searching for Birth Relatives is a fact sheet that can provide some guidance on the search process and information access, as well as resources for further help in conducting a successful search. This fact sheet is designed to address the concerns of both adopted persons who are searching for birth parents or other birth relatives, as well as birth parents (both mothers and fathers) who want to locate a child who was adopted.

After an adoption is finalized, a new birth certificate for the child is customarily issued to the adoptive parents. The original birth certificate is then sealed and kept confidential. In the past, nearly all States required a court order for adopted persons to gain access to their original birth certificates. In approximately 28 States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, and Puerto Rico, a court order is still required to gain access to the original birth certificate, but in many States, the laws are changing to allow easier access to these records. To help you find out about obtaining birth records please visit Birth Mother Resources: birth records, Obtaining Birth and/or Adoption Records, and for the laws of the states involved visit Child Adoption Laws.

In nearly all States, adoption records are sealed and withheld from public inspection after the adoption is finalized. To maintain the confidentiality of these records, most States have instituted procedures by which parties to an adoption, including the adoptee, may obtain non-identifying and identifying information from an adoption record, while still protecting the interests of all parties.  To understand how your State addresses this issue, you can visit Adopting Family Resources, a National Adoption Clearinghouse Information document (Access to Adoption Records), or Child Adoption Laws. 

Many states have an adoption registry that can help unite an adoptee with his/her birth parents. If your state has a registry, it may be found under the adoption laws of your state (visit Child Adoption Laws).  You may also want to check the website Adoption registries as well as the laws of the state in which you reside at Child Adoption Laws. 

For more information about adoption, please visit the websites listed below.  Additional information regarding adoption and how you can receive help is available by contacting Dr. Berger at (717) 737 3960 or (800) 943 0400.  Dr. Berger has over 38 years of experience in a wide variety of settings and has helped literally thousands of others.  Dr. Berger is also the founder and director of Adoption Services.

If you would like personal assistance, and the office hours of typical therapists and counselors do not fit your schedule, life style or personal needs, Dr Vince Berger may have the solution to your problems.

Dr Berger has combined the "old days" when a doctor literally came to your home, with 21st century technology. By using office appointments, telephone consultations, email, instant messages, teleconferences, and the willingness to travel and meet with you personally in your home, office, or other location,  Dr Berger is available to help you anytime and anywhere, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you are a new client, contact Dr Berger now to arrange your free initial consultation.  You will reach Dr Berger or his private message center. Once you become an existing client, you will be given a  pager  number where you can reach Dr Berger whenever you need him. Quite literally, Dr. Berger offers what some people in the 21st century need most, professional and personal assistance anytime and anywhere.