Unsealing DIistrict of Columbia Adoption Records

[Anonymous]

Has anyone been successful in unsealing birth records from DC? It seems to be a draconian process, which can take up to 2 years(?)

All birth and adoptive parents are long deceased, all parties such as siblings and half siblings all know all the information- so why are these records still sealed since DNA now provides the core info?

[Anonymous]

I don't think it is a wise idea.

[Anonymous]

Most states unsealed them years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it is a wise idea.

Why on earth not? I cannot imagine why it is a problem? I know who all the parties are, all the relatives, on both sides, as well, and they all know about me. All bio and adoptive parents are dead. There's nothing I don't know about anyone, and vice versa, as I’ve done DNA. No one should be without this knowledge.

So, you think it's not a good idea for me to know:
My actual birthday?
The time and place of my birth?
What was written on my birth record?

Why do you get to know that and not me? I am not a rescue mutt, who, BTW, comes with a lot more information than I actually have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most states unsealed them years ago.

Nope, only some. DC is not one of them either.

[Anonymous]

Was your adoption handled by an agency? If you already know the identities of everyone, you can get the non-identifying info that is contained in your adoption file from the original agency involved in your adoption. Adoption records can vary wildly in the amount of information contained in them, but often have the information you mentioned (time/place of birth, hospital records, etc). You don't need to involve the court to get that type of info from the agency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was your adoption handled by an agency? If you already know the identities of everyone, you can get the non-identifying info that is contained in your adoption file from the original agency involved in your adoption. Adoption records can vary wildly in the amount of information contained in them, but often have the information you mentioned (time/place of birth, hospital records, etc). You don't need to involve the court to get that type of info from the agency.

No agency. Private adoptions happen more frequently than agency adoptions. This is a common misconception that people have about adoption- that it was all above the table and legal. Many adoptions in the 50s and 60s were usually bought/sold arrangements.

[Anonymous]

Not all birth families want to be contacted. Not all kids want to be contacted. For DNA to work, you have to submit a sample.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it is a wise idea.

Why on earth not? I cannot imagine why it is a problem? I know who all the parties are, all the relatives, on both sides, as well, and they all know about me. All bio and adoptive parents are dead. There's nothing I don't know about anyone, and vice versa, as I’ve done DNA. No one should be without this knowledge.

So, you think it's not a good idea for me to know:
My actual birthday?
The time and place of my birth?
What was written on my birth record?

Why do you get to know that and not me? I am not a rescue mutt, who, BTW, comes with a lot more information than I actually have.

Was your original bc changed? Why do you think your birthday and stuff was changed. My child's all stayed the same and the only thing that changed was the parents names (and we have originals before it was changed).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it is a wise idea.

Why on earth not? I cannot imagine why it is a problem? I know who all the parties are, all the relatives, on both sides, as well, and they all know about me. All bio and adoptive parents are dead. There's nothing I don't know about anyone, and vice versa, as I’ve done DNA. No one should be without this knowledge.

So, you think it's not a good idea for me to know:
My actual birthday?
The time and place of my birth?
What was written on my birth record?

Why do you get to know that and not me? I am not a rescue mutt, who, BTW, comes with a lot more information than I actually have.

Was your original bc changed? Why do you think your birthday and stuff was changed. My child's all stayed the same and the only thing that changed was the parents names (and we have originals before it was changed).

Because many children were literally brokered by third parties. Millions of adoptees had this happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it is a wise idea.

Why on earth not? I cannot imagine why it is a problem? I know who all the parties are, all the relatives, on both sides, as well, and they all know about me. All bio and adoptive parents are dead. There's nothing I don't know about anyone, and vice versa, as I’ve done DNA. No one should be without this knowledge.

So, you think it's not a good idea for me to know:
My actual birthday?
The time and place of my birth?
What was written on my birth record?

Why do you get to know that and not me? I am not a rescue mutt, who, BTW, comes with a lot more information than I actually have.

You don’t get to tell someone else’s story. You are one individual they are another.

Big whoop someone birthed you.

They are their own human. Not your punching bag.

There are many reasons a woman does not want their story told.

Spare us your ridiculous nonsense and get a life no adoptee deserves to ruin life of the mother years later.

Example
My BF was a product of rape insest when she was 11 years old. Her own brother viciously raped her, Her catholic parents shipped her off to a maternity home in Idaho from
Long Island. What do you not understand about that trama ? Those records are sealed for a reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it is a wise idea.

Why on earth not? I cannot imagine why it is a problem? I know who all the parties are, all the relatives, on both sides, as well, and they all know about me. All bio and adoptive parents are dead. There's nothing I don't know about anyone, and vice versa, as I’ve done DNA. No one should be without this knowledge.

So, you think it's not a good idea for me to know:
My actual birthday?
The time and place of my birth?
What was written on my birth record?

Why do you get to know that and not me? I am not a rescue mutt, who, BTW, comes with a lot more information than I actually have.

Was your original bc changed? Why do you think your birthday and stuff was changed. My child's all stayed the same and the only thing that changed was the parents names (and we have originals before it was changed).

Because many children were literally brokered by third parties. Millions of adoptees had this happen.

The bc in the us would not change. International, yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it is a wise idea.

Why on earth not? I cannot imagine why it is a problem? I know who all the parties are, all the relatives, on both sides, as well, and they all know about me. All bio and adoptive parents are dead. There's nothing I don't know about anyone, and vice versa, as I’ve done DNA. No one should be without this knowledge.

So, you think it's not a good idea for me to know:
My actual birthday?
The time and place of my birth?
What was written on my birth record?

Why do you get to know that and not me? I am not a rescue mutt, who, BTW, comes with a lot more information than I actually have.

You certainly sound like a rescue mutt if you don’t even know what day you were born.

Yes, millions of adoptees don't have their birth information. And yes, dogs come with more information.

Rescue mutts don't come with any of the information listed. Where would you get it?

DNA.

DNA encodes your birthplace and birthdate?

[Anonymous]

What do your 23 and me and ancestry results say? No one shows up in them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it is a wise idea.

Why on earth not? I cannot imagine why it is a problem? I know who all the parties are, all the relatives, on both sides, as well, and they all know about me. All bio and adoptive parents are dead. There's nothing I don't know about anyone, and vice versa, as I’ve done DNA. No one should be without this knowledge.

So, you think it's not a good idea for me to know:
My actual birthday?
The time and place of my birth?
What was written on my birth record?

Why do you get to know that and not me? I am not a rescue mutt, who, BTW, comes with a lot more information than I actually have.

NP - I am a MSW and I actually had a job revealing records to adoptees. It was pretty terrible. You are bursting all of their lifelong fantasies about their parents and how much they were wanted (sometimes this might be true, but usually it was a window into tremendous dysfunction or pain). Even if you think that this isn’t true for you, it is a real risk.