I’m born in Illinois and adopted. Illinois is one of very few states that will not allow adoptee’s the right to their adoption records. To get help from a geneological society I have to be able to tell them my parents names, which I can’t get without my adoption record.

What info is enclosed in sealed adoption records, and where are these sealed adoption records kept? In the court house of the county the birth took place? Where do you obtain a copy of the original birth certificate? Thanks (I’m in Arkansas and the birth also took place in Arkansas )

At the passing of my mother last year I found the court papers of my given birth name. The adoption records were sealed.
Whats the process to find birth parents names?

i was born in michigan when all adoption records were sealed…some birth years have been grandfathered into a new law, but not the year i was born. any ideas?

A friend of mine was born in Germany then adopted by a U.S. soldier who married his German mother. He has lived in the United States continuously since infancy. He needs to get a copy of his adoption record to prove he is a U.S. citizen, so he can renew his driver’s license. When he tries to contact the military, they give him the runaround and tell him his adoption record is “somewhere on microfiche”.
Who should he contact in order to get this information so he can prove his status as a citizen, get his license, and not run the risk of getting deported?

I was adopted in PA in 1971. I am trying to find my biological mother. The adoption records are sealed. I have no idea where she is, what her name is, etc. Is there a way to get the records? How useful are specialized search agencies (ie. Omnitrace) or private investigators? Any info would be appreciated.