How to Find an Adopted Sibling [What You Need to Know]
Finding and Developing a Relationship With Your Siblings
Open adoption is becoming more common. This means that birth parents and adoptive families stay in touch before, during and after the adoption process. However, not every adoption follows this pattern. For instance, you may not know much about your birth family. You may have siblings out there waiting to meet you one day.
Searching for your biological siblings can be a challenging yet rewarding journey. It can take quite some time, but you could find a sense of closure when you find your siblings, and that can take some weight off of your chest.
To help you do just that, we have put together this detailed guide that explains how to find an adopted sibling. Continue reading to learn all that you need to know.
Reach out to Your Parents’ Adoption Professional [Finding Siblings after Adoption]
If you are wondering how to search for an adopted sibling, then you can always reach out to your parents’ adoption agency. You can speak with your family about the professional they worked with, and they could send you their way for some guidance.
This professional may have spoken with your birth mother about her personal life and any other children that she may have. Even in a closed adoption, your parents’ adoption professional may have some important information on file.
Keep in mind, though, that this will ultimately depend on the agency’s policies and your age. Some adoption agencies may not allow you to look at important files until you reach a certain age, or there may be restrictions in other areas.
Using Adoption Registries [Searching for Siblings Separated by Adoption]
If you have trouble finding your siblings through an adoption agency, then another helpful resource you can use is an adoption registry.
The sole purpose of adoption registries is to help reunite adoptees like you with their birth families.
For instance, you can browse sites including Adopted.com and Adoption.com to see if your biological sibling is trying to connect with you, too.
With an adoption registry, you will enter your personal information, such as your name, birth date and place of birth. This information will be used to find matches in the database and connect you with family members that you may not even know exist.
In other words, this makes adoption registries useful tools for people interested in finding siblings after adoption. In some cases, adoption agencies may have their own search engines that you can use to find biological siblings.
State Adoption Records [How to Search for an Adopted Sibling]
Depending on where you live, you may be able to access your adoption records. This is because most states keep them on file once the adoption is finalized, and some states also allow birth parents and adoptees to open those files to receive identifying information and non-identifying information. Make sure to research whether this is an option for you or not.
Also, this is where a reputable adoption attorney could be useful. They understand local adoption laws inside and out, and they could help you access and understand your state adoption records. If you are having trouble finding one, then you can always contact your parents’ adoption agency to help you find your siblings separated by adoption.
Browsing Social Media Websites
Another useful way of finding siblings after adoption is through social media platforms. Many people use social media and have accounts, whether they are particularly active users or not. You may discover that searching through social media applications can be a quick, efficient way to find someone you’re looking for, such as a biological sibling.
You can try searching for their name through:
- And more
Be mindful that, depending on your last name, it may be easier or harder to find siblings separated by adoption. Also, in some cases, your sibling may be using private mode, meaning that you can’t message them without an accepted follow or friend request.
Still, social media is one way to track down your family if you’re wondering how to find an adopted sibling. You also may want to consult with a credible adoption professional to discuss how to approach your sibling if you manage to find their profile.
Working With a Private Investigator
Did You Know?
There are private investigators who specialize in adoption. While investigators are a more expensive option, they may have the resources necessary to locate your adopted sibiling.
A final measure that you can take to find your biological siblings is hiring a private investigator. These professionals have the skills and tools necessary for finding siblings after adoption. In fact, you may not have known that some private investigators specialize in adoption. This means that they have a particular knowledge of how to search for an adopted sibling. They might be able to find the answers that you have spent a long time looking for.
Keep in mind, though, that some private investigators may fall out of your financial budget. This is why you need to do some research before you commit to working with a private investigator. You’ll also want to make sure that you understand how private investigators work so that you have a higher chance of finding siblings after adoption.
Developing a Relationship With Your Sibling
Once you’ve found your sibling, you may be asking yourself, “Now what?”
You’ve spent all this time searching for them, and you may be realizing that you’re nervous about building a relationship with your family member. You learned how to find an adopted sibling, and that is no easy task. But, building a new relationship can also be a challenge.
It’s important to understand that there are no guarantees when you find siblings after adoption.
They may be eager to start a relationship, or they could want to keep their distance. Before you begin this journey, you should be emotionally prepared for all the possible outcomes, both good and bad.
If you are able to find an adopted sibling and they are interested in forming a relationship, here are some ideas to help get you started:
We understand that you may have some more questions. In that case, visiting an adoption registry such as Adoption.com could point you in the right direction. We would love to help you in any way that we can, and we wish you the best of luck in finding siblings after adoption.
Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.