How to find adoption records?

Question

My best friend's grandmother was adopted - in fact, both are, but from completely different places, so one at a time!

Her maternal grandmother was adopted and raised in Oklahoma, and the family is very interested in understanding who the birth family is. I am interested in learning the process of finding the documentation for this, if it is possible at all? I am told the "orphanage" from where she was adopted burned down so that is not an option. She was born in 1932.

The paternal grandmother was adopted in Puerto Rico, with conjecture that the grandmother was originally in Spain but was taken to Puerto Rico as a young infant or toddler. She was born in 1926.

I really don't know anything regarding adoption from a genealogical perspective so anything would be wonderfully helpful.

Answer 1

Check out the Adoption Angels Project.  They might be able to help you.

Answer 2

Hi Adriana, adoption paperwork is only available on a state by state basis. In Oklahoma, it's pretty impossible to get those records for anyone born before 1997. In Puerto Rico, original birth certificates are unavailable, but non-identifying information may be available (this is some basic info about the birth parents such as age, occupation, etc., but doesn't name them). Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find where to get the non-identifying info for Puerto Rico. 

When paperwork isn't available, the best way to identify birth parents is by using a DNA test such as at Ancestry DNA. If the adoptee is no longer living, the child or grandchild can take the test and we can use their DNA to identify the birth parents.

Comments

Hi Emma, my birth mother is deceased and her birth father is unidentified.  I have my ancestry dna test so is there a way I can explore who might be my maternal grandfather?

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Hi Kelley, definitely. Adoption Angels can use your DNA to find your maternal grandfather. If you would like our help, go to the help tab at top of the screen and click on the first item "Adoption Angels." This is our application.

Answer 3

I am an adopted child, and my maternal birth family recently found me, thus my new obsession with genealogy. Unless Oklahoma opens up records, unlikely you will fined anything. I found my paternal family by chasing down the DNA to my cousins. I used 23 & Me and Ancestry. My first cousin once removed hooked me up with my first cousin which got me to my 1/2 siblings (both of my birth parents have passed). I also found my maternal nephews from my other maternal 1/2 sister that died.