I was hunted down by my birthmom because my SEALED adoption records were opened. It was my understanding that once she relinquished her rights, she couldn't find me. lo and behold, she did.
since that time, i've learned about "search angels" who somehow are able to hunt people down. I often wonder how they do that -- do they have and SHOULD they have access to personal databases? do you think identity theft could be a problem?
2006-11-21 10:54:43 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
yes, i use the term HUNTED DOWN because i certainly did not want to be found. i was happy with my life and, although my parents were deceased, glad to have been raised by them. I was not the kind of adoptee that had a hole in my life or a need to know and i felt it was an intrusion that the very woman who relinquished all rights to me could come back and find me. it would've been one thing if i was on a mutual registry but it's totally different when you're going about your life and *bam* it happens. I got on some websites and have learned that people do not take NO for an answer. they contact you again because you must be in shock or don't you think you owe it to her? she just wants to know how you're doing...etc
restraining orders aren't the answer either when you cross jurisdictional lines .. .and if there's no threat of bodily harm, can you still get one? why should a person have to when they didn't invite them into their life?
2006-11-21 11:22:29 · update #1
The sealing of adoption records is a good policy (in Texas all records are sealed)...However, having worked in the courthouse, I can tell you that there are necessary reasons to UNSEAL adoption records. Most commonly I encountered people needing their adoption records unsealed for medical history reasons (their doctor needed to know if heart problems etc ran in the family). These are legitimate reasons. Typically however, it was the adopted child unsealing the records to find their biological parents.
Although uncommon, by analogy, I can foresee the situation where a biological parent finds their child to tell them about health issues they recently discovered that might run in the genes. Most judges would unseal the records in this situation.
If you didn't want to be found, I am sorry that they found you; but honestly, there are legitimate reasons that records are unsealed (that is why they are merely sealed and not burned and destroyed...sealed implies that they might later be unsealed by judicial order). While there is the risk that people will unseal records for abusive purposes, generally this is not the case. So while it is unfortunate maybe that youw biological parents unsealed the records, sometimes it is necessary. The system cannot be perfect and people will get through it that more than likely should not, but we allow this to happen so that those who need to unseal records can
[And just as an aside, not anyone can go and unseal records. Different jurisdictions have different rules, but generally it is limited to the biological parents, adoptive parents, adopted child, and adoptive siblings...and they must show cause.]
2006-11-21 19:06:10 · answer #1 · answered by lordofthebarnyrd 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
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2006-11-21 21:19:30 · answer #2 · answered by ailsasamant 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"hunted down"..huh? You do not seem pleased about this....it's an unfortunate situation.
No...I do not believe identity theft will be a problem. And no they do not have access to personal databases....but she does have personal information about you(DOB,place of birth,which hospital,which agency assisted in the adoption) that can help her locate you (which she did I guess).You can also petition the courts to unseal the documents....in some states.
You need to set some limits with her....
Goodluck
2006-11-21 11:10:42 · answer #3 · answered by kissmybum 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
NO--NOT TO ANYONE. HENCE SEALED..
ADOPTION RECORDS SHOULD REMAIN SEALED.
ONE WOULD THINK THE CHILD (NOW ADULT) WOULD BE CONTACTED BEFORE ANY SO CALLED ANGELS HELPED BIRTH MOTHER LOCATE THAT PERSON..
2006-11-21 11:02:41 · answer #4 · answered by cork 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋