How do I find my brother that was given up for adoption in 1961?

Question

I think he was born at St. Joseph's Hospital in Kirkwood Missouri.

Answer 1

Bless you for searching for your brother!

In legalese:
Overview of Missouri Adoption Information
Non-identifying information may be revealed by the agency or the court upon written request by adoptive parents, or adopted adult.
Missouri law provides that adult adoptees (age 21) may petition the court to receive information about their birth parent(s). If the adoption was instituted prior to August 13, 1986, the court must order court personnel or a child placing agency to contact the adoptee's adoptive parents. The court personnel or agency may not contact the birth parent(s) without the written permission of the adoptive parents. If the adoptive parents provide such permission, the agency or court personnel must attempt to contact the birth parent(s). Court personnel have three months to conduct such a search.
If a birth parent is contacted, he or she may file a consent to the release of identifying information. If a consent is not filed or the agency or court personnel are unable to notify the birth parent, information may not be released. For adoptions that took place after August 13, 1986, the permission of the adoptive parents is unnecessary. Identifying information regarding adult biological siblings of adult adoptees may be released by a court if it is found that such information is necessary for urgent health related purposes or if consent is provided by the adult biological sibling.
Mo. Rev. Stat. 453.131.

In English:
Everything you need to know related to searching for a Missouri adoptee is located at this page here

http://www.adopting.org/adoptions/missouri-adoption-search-reunion-support-resources.html

You may want to join this mailing list as well

http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe.cgi/heart-of-mo-triad

It appears to be a rather quiet list right now.. only two posts total for the month of February, but they have an extensive archive that you'll want to go through. That archive would probably have information and links on the challenges you face in your own state.

Definitely register at the state run registry in the event he is seeking members of his first family, but don't get overly hopeful. The number of successful reunions from state run registries is only 4%. However as a sibling you do have the right to register and can do so by using the sibling form at the site below

http://www.dss.mo.gov/cd/adopt/adoir.htm

Start a search diary now and keep notes on everything you find. Also make sure you have a good support network for yourself. The search process can be quite draining. But is very much worth it!

Best of luck to you!

Answer 2

check the laws in Missouri; many states have changed their adoption laws and will open adoption files to family members after a given number of years; you might want to check the records at the state capital and find out if you can locate the adoption records.

good luck
a friend of my son is looking for his birth mother and only knows she attended Mills College before she got pregnant, but doesn't know where she gave birth before giving him up for adoption. Sadly, his adopting family were not very nice people and he had a really bad life.

I tried to help him but reached nothing but dead ends.

Are there any family members in Missouri who may remember the adoption. Are there any neighbors in Kirkwood who remembers your mother ... the best place to start is the beginning. Do it before it is too late and many of these people pass.

Answer 3

well im not 100% sure but i know one of my friends did somthing like.. you call like a person tracking orginization. and you give them a little of information. they will find his for you. but i think it cost ALOT!


GOOD LUCK I HOPE U FIND HIM! =]