Legal Question in Family Law in New Jersey
Opening Records in PA
Hi. I am adoptee born 6/21/68 in Philadelphia. I have been all the traditional routes in searching for my birth parents. I have applied and gotten my non-id(which simply states single and 24). I have sent for a copy of my adoption decree(useless). I contacted the lawyer that handled my adoption. Etc. Etc. Etc.
The problem is that the lawyer who handled the adoption privately claims to have destroyed all records due to the need for confidentiality. The court claims that they do not have a birth date with which to track down my birth mother. They state that they only have her age. This adoption may not have been fully above-board. My adoptive mother paid 3000 for me and was told by the lawyer to state in court tha she only paid 500 for legal and hospital fees. I was dropped off in the back parking lot of a hotel.
My question is, do I have any grounds on which to ask the courts to open my records since in their words, "They have exhausted all means of searching" so that I may search on my own. I began my search in hopes of obtaining medical information.
Thank you for your time
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Opening Records in PA
The first issue involves whether or not there are records available. If the Court truly does not have the records and the attorney has destroyed the file, there does not seem that there is much that the Court System can do. I suppose you could hire a private investigator to assist you. However, realistically, if the records no longer exist, what can the Courts do? On the other hand, there is an emotional factor here. I would hope that you have really determined why it is so necessary to you to find your biological parents. You should explore this with your adoptive parents for they, truly, are your parents. They raised you, loved you, saw all of your wins and losses, successes and misteps. If you can't talk with them, I would suggest you seek out a good counselor (psycological, religious or otherwise - whatever you are most comfortable with) and explore it with him or her. Good luck! Rob Gleaner
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