Tips for Searching

This week's post is written by guest blogger, Jill.......

I’m going to suggest you register with as many on-line search registries as you can possibly join. Give as much information as you have. 

1) Keep good records. Write down every site you’ve joined along with user name and password.
2) Keep your e-mail address current. 
3) If you have a name look at social networking sites such as Facebook, My Space, Twitter and so on.
4) If you’ve used an agency ask them to add your contact information to your file.
5) If you have a name, try looking up the name on the internet by doing a Google search. Also, check out sites like www.anywho.com - will give you an address and phone number if listed. Good if the parents have moved out of state. There are other phone number look ups available. Don’t just try one – try as many as you can. You never know!
6) Public Records – If you know the name and city you can check out public records such as voter’s registration, tax records, etc. Check both county and city records. 
7.) Contact the county adoption clerk in the city your adoption would have been filed at. They may not be able to help you but they might give you some tips for your particular city/state.
8.) Also if you have a name, checkout www.classmates.com 
9.) Register with any on line search registries you can. Some that I’ve looked at are:
www.ISRR.net - International soundex reunion registry
www.genesearch.com - Adoption Search Registries and Reunion Resources listed by state.
www.abcadoptions.com - Adoption records by state. Helps you by giving your state laws.
www.adoption.com - This one is huge, multi links from a variety of names. 
www.abcadoptions.com

There are also paid online search sites such as Omnisearch - I’ve had limited luck with those. I did find some long lost friends though. Good Luck!