According to some estimates, about 2 percent of the American population is adopted. But adoption doesn’t affect adoptees alone. From biological parents to siblings, adoptive parents, and adoptees themselves, many people are affected in the process.]
And most surveys show that a majority of adoptees do try and search for their birth parents. Similarly, some birth parents also try to look for children given up for adoption. Interestingly, the same methodologies that have helped thousands of adoptees find their biological roots can be used very effectively to find lost family branches.
So, if you’re trying to find unknown biological parents or lost members of your family, you’re not alone, and we’re here to help.
Start your search with these simple tips.
Sign Up with Adoption Registries
Several state and federal registries are maintained by the government and, in some cases, by private individuals. These are databases with information related to adoptions.
If you’re looking for an unknown biological family member, one of the first things to do is sign up with these registries. Whether you’re looking for parents, a sibling, or your child, these registries will allow you to register and see if someone else is looking for you too.
Make sure to research the registries periodically and keep your contact information updated.
Take A DNA Test As Soon As Possible
Another important thing you should do right away is you should take an Ancestry DNA test.
Review Your Matches Carefully
Once you take the test and receive results, you can review your DNA matches. Of course, not all matches are close relatives. Some may be too distant to help with the search for your biological family, but generally, the databases will offer relevant results to streamline your search.
The more DNA you share with someone, the closer your relationship is with them. Make sure to carefully review and catalog your DNA matches before contacting them. Also, don’t be afraid to wait for your match list to update if you don’t find any close relatives right off the bat. People test all the time – especially around holidays such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Christmas, when DNA kits are often given as gifts – and you never know when that magic match may just pop up!
Consider Both DNA And Non-DNA Evidence
DNA analysis can be very helpful, but it’s not the only route to your biological family. It must be combined with traditional genealogy research in order to solve a problem. There are several documents in the public domain that will provide vital information that could help you find your biological family—you just need to know how to find it.
Hire Professionals to Help You Out
While taking a DNA test and building a research tree are integral parts of the process, making sense of all the findings is pretty complex.
This is primarily why it’s good to invest in expert DNA research assistance like what we offer at DavisDNA And Family Research. We can help you find birth parents through DNA or find lost family member or other approaches.
Give us a call to discuss further.
