Judi Euritt has over 20 years of experience with adoption issues.

WHO SEARCHES AND WHY?
The state of Washington allows the release of non-identifying information to the adoptee, adoptive parents and to the birthparents. This information may include age, heritage, education, religion, occupation and perhaps even a physical appearance of birth parents and is authorized by RCW 26.33.020. In Washington State, information facilitating the location of the involved parties will be found in the birth and adoption records which are sealed, and may only be opened by a court order to a third party (a Confidential Intermediary) approved by the court.

Birth parents, adoptees, even adoptive parents may initiate searches, for as many reasons as there are adoptions. The decision to search is highly personal and is often reached after years of agonizing consideration.

ADOPTEES represent two percent of the U.S. population. They come from warm, loving families, or from less-nurturing adoptive homes. They can be parents themselves or single, young or old, male or female. The decision to search is often triggered by a major life event such as marriage, a death in the family or the birth of a child. They want medical history, to see what their birthparents are like and how they look. But the most common, basic reason most adoptees choose to search is because they were adopted and they want to know why.

It is not uncommon for ADOPTIVE PARENTS to be supportive and to even initiate searches for birthparents, once their child turns eighteen. Searching is not about the quality of adoptive family, it is about the search for self.

BIRTH PARENTS search. The pain of giving up a child for adoption can be terrible, even though it may seem the only and best answer at the time. As the years pass, many birth parents feel the need to find out what happened to that child, to be reassured that he or she has been well cared for and has grown up happy and healthy.

REUNION PHOTOS:

Click to view reunion photos from our clients

TESTIMONY FROM OUR CLIENTS:

‘Your thoughtfulness meant much more than words can say. Just hearing my son's voice was magical.’ M.M., Birth Father ‘I’ve seen this sort of thing on TV, but never dreamed it would happen to me!’ M.L.G., Birth Mother ‘Thank you for all you’ve done. You’ve gone the extra mile to find my birth mother, and I appreciate it!’ L.N., Adoptee ‘My heartfelt thanks for all you’ve done – finding my birth sister has filled in the empty space from my past.’ D.O.. Adoptee

ADOPTION-RELATED LINKS:

• Adoption Forums • Adoption.com - largest adoption site on the Internet • Adoption Search • Adoption Shop • Adoptive Families • Baby Names • Free People Search • Parent Profiles • Washington Birth Record • 007 Websites directory: Genealogy : Adoption

WHAT IS A CONFIDENTIAL INTERMEDIARY?
Independent Confidential Intermediaries are certified through extensive testing procedures and are the best searchers available. These are individuals sanctioned by the court to have access to sealed adoption files, who use that information to find the party being sought, either adoptee or birth parent. Washington State has licensed a limited number of such persons, and they may be referred by the courts, or found independently. E & E is on the list of Confidential Intermediaries referred by courts in Washington State. Once the person you seek is found, the Confidential Intermediary will then ask that person for permission to divulge to you, the searcher, their identity and whereabouts. If the other party refuses, the fee is non-refundable and contact may not be attempted again, affording respect and privacy to the party being sought. However, the Confidential Intermediary may attempt to obtain updated medical histories, or pictures or other non identifying information to share with the searcher.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The cost of an Independent Confidential Intermediary varies greatly and may run anywhere from $200 to $600 per search. Our goal is to keep the cost within the means of most people, with the belief that finding our lost loved ones is one of our basic rights.

E&E charges a flat search fee of $450. This amount covers the cost of agency fees for records, travel to courts where records are kept, contacting search consultants in other jurisdictions, long distance telephone calls, postage and other expenses that may occur during the search. This cost has been submitted to and accepted by the State of Washington, and itemized statements will be made available upon request.

Payments may be made with advance agreement.

SO YOU HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO SEARCH
Once you decide to search, please e-mail one or two paragraphs outlining your story to AdoptionSearchWA@msn.com.

If you are interested in receiving a packet of forms to begin your search I will need:

• Searchers full name, address and phone number.
• The full legal spelling of the adoptive parent’s names at the time of the adoption,
• The birth place and date of the adoptee
• The county in which the adoption took place (this would be the county of the adoptive parent’s residence at the time)

The process of searching begins when you return the completed, notarized forms to me. I then prepare a petition and court-order for a judge’s signature in the county in which the adoption took place. This can take from a month to six weeks, depending on the court schedule.

After the court order has been signed I obtain the sealed adoption records and original birth certificate. Although I am allowed to share only “non identifying information” (physical descriptions, medical and personal history, ages etc) at this point, I use this data in my search.

Then I can begin to actually search for the person(s) named in the records. This can take from one to twelve months, the average amount of time being several months. I make an effort to update my clients every week, although there may not be much information during the times we are waiting for paperwork or while I am searching.

Once this person is found, I ask them for permission to divulge to the searcher, their identity and whereabouts. If the person(s) you seek is (are) deceased, I will attempt to contact surviving relatives without additional charge.

I look forward to helping you in your search.

Please feel to address questions or comments to me at AdoptionSearchWa@msn.com.