National Adoption Registry

Many states have their own form of search and reunion registry, be it mutual consent, search and consent or open records. These registries are free to use but are bound by the borders of the state. Various Internet registries have made it possible to search worldwide for your birth parent, adopted child or birth sibling. Some databases are more accurate than others and the process can be overwhelming and disappointing if handled poorly.

The National Adoption Registry is a mutual consent search and reunion registry that accepts registration from almost any searching party available. Because it is a mutual consent registry, it will only be able to find a match to a search if both parties have voluntarily registered. The database matches people based on an algorithm that is then cross-checked. The National Adoption Registry claims on its website that it never releases the news of a possible match until it is thoroughly investigated. Once a match is found, the National Adoption Registry will contact both parties and provide basic contact info about the party they've been searching for. After that, the National Adoption Registry does not continue to facilitate contact.

There is a small fee just under $40 to use the registry. It's a one-time fee. The registry will continue to look as long as a searcher wishes.