Dear Birth Parent:
Thank you for your inquiry. We have included links from this page to give you information about post adoption services. As a birth parent you have several options open to you:
1. You may request a search for your birth son/daughter if he/she is 19 years of age or older (the legal age in Minnesota for direct contact without adoptive parents’ consent). A search would include our locating your birth son/daughter. When we find him/her we would see what type of communication he/she is open to. The following are possible search outcomes:
- Sharing current medical information and/or
- Exchanging letters and pictures with your birth son/daughter through Catholic Charities on a non-identifying basis and/or
- Having direct and identifying contact with your birth son/daughter. This might include letters, telephone calls and face-to-face contact.
If you would like to initiate a search, please send your written request form, a copy of your photo identification, a non-refundable application fee of $25 (which will be deducted from total fee) and a copy of your most recent Federal Tax Return (if you are requesting a fee reduction) to Post Adoption, Catholic Charities, 1276 University Ave, St. Paul, MN 55104. Search fees are determined on a sliding fee scale based on your joint family income. Searches are done in the order that they have been paid in full. We currently have a backlog of requests, resulting in a wait of approximately six to nine months from the time the full search fee is paid.
2. If your birth son/daughter is under the age of 19, you may request updated information through the agency from the adoptive parents. A fee of $100 will be charged if we do not have the adoptive parents’ current address and/or phone number.
3. You may fill out and have notarized the Affidavit of Disclosure and send it to the Minnesota Department of Health. Your birth son/daughter would then be entitled to his/her original birth certificate.
4. You could request a copy of any documents from our records that you are entitled to. That includes any forms from the time of the placement that you signed, authored or were addressed to you. It would also include any legal or court documents. The minimum fee for requesting this information is $15 plus the $25 file review fee to help cover staff time and photocopying.
This section includes an application used to request the aforementioned services, as well as other services listed on the fee schedule; an information sheet regarding your rights and rights of adopted adults; a page explaining laws regarding post adoption services; an Affidavit of Disclosure/Non-disclosure to submit to the Minnesota Department of Health and a copy of our fee schedule and a Birth Parent Information Update. For all of our services we request a copy of photo identification, such as a driver’s license, for verification of identity.
At any time, you may update your file, including your current name, address and phone number. You can also include an updated medical history, a letter, pictures or a release of identifying information. There is no charge for adding information to your file. These materials will remain in the file until your birth son/daughter may request them.
If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know how we can assist you. The Post Adoption program can be reached by e-mail, by phone at 651-647-3100 or by mail at 1276 University Avenue West, St. Paul, MN 55104-4101.
Sincerely,
Post Adoption Program
