ADOPTION SEARCH Q & A

An hourly fee of $84.00/hour is charged to conduct an identifying search.

Non-identifying information is also available at $84.00/hour, not to exceed a total of $150.00

The majority of searches conduct do not exceed $300.00 total, including non-identifying information.

The adoptee can decide to limit the number of search hours to a certain number of hours or apply for a fee reduction or waiver.  They can also request the State of Wisconsin Adoption Records Program conduct the search for them.

We make every attempt to have a search concluded within 45 days of receiving the application from the Adoption Records Search Program.

Currently, there are no provisions in the law for siblings or birthparents to initiate an adoption search unless there is important medical or genetic information that needs to be passed on to the adoptee.

Birth parent(s) may file, at any time, a notarized affidavit with DHFS consenting to the release of his/her identity and location and a copy of the impounded birth certificate to the adopted person when he/she reaches age 21.

The current adoption search law does NOT allow siblings to request searches for one another.  Some medical information about siblings may be included in the non-identifying social history record.