If you have an Open Adoption your child will always know who you are and where to find you. In the case of a Closed Adoption, you will have to register with an Adoption Search Registry. Different states have different registries. In Florida the Adoption Registry is Florida Adoption Registry see below for more information, and see our resource section for information on the registry and an application to join.
The Florida Reunion Registry, at the time of writing, has more than 6,000 people registered. The Florida Reunion Registry is operated by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). This is the same entity which licenses Child Placing Agencies. According to DCF, 6 to 8 reunions occur every month using the registry. To be eligible to join the registry, you must be either an Adult Adoptee, Birth Sibling, Birth Aunt or Uncle, Birth Grandparent, or an Adoptive Parent making contact on behalf of an Adopted Child. In order to be contacted via the registry, both the Adoptee and a Birth relative must both be registered. The registry facilitates the exchange of information.
Check on the Reunion Registry website for their current fee schedule (see our Resource Section for further information).
Registry forms (see our Resource section) should be completed, and sent back with the necessary fee to:
Florida Reunion Registry: 1317 Winewood Bvld, Tallahassee, Fl. 29399-0700