In my previous blog about birthmother* searches, I suggested asking yourself some hard questions before you begin a search for your adopted child's birthmother. Once you have decided to execute a search, you need someone to do it for you unless you are doing it yourself.

My experience is limited to searching for a birthmother in Guatemala, but some of this advice is relevant for completing a birthmother search anywhere – in the US or outside US borders.

1. Do not choose the first birthmother searcher you hear about. Get the names of several searchers and research their credentials.

 2. Ask for references from people who completed searches with the birthmother searcher and call them.

3. Find out how many searches the birthmother searchers have completed and how successful they have been.

4. Compare prices. Some birthmother searchers are more expensive than others; sometimes there are hidden costs. For example, searchers may have you pay a small price up front, but “al a carte” pricing for every additional service they provide. Some searchers quote a much higher price initially that is all inclusive: transportation, telephone calls, transcripts of information, photos, etc.

5. Have everything in writing from the birthmother searcher : prices, procedures, and contact information including email, telephone and address. This does not guarantee that you are 100% safe from fraud, but it will help.

6. Some searchers will charge an initial fee to review the adoption documents and then decide if they are willing to do the birthparent search or not. This could save you a lot of money in the long run. For example, there are birthmother searchers in Guatemala who will not go into Mayan villages for fear of their safety. You should be told this upfront.

You cannot be too careful when choosing a birthmother searcher. You want an honest, sensitive professional.

Remember, they are representing you to a birthmother who has never met you nor this searcher. A bad experience with a searcher may frighten a birthmother into permanent hiding.”

*for purposes of simplification I will use the word “birthmother” throughout this blog; of course you could be searching for either birthmother or birthfather or both.

If you are interested in doing a search in Guatemala and would like information about the searcher that facilitated the search for my adopted daughter’s birthmother, please send an email to lisas@ouradopt.com

Disclaimer: It goes without saying that neither “Adoption Under One Roof” nor myself are legally or financially responsible for the outcome of your birthmother search or your experience with the searcher.

Related Blogs:Finding my daughter's birthmother in Guatemala

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