Big news for adoptees born in Virginia! 

Yesterday, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed House Bill 301 into law, granting adoptees access to their original birth certificates (OBCs). This makes Virginia the latest in a string of states granting open access to OBCs. 

Why does this matter? Because it opens another path to discovering your biological family and origins. Two paths—the DNA-first route and the records-first route—help adoptees begin a search for biological relatives. Here’s how to get started…

Adopted and interested in starting a search? We’ve gathered more detailed information for you here and identified places to go for more. Two paths—the DNA-first route and the records-first route—are the main paths adoptees use today to begin a search for biological relatives.

Online courses are a great way to learn about topics you want to understand better at a pace that fits your life. You might have all the books you need, but a structured lesson plan that can go with you wherever you are is sometimes better than a full bookshelf.

I have people reach out through my website who are adopted or donor conceived and are at the very start of a search, asking where do I even start? It can be overwhelming trying to learn all of the ins and outs of searching whether using access to records or DNA testing.

ROH is very tricky topic but one we need to get comfortable talking about. It can happen to anyone of any age from any background.

Most recently, I talked in more detail about the work I do with adoptees and families with adopted children while interviewed by Kira of DNA Today.