Welcome to Watershed DNA
Search Topics
- DNA Surprise 41
- NPE 38
- DNA 33
- DNA Discovery 33
- Direct to Consumer DNA 24
- Adoption 21
- Adoptees 19
- Ancestry Testing 17
- Family Search 17
- Misattributed Parentage 17
- Home DNA Test 14
- Medical Genetics 14
- Donor Conception 13
- 23andMe 12
- Genetic Counselor 12
- Podcast 12
- Biological Family 11
- Genetic Genealogy 11
- Genetics 11
- Biological Father 9
- DNA Test 9
- At Home Testing 8
- DNA Shocks 8
- DTC Genetics 8
- Family History 8
- Sperm Donation 8
- DNA Support 7
- Genetic Counseling 7
- Raw Data 7
- DNA Guide for Adoptees 6
- Donor Conceived 6
- Promethease 6
- ROH 6
- Alzheimer 5
- DNA Podcast 5
- Family 5
- Forensic Genealogy 5
- Genetic Testing 5
- Paternity 5
- Resources 5
- Stem Cell Transplant 5
- Support 5
- Birth Parents 4
- Egg Donation 4
- Family Health History 4
- Family Secrets 4
- GEDMatch 4
- Non-Paternity 4
- Support Group 4
- Ancestry 3
Virginia adoptees now have access to original birth certificates
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…
How birth certificates and DNA testing help adoptees on a bio family search
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.

