K.S. “Katie” Hopkins never guessed that a discovery about her sister's unexpected paternity would be just the start of a number of surprises in the family. What began as crumbs of information left in family documents led to DNA testing which confirmed a hidden family history.

Season 2 kicks off with Melissa Guida-Richards.

Have you heard the “Searching for Relatives with DNA” podcast episode? Catch this interview by Simon Benn, available for listening now. Simon shares the backstory to his decision to search and the moment he knew it was time. Our discussion is geared towards supporting people early in the search process but will help anyone along the way, whether the searching person or the family who has been sought.

Podcast Ep 9: Meet Richard Hill, the adoptee who was the first to use DNA testing to search for and discover the identity of his birth parents.

Doubt is a common reaction in unexpected DNA family discoveries. It’s not only common, it’s also normal and important.

Stephen Anderson never expected that his decades of family research using traditional methods--genealogical records and oral histories--would be turned into a years-long journey to unravel the truth around his paternity and that of his many siblings.

Podcast Ep: 2 Author Mary Beth Sammons shares with host Brianne Kirkpatrick the backstory to Ancestry Quest. This quick-and-easy read explores the stories of dozens of individuals who found meaning and connection to family and their history, sometimes after an intentional search and sometimes by happenstance.

Therese reached out to share her story about discovering she had a different biological father than she was told, and in her story is both struggle and growth.

More people every day are discovering unexpected news about their parentage as a result of consumer DNA tests. As a licensed and certified genetic counselor specializing in ancestry testing, I have more and more people reach out to me wondering could it be true my dad’s not my dad? If so, then who IS?

Here’s some advice I’ve gathered for those who are considering or already have involved DNA testing in an adoption-related search.

Are you hoping to locate biological family via records search, DNA testing, or possibly both?

I recently received a message from someone who made an unexpected discovery of a new family member after doing DNA testing.

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.