At some point in your search, perhaps at
the beginning, or maybe well into it, you
will probably consider your options with regard
to hiring a searcher. In many states,provinces,
and regions, confidential intermediary (CI)
systems are in place, and a CI will be recommended
to you by your agency or by the courts, or
perhaps an inquiry of yours will lead to a
solicitation by an independent searcher or
a recommendation from a friend, or maybe you
will stop in at the Volunteer
Searching Network on the Web. This post
is designed to help you through the maze of
choices. I have strong feelings about the
use of intermediaries and I will attempt to
explain my opinions in detail. I also have
a great deal of respect for Independent Search
Consultants and I will explain why I think
the money is worth it. In the end, however,
the decision that you make will be the result
of many different factors that only you know
and only you can weigh appropriately.
Intermediary searches
Intermediaries are quite simply individuals
with access to your file, either through court
approval, or because they work for an adoption
agency, who use that information to find the
party you are searching for. They will then
ask that person or persons for permission
to divulge to you, the searcher, their identity
and whereabouts, or depending on the arrangement
you have come to, they will obtain updated
medical histories, or pictures or other information,
to exchange through the intermediary. If the
other party refuses, the intermediary closes
the file and usually the fee paid for the
search is nonrefundable. Depending on the
particular laws of your state or country,
or the individual policy of the intermediary,
contact may be attempted once more after a
specified period of time, or the file may
close permanently. In Hawaii, and possibly
in other states, although none that I am aware
of, if an intermediary is unable to locate
the person(s) for whom you are looking within
a specified time period, identifying information
is turned over to the searching party. After
an intermediary search is completed, in any
of these instances, however, there is nothing
to stop you from pursuing a search on your
own, or through another channel. You will
probably run into the option of using an intermediary
in one of three ways. Either the state, province,
or region that you are searching in has a
statutory intermediary system, and the court
will appoint you one when you peition to have
your records opened, or you can contact the
CI organization directly. The second way is
if your adoption agency has a system of intermediary
searches, which many of them do. Usually these
agencies will utilize their own employees
to conduct a search rather than an outside
intermediary. The last way is if you contact
an independent intermediary yourself. Some
intermediaries work independently and privately,
but are certified and ask the court to release
your records directly to them. This is slightly
different than using an intermediary that
works for an organization of confidential
intermediaries, like WARM in Washington State.
Confidential Intermediaries
These intermediaries, sanctioned by the courts,
have access to sealed adoption files for the
purpose of conducting an intermediary search.
They generally ask for their fees up front,
and these fees are usually non-refundable
in the event that the party refuses contact,
the party is deceased, or the search cannot
be completed. This arrangement might be negotiable
with certain independent intermediaries. Some
intermediary systems and intermediaries will
attempt contact with the nearest relative
in the event that the object of the search
is deceased. The disadvantages in hiring an
intermediary are the fee structure, the lack
of control or input in the search, the inability
to make first contact, and the possibility
that contact may be refused, and you might
walk away poorer, with no more information
than when you started. There is significant
evidence that intermediary contact is less
desireable for the party being contacted,
particularly when it is a birthparent , than
direct contact, and may lead to a higher rejection
rate than direct contact searches. In addition,
in states where intermediary systems are entrenched,
the individuals involved have sometimes actively
blocked open records legislation, presumably
because it would end their business. Also,
intermediaries are not truly accountable to
anyone. They usually collect fees upfront,
and conduct their searchers on their own,
with no identifying information or detailed
updates provided to the searcher. Particularly
with agency searches, there is little motivation
to do the search in a timely manner, and little
motivation to utilize discreet methods of
contact or searching. Court-appointed intermediaries
have a steady stream of clientele, and seldom
need to worry about word of mouth of their
failures affecting them. The advantages are
that the entire court file is opened to the
intermediary, thus increasing the odds of
success of your search, and you do not have
to be involved in the search or make first
contact, which is a plus to some.
Independent Search
Consultants
An often pricey, but very attractive option,
is the use of an Independent
Search Consultant. ISC's are certified
through extensive testing procedures. They
are, in general, the best searchers money
can buy. ISC's are usually fast, and often
you will pay no money upfront, or only a deposit,
until the person(s) you are looking for is
found. ISC's can run up to $3000, although
most will be about 2/3 that amount. If you
have a name, or other pertinent information,
your cost will decrease considerably. There
are some independent searchers who are *not*
ISC's, who are perfectly capable searchers.
I recommend that you try to use an ISC when
possible, but if you do use another professional
searcher who is not credentialed, obtain references,
and in addition try to find individuals who
have used the searcher, outside of the list
of names given to you by the searcher herself.
You can find an ISC in your area by contacting
the main office at: P.O Box 10192, Costa Mesa,
CA 92627, or visiting their Website.
The advantages of using an ISC are many. You
get the convenience of a capable, fast searcher,
usually the guarantee of 'no find no fee',
and the opportunity to make first contact
yourself. The disadvantage is singular, but
sometimes considerable, and that is cost.
The solace I can offer is that if you do the
search yourself, often through lost time,
postage, document fees, travel, and assorted
other expenses, you will often end up spending
nearly as much as the ISC fee itself, although
there you do have the luxury of spreading
the expense out over time. One option is to
start a search yourself to try and obtain
as much information as possible before contacting
an ISC, with the hope of decreasing the fee.
Detectives, Private
Investigators
Another option is the use of a P.I. Usually
they are less expensive than ISC's, but the
disadvantage is that they are seldom trained
in adoption search, which is a very unique
brand of 'missing persons'. I recommend that
if you go this route, unless the investigator
specifically bills himself as an adoption
specialist, only utilize their services in
the event that you have a name that your search
is centered around, and have been unable to
turn up anything yourself. Investigators are
often skilled in this regard. Again, it is
important to obtain references.
Investigative
services, search organizations
You might also consider utilizing the services
of a company such as RMI
or Dataquest, that advertises adoption searches
and/or 'database' searches. For some specific,
narrow searches, such as DMV, credit file,
birthdate, or Social Security traces (*not*
SSDI searches or phonedisc searches, which
many epople online will do for free or you
can look up yourself)these services can be
very handy, and many professioanl searchers
use these companies. However, it is imperative
that you obtain references, and are very familiar
with exactly what information you will be
receiving for your money, and what your other
options are for receiving the same information.You
can search the Social
Security Death Index online free, from
a link at Ancestry's Website. See the document
"I have a name, now
what?" for more information on databases
and links to sources of information.
You might also see advertised on Oprah or
other talk shows, other companies or organizations
such as ALMA, or those two slimy looking guys
who shall remain nameless. I can't think of
a good reason to use any of these services.
Most of the information and techniques these
folks use can be found in any of the books
I've recommended previously, as well as the
ones that are in the booklist FAQ for alt.adoption.
Volunteers
There are people who will conduct a search,
or part of a search, free of charge, or at
'cost', which means different things to different
people. A volunteer can be a good option when
you need some 'legwork' done in a state or
city that you do not live in, or are unfamiliar
with. The advantages of using a volunteer
are cost, although you should be clear upfront
what expenses your volunteer expects to be
reimbursed for. Do they include travel? parking?
gas? Or are the expenses limited to document
copying and retrieval? All of these things
should be gone over in advance. You should
also make it clear how far you want the volunteer
to go with your search. On more than one occasion,
I have heard or been party to situations when
the volunteer was overly enthusiastic and
initiated contact with the birthfamily or
adoptee without the consent or knowledge of
the searcher. The disadvantages of using a
volunteer searcher can include time, as many
of these wonderful folk have 'real' lives
and paying jobs, and do the search work out
of the kindness of their heart, when their
schedule allows. Also, volunteers are often
less skilled than paid, credentialed, or professional
searchers, and can make mistakes or generate
false leads. I recommend using volunteers
when you are in need of very specific information
and have no other way to retrieve it. Remember
that most libraries have research librarians
on staff who will take requests over the phone
or via fax or letter, to research certain
kinds of library holdings, like city directories,
obituaries, and genealogy, usually for very
reasonable hourly fees or merely the cost
of the copies of the document(s) themselves.
One very important thing to keep in mind is
that volunteers are just that. Please do not
abuse their services or neglect to pay, or
expect them to act as quickly and thoroughly
as professional, paid searchers. There is
an infamous story, that I personally can vouch
for, about a volunteer searcher who footed
the bill for anyone who stated that they were
unable to afford her services. One night,
an individual who had claimed just such hardship,
came to the volunteer's house to pick up some
documents. She drove up in her brand new Mercedes,
wearing a ballgown, on her way to a $5000
a couple fundraiser. The
Volunteer Search Network, online, is a
place you should check out if you are considering
the use of a volunteer searcher.
Self-searching
Searching by yourself is certainly the most
difficult, but often the most rewarding, choice.
The advantages include cost, the ability to
regulate pace, and the ability to make first
contact. Many people find the act of the search
itself very therapeutic, others enjoy the
challenge, and still others like fulfilling
childhood fantasies of being a secret agent
or private investigator. Many searchers find
that once their search is completed, they
miss it, and they often become professional
searchers or volunteers for others, or they
engage in indepth genealogies of their newly
found birthfamilies. The disadvantages include
the time investment, the emotional investment,
and, somtimes,the sheer difficulty. It is
my recommendation that every individual pursue
searching on their own, to some degree. Some
who didn't expect it, may find that they enjoy
searching and want to continue to the end,
or until they hit an insurmountable roadblock.
At any rate, for the initial stages of a search,
the searcher himself is probably the most
qualified and knowledgeable individual to
carry it out. Beyond that, each person must
weigh their time commitments, emotional strength,
and ability to deal with an often unyielding
and frustrating bureaucracy.
Bottom Line
Whenever you are utilizing the search services
of an individual other than yourself or a
close friend, it is important to obtain references
first and foremost. Secondly, sit down with
the searcher, intermediary, or volunteer,
and obtain a detailed description of what
steps they expect to take in your search,
timelines, cost, and a system of updates that
they will provide to you. Inquire about the
fee structure and procedure for refunds, and
obtain a written contract or agreement laying
out the things you have discussed. In most
cases, I recommend that you do not hire a
searcher who requires an upfront fee, unless
it is a partial fee for the purposes of a
deposit, and the contract spells out aqequate
and fair methods of refund and payment remainder.
Check the fees that you are quoted with others
who have had searches completed, but bear
in mind the particulars of your search, and
the state laws of the state your search will
take place in. The best approach to searching
is one that works for you in your individual
circumstance.
This post was authored by Shea
Grimm, sheag@oz.net, except where otherwise
indicated. It may be copied and distributed
freely, in whole or in part, as long as it
is not sold, and as long as this notice is
kept intact.
