Father trying to find adopted child

[nitajah2]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Oregon


My husband found out recently that a woman he once lived with for about a year was pregnant when she broke up with him to return to an old relationship. She never told him, or tried to find him until about 4 years ago when the child would be about 10 at the time. She gave him a letter stating that she had falsely put her then boyfriend on the birth certificate so that she could adopt the child out.

My husband was in a terrible accident in 1997, and nearly lost his life, and has spent years getting back to as normal as he can. He sustained a traumatic brain injury,and it has taken this long to feel we were ready to search for the child after he was told about him in 2005.

What can we do to find him? We have the letter with as much info as the woman says she remembers which isn't much. We feel it was an illegal adoption since she lied on the birth certificate, and says she did, and he was never informed about the child at all until 10 years later. Needless to say my husband was devastated with the information he was given by the birth mother. If he had known about the child he would never have allowed him to be adopted out. What can we do? Thank You

[Proserpina]

Originally Posted by nitajah2

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Oregon


My husband found out recently that a woman he once lived with for about a year was pregnant when she broke up with him to return to an old relationship. She never told him, or tried to find him until about 4 years ago when the child would be about 10 at the time. She gave him a letter stating that she had falsely put her then boyfriend on the birth certificate so that she could adopt the child out.

My husband was in a terrible accident in 1997, and nearly lost his life, and has spent years getting back to as normal as he can. He sustained a traumatic brain injury,and it has taken this long to feel we were ready to search for the child after he was told about him in 2005.

What can we do to find him? We have the letter with as much info as the woman says she remembers which isn't much. We feel it was an illegal adoption since she lied on the birth certificate, and says she did, and he was never informed about the child at all until 10 years later. Needless to say my husband was devastated with the information he was given by the birth mother. If he had known about the child he would never have allowed him to be adopted out. What can we do? Thank You

What a terribly sad situation. Please stand by - I'm sure others will answer too but at the moment I'm concerned that it's been too long to question the adoption.

I will research further.

[Proserpina]

Because of the circumstances I truly believe your husband needs to consult with an attorney.

This is the site for the Oregon State Bar's Legal Aid information if you can't afford an attorney. I do think it's been too long to actively address the situation right now, but it's absolutely in your best interests to have at least an initial consult with an attorney.

[url=http://www.osbar.org/public/ris/LowCostLegalHelp/LegalAid.html]Legal Aid[/url]

You also might want to contact the court where the adoption took place (if possible).

Good luck - I'm so sorry this has happened. I can't imagine the heartbreak.

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by nitajah2

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Oregon


My husband found out recently that a woman he once lived with for about a year was pregnant when she broke up with him to return to an old relationship. She never told him, or tried to find him until about 4 years ago when the child would be about 10 at the time. She gave him a letter stating that she had falsely put her then boyfriend on the birth certificate so that she could adopt the child out.

My husband was in a terrible accident in 1997, and nearly lost his life, and has spent years getting back to as normal as he can. He sustained a traumatic brain injury,and it has taken this long to feel we were ready to search for the child after he was told about him in 2005.

What can we do to find him? We have the letter with as much info as the woman says she remembers which isn't much. We feel it was an illegal adoption since she lied on the birth certificate, and says she did, and he was never informed about the child at all until 10 years later. Needless to say my husband was devastated with the information he was given by the birth mother. If he had known about the child he would never have allowed him to be adopted out. What can we do? Thank You

I am thinking that its very possible that nothing can be done at all. The child would be 14 or so at this point, and its seriously probable that a court would absolutely refuse to disrupt the child's life by opening up the adoption.

However, its something that would absolutely require an attorney.