Choices in Searching: Intermediaries, Agency searches, ISC's, Professional Searchers, Private Investigators, Volunteers, and Self-searches

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. 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.

Continue to section two of Choices in Searching

This post was authored by Shea Grimm except where otherwise indicated. It may be copied and distributed freely, in whole or part, as long as it is not sold, and as long as this notice is kept intact.