Preparation for Your Search

We encourage you to take steps that will help you understand yourself and the implications of searching. Two excellent online primers for beginners are Marilyn Mendenhall Waugh's Beginner's Search Checklist and Shea's Search Series, which explains legal terminology in greater depth. Reunited mother Amy Bredes has written a helpful letter for adoptees who need to understand the emotional sensitivities of the parent you are searching for. PACER offers some excellent online articles at no charge. You can also browse the AAC bookstore for titles that will help you prepare. Some adoptees are more comfortable than others discussing the possibility of search with their adoptive parents. Listen to others' experiences and get feedback from a trusted counselor or in a safe forum/experienced support group like AIS-CTC or CUB.

Find out what records (amended birth certificate, original birth certificate, adoption decree, non-identifying information about the birth family) you have available, and determine if your adoption took place before or after June 1967. If you were adopted prior to that date, there is a good chance your birth name appears on the Final Decree of Adoption given to adoptive parents at the time the adoption was finalized. If you don't have any non-identiying information (social, religious, and education history provided at the time of your relinquishment), you can usually obtain it from the agency handling the adoption, or through the Colorado Department of Human Services (see related FAQ).

If you were part of an open adoption, the parties may already know each other's names. This is, obviously, a tremendous help.

Mothers who surrendered their children to a closed adoption can usually get copies of records they signed, or on which they were named, from the agency handling the adoption, per CDHS Rules and Regulations. See our FAQ for more details about obtaining adoption records.

Start a search notebook where you can keep everything in one place. You might divide it into categories like Records, Ideas/Leads, Conversation Log, Laws, Contacts, Articles, Miscellaneous, etc. Make it a point to keep a record of every conversation and even seemingly small bits of unrelated information you might find. Sometimes they add up in a big way!

During the information gathering process, get involved with a good support group, such as AIS/CTC or Concerned United Birthparents (CUB). Online groups can also be helpful, but nothing replaces personal connection with people who "get it." Family members, friends and an adoption-savvy therapist are often important resources, though not everyone can be expected to understand what you're dealing with during this process.

Back to Colorado Search

AIS-CTC Registry

You can now join the free online AIS/CTC reunion registry directly by logging in and providing information about yourself and the person(s) you are seeking. We will never sell your information to anyone. We will only disclose your information to the person(s) you are looking for. Please note that any fields labeled "visible on your profile" are visible only to the site administrator. In order to help us minimize SPAM and computer generated messages, registration involves these steps:

1) Create a login account by providing basic information and establishing your password.You will receive an electronic response from AIS/CTC.
2) Click on the link we send from the email address you provide in order to confirm your registration.
3) Once you confirm your registration, the registry administrator will approve and enable your account, usually within 24-48 hours. You will receive a second email from AIS/CTC informing you that your account is now active.
4) From the AIS/CTC homepage, use your login name and password and click on the "Login" button. You will still be on the home page, but if you scroll back down the page, you will notice a greeting with your username. Click on "My Profile" to see what you've already entered, or click on "Edit My Profile" to make changes or add more detailed information about yourself and the person(s) for whom you are searching. See our FAQ section, or contact us for more help.

By joining this registry, you certify and acknowledge that you:

Are over the age of 18 and are the person named as the registrant or their legal representative.
Consent to the release of your name and contact information in the event of a possible match.
Agree to hold harmless Adoptees in Search - The Colorado Triad Connection, its Board, and its members from any results, errors, omissions or failure to notify any party. Please remember to update your contact information if it changes.
Understand that AIS/CTC makes no guarantees regarding the outcome of any registration, search and reunion. We will do everything we can to verify matches and contact people in a timely manner. However, because we are a volunteer organization, we operate under the constraints of certain variables and limitations.
Please note that this registry is limited to births, adoptions and relinquishments which took place in Colorado. See our Search links for other more comprehensive online registries.

To begin the process, click on the following link:

By clicking here, I affirm that I understand and agree to the above terms and conditions.

Thank you for becoming part of our community!