[mccrim]

I am helping my niece search for her birth family. She was born at Columbia-Presbyterian 8/23/1971 to a Jewish 15 year old mother whom the records state her surname was Stevens. It was a private adoption to a wonderful Jewish family in Manhattan. We are doing all the usual postings on registries and with the state as well as DNA. No leads yet! Thanks for any information.

[howard555]

I'll offer you the experience of another in New York. The adoption took place in the 1970's as well. Being 40+ years and the adoptive parents not known by name and no agency, efforts have been made for the birth mother to locate and contact the lawyer who handled it. In your case you seek the birth parents and in this other situation it's the birth mother doing the seeking. That is one remote option you may have down the road which is to locate the lawyer and see if enough time has passed for him to tell you names.

Good luck.

[mccrim]

Thanks for the suggestion. The only lawyer I have been able to identify as handling family affairs died many years ago. I do not know what lawyers do with their records. Do you have any idea as to whether the family temple of the adoptee would have any records? I hope your birth mother seeker found her child.

[howard555]

Your niece should call N.Y. Vital Records and ask the procedure to get the BC.

Read this from June, 11, 2013.
Bill would give NY adoptees access to birth certificate, medical history | Brooklyn Daily Eagle

[mccrim]

The bill did not get passed. The pro-open records community is rightfully furious!

Adoptee Bill of Rights will not be voted on- Weinstein to blame! - [domain blocked due to spam]