So, you are ready to begin the journey and start your adoption search. You now need to decide whether to search on your own or hire a private investigation agency. Here are a few things to consider when opting for the latter:
1) Be sure to hire a licensed private investigation agency (Such as SRI) Most states have their own licensing requirements. Some states require investigators to have several years of experience working in law enforcement or working for a law firm. Special testing is typically required for a license. A licensed agency requires a professional office location and cannot operate out of a living room.
(Buyer Beware: If you hire an unlicensed investigator / researcher to conduct your adoption search, they do not receive any oversight by their state. They may even be performing an illegal service by offering investigative services without a license. You will be providing an unlicensed, unregulated person with your most personal information!)
2) Hire a licensed private investigation agency that specializes in adoption searching. Why? Would you hire a podiatrist to perform an appendectomy? Would you hire a civil attorney for a criminal case? SRI has knowledge of adoption law, proprietary contacts, access to birth indexes, knowledge of genealogy, specialized databases and more for a successful adoption search.
3) Hire an experienced licensed investigator. Learn how long they have been reuniting birth families. Ask for specifics, even details on past cases. Ask for references from past clients. Speak to others who have used their adoption search service who are not listed as references.
Take some time to find the right licensed private investigation agency that you feel comfortable about and who you can trust.
