Paternal absence is more common than you might think. According to The Fatherhood Organization, the United States is suffering an absentee father crisis. Over 18 million children live without a father figure at home. This number brings with it a series of consequences for all of society.

There are several reasons why people may not know their biological father. Maybe the mother didn´t get along with him or even know who the father was. The father may not know that a kid was conceived or doesn´t want to take responsibility. And one of the most common reasons people don´t know their biological parents is that they were given up for adoption.

Many of those whose birth parents opted to give them for adoption are eager to know who and where they are. Finding your birth father is not an easy task, and it is emotionally intense. That is why there needs to be emotional preparation.

When you start the journey of looking for your biological family, it’s important to remain open regarding the results you get and don´t assume anything.

Finding your birth parents is delicate and hard to do, especially if you don´t even know where to begin. A lot of questions may be popping into your mind. How to find birth parents with little information? Should I find my biological father? What is the best way to do so?

How to find your biological father?

We provide you with a list of some ways to find him:

Take a DNA Test

This is one of the most common methods. By using genetic genealogy, specialists can determine how closely related two individuals are. DNA testing companies are one of the most affordable ways to know who you share DNA with. Most of the time, the company sends you a DNA Testing Kit to provide all of the samples they need. Afterward, they give you a DNA match-list where you will pick the closest match for further investigation.

DNA tests can also be used to build family trees and learn about your family history.

Hire a Private Investigator

Hiring a professional who will follow all the legal procedures and has the tools to access information an individual can’t, can be both cost and time effective. Private investigators also have experience finding missing persons and helping others reconnect with families. They will do the job for you promptly and have access to many documents a normal person can’t access.

Request information from your birth mother or adopted family

If you are adopted and want to meet or know who your birth parents are, you can start by asking your adopted family if they have any information about them. They might have documents to help you with your investigation.

Some of the adopting families know about the biological families of the adopted children. Some others don’t know due to a closed adoption.

Record Search

Even if your adopted family doesn’t have specific information about your birth family, they probably have a document from the adoption that may help you know where to look next. Many states allow records to be released when the adoptees turn 18.

The adoption agency through which you were placed is also a great way to get your records. They may not be able to release them to you, but they will help you know where to look next. Check for birth announcements and newspapers from the place and day you were born.

Social Media

We have an amazing and powerful tool in our hands: social media. If you are present on social media, you definitely know that you have access to all of a person’s details even if you don’t know them.

Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are among the most popular social apps. These tools can be used to be actively posting and sharing to find your relative and also find information about them. If you know the name of the relative you are looking for, you can go through these apps to look for his or her profile.

Access your State Adoption Records

Having access to your adoption records is strictly dependent on the state in which you live.

Some states by law can’t give you access to adoption records, but others can. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, at 21 years or older, a person may request a copy of the birth certificate. It also allows the birth parents to decide whether they want to contact the adopted family or not and if they want to release their identifying information.

You can simultaneously pursue all the options of this list.

The search for biological relatives is an exciting and emotional journey. While exploring family trees can be interesting and educational because you learn about your ancestors, your biological parents’ search is a challenging task on many levels. Not just emotionally, but you can also run into several obstacles.

Millions of people have taken the searching path and have succeeded. What you do when you find your biological father? The decision is in your hands. You can either reach out to him or not.

Hiring a private investigator may sound expensive, but the reality is that it isn’t. A professional will be so much more effective than you doing it on your own. It is not only because, as mentioned before, they have access to information you might not, but also because they know what to do, how to do it, and most importantly, have done it successfully before.