Step 1: Register and Search New Mexico Adoption Registry.
Your loved one may be searching and may be listed on NMAR. If you do not find a match, registering will instantly put your search information on the web.
Step 2: Obtain Non-Identifying Information.
CYFD-PSD
Central Adoption Unit
P.O. Drawer 5160 - Room 219
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502
1-800-610-7610 or 1-505-827-8400
(ask for Mrs. Isabel Garcia)
Request Non-Identifying Information and "Waiver of Confidentiality" form. (Please note; You will have to be assertive with Mrs. Garcia. DO NOT give her any information that you might have! It's HER job to give YOU the information you're entitled to have.)
Step 3: Contact Sally File.
Sally File
13101 Black Stone Road N.E.
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87111
1-505-293-3144
Sally File is an Off-Line, Court Appointed Adoption Intermediary for the State of New Mexico.
Step 4: Register with the ISRR.
I.S.R.R.
P.O. Box 2312
Carson City, Nevada 89702-2312
The International Soundex Reunion Registry (ISRR) is the world's largest reunion registry. Get your registration form by sending in a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Step 5: Join NMAR's Email Information and Support Group.
Support and Information (daily emails).
This list helps you to talk with others who are searching, by sharing ideas, thoughts, support and knowledge. To sign up and subscribe, go to:
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/newmexico
You can choose from:
emails sent to the group as they're individually sent
a daily digest of all emails; generally one email with all the posts of the day in it
or you can be a member of the "E"group and read the messages from the OneList site.
Step 6: Learn To Have Patience.
Patience is a virtue of peace. All of the above can be done in one day. Forms will take up to six weeks to reach you. Then you must send the forms back and it could take up to six weeks before your Non-ID information is sent to you. Patience is a must, even if there's no reason for the process to take so long.
Write a journal of your feelings to give your lost loved ones, once you've been reunited. Join an off-line support group if you feel that you aren't getting what you need on-line.
The steps below are considered to be more aggressive. If you've done all of the above and feel you want to continue, then the steps below are recommended. Those of us who have followed all the steps and have been reunited feel that they're worth every penny. Also to note: We have NO connection with the process, nor do we make any money from this effort to recommend them. They are recommended solely on the recommendations and performance, as many in the NMAR Support Group will gladly testify to.
Step 7: Petition The Court.
Once you have the paperwork signed, notarized and mailed, it take only a few days to go to court (no, you don't have to be there). The Court signs an order to open your adoption records and gives the order to your Attorney, who then sends it to Mrs. Garcia. This is where it can get sticky. Mrs. Garcia sends it to the State Archives (which is in the same building) but she claims it can take up to 4 weeks to get the records from them. Once Mrs. Garcia gets the records, she sends them on to a confidential, court appointed Intermediary of your choice.
IMPORTANT! Although the court agrees to "open" your records, it does NOT mean you are entitled to see them.
RECOMMENDED ATTORNEY:
Claudia Crawford has been used many times in the past by various reunited members of the New Mexico Adoption Registry. Claudia is located in New Mexico and can be reached at 1-505-346-4646. Although her price is subject to change at any time, at this time it's approximately $225, give or take a few dollars.
When the Confidential Intermediary has received your adoption records, you will be notified and you'll be asked for payment of services rendered (petitioning the court). This cost is approximately $150. You will be asked to write a letter and include a recent photo of yourself, to be mailed upon finding your lost loved one. Keep in mind that finding your lost loved one can be difficult and some of us have experienced an additional wait because the wrong person was contacted. This is not unusual.
When the correct party is located and contacted, the Intermediary will then mail papers to be signed, giving permission for YOU to be contacted…or not. There is always the possibility that contact is NOT wanted, for whatever reason. You MUST be prepared for this and know that it's NOT a rejection of YOU. Most often, it's a rejection of facing and dealing with past issues. IF this is the case, they will be informed that the information will be available and that they may contact the Intermediary in the future, should they ever change their mind.
RECOMMENDED CONFIDENTIAL INTERMEDIARY:
Sally File
13101 Black Stone Road, N.E.
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87111 1-505-293-3144
