OKDHS administers a Search Program that allows individuals who were separated from their birth family members through adoption or termination of parental rights proceedings in Oklahoma to have a Confidential Intermediary search for members of their birth family.
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OKDHS will contract with confidential intermediaries who have met eligibility standards, training requirements and have been certified as a confidential intermediary through the OKDHS Search Program. The search is confidential as well as the outcome of the search.
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- Any adult (age 18 or older) adoptee or person affected by a termination of parental rights proceeding done in Oklahoma;
- the legal parent or guardian of any minor of a deceased adopted person;
- an adult descendant of a deceased adopted person;
- the legal parent or guardian of any minor of a deceased person who's biological parent's parental rights were terminated;
- an adult descendant of a deceased person who's biological parent's parental rights have been terminated;
- an adult birth sibling or grandparent of an adult adoptee or of an adult person who has a parent whose parental rights were terminated; or
- the sibling of a deceased biological parent whose parental rights were terminated.
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- Anyone who has not previously registered with the Mutual Consent Voluntary Registry at least 6 months before requesting a search;
- an adult adoptee or adult who's parent's parental rights were terminated, who has a minor biological sibling in the same adoptive family or other placement whose location is known to the adult adoptee, or an adult who's parents parental rights were terminated; or
- the biological relative of a birth parent who has filed an affidavit of non-disclosure with the Bureau of Vital Statistics.
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You must be registered with the Mutual Consent Voluntary Registry for 6 months prior to requesting a search. You must make application for a search by completing the Request for Search Form. This document must be sent to the Search Program Administrator, along with the fee for the search before a search can be initiated. You may request the form by contacting Martha Hopcus at 405-521-3832.
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Yes, there is a $400 fixed fee for all initial searches for any 1 eligible person. There is a $200 fee for any additional searches by the same requester. The search fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the search, even if the person being searched for is not found. All fees are waived for siblings who were separated through OKDHS adoptions. The person requesting a search must be registered with the Mutual Consent Voluntary Registry for 6 months prior to requesting a search. There is a $20 registration fee for the Mutual Consent Voluntary Registry.
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The OKDHS Search Program recognizes that while some people may have a strong desire to establish contact with birth family members, others do not. It is an individual and totally voluntary decision. All parties must consent in writing before contact is initiated. If the person being sought does not want contact, none will be initiated.
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The OKDHS Search Program can have a search done simply to contact your relative to obtain medical history or physical description information without you having any contact with your relative.
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Confidential Intermediary Search Program.
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