barbpete

maureen...hi...I went downtown to the law library on Monday and didn't get back until later and worked yesterday... I didn't find a petition to adopt either girl after searching the microfilm from the day after their births (which is a bit overkill -- legally a child has to have lived in with the adoptive parents for 6 months before they're allowed to petition to adopt) up to April 27, 1914...there wasn't one Collins petitioner in all that time... This means that they probably were not adopted until they were older...I noticed your tree on Ancestry and it is obvious that Marion was in the household as a daughter by the time of the 1920 census... The law library is closed from now until after the 1st of the year for the holidays...I can continue the search for you then, picking up where I left off...since I didn't realize that it might take longer than a day to search I am going to have to reevaluate my fee structure for future commissions but I will hold to it for you... Happy Holidays...

goldengirl...the CDLB stopped posting adoption petitions on January 1, 1963 but I am checking with someone who specializes in finding birth parents. I don't know if you're aware of the great new change in Illinois law regarding adoption...adoptees who were born before 1947 can get their original birth certificates immediately. Those born later have to wait until 11/15/2011 to get them (to give birth parents a chance to say they don't want to be found though over 85% have no objection). So if my friend can't help you, you will most certainly be able to get your original bc soon! Barbara Peterson

I am not sure whether Lake County has something similar to the CDLB. If you have an adoption certificate you may be able to search the cases before the court. Here's a website that may answer some of your questions and give you a few avenues to explore. http://laws.adoption.com/statutes/indiana-laws.html Good luck to you!