Who can benefit from WARM's search services?
Any adoptee BORN or ADOPTED in Washington State, or any birth family member (i.e. birth parents, siblings, grandparents) seeking an adult adoptee that was BORN or ADOPTED in Washington State could use WARM's services.
What if the records with identifying information are sealed?
WARM petitions the court on behalf of the searcher, purchases the necessary records and then assigns the case to one of it's eleven volunteer confidential intermediaries (CI's). The CI will search, locate and contact the birth family member or adoptee to obtain a signed consent.
Has a judge ever refused to sign a court order to open the sealed file?
No, judges in all Washington counties follow the petitioning process, as described in Washington RCW 26.33.343.
Will you conduct a search for me if I only want current medical history?
The reality is, the records of adult adoptees usually contain very little, if any, medical information. Plus, the information in the file is as old as the adoptee. When a birth parent is contacted, the CI will open the door to many choices of communication. It wouldn't be fair to contact someone and say, "Just give me your medical history."
What if research reveals the person to be contacted is deceased?
The law gives two options: (1) submitting a court order to the judge requesting the death certificate and original birth certificate be released, and (2) the CI will continue the search and make contact with the closest blood relative.
What happens if the person contacted refuses to have any communication?
WARM CI's are trained to obtain as much medical history as possible from the "found" person. The CI also attempts to facilitate future communications by giving WARM's contact information, should the person change his mind.
What if the CI cannot find my birth relative?
WARM CI's are very persistent, and will continue to look for new ways to find the birth family member. Depending on the individual circumstances, WARM may submit a court order to the judge asking release of information. The decision is left to the judge's discretion.
Does WARM have any statistics on the number of persons who cannot be found or those who refuse to be contacted?
WARM finds virtually everyone, and of those, over ninety percent consent to contact.
What are the fees for a WARM search?
A court search for legal access to the sealed records for anyone born or adopted in the State of Washington, is $350.00. A non-court search, when the client has documented identifying information, is $250.00. There is NO CHARGE to register on the WARM Birth Index.
Does WARM accept credit cards?
Yes, you may use VISA or MasterCard.
Does WARM give fee waivers?
No, at this time fee waivers are not available. You may make payments on a court search fee. When a minimum of $150.00 has been paid, the petitioning process will begin. There are no interest charges.
If WARM is a non-profit organization, why do you have a fee?
There are operating costs every step of the way. WARM's only sources of income are search fees and donations. Some of the everyday expenses are: office rental, telephone access and long distance, insurance, taxes, license fees, court fees, agency fees, postage, paper supplies, website, publication expenses, and staff (two part-time employees).