Online Resources

Guides to Missouri Genealogical & Historical Research

Adoption Records

Prior to a new law that became effective August 28, 2011, Missouri adoptees were required to obtain permission from both their biological and adopted parents before learning the identity of their biological parents.  Since the new law took effect the following changes apply.

Adult adoptees no longer need the permission of their adopted parents to request “identifying information” about biological parents, however, adoptees are still required to obtain permission from the biological parents before requesting the information.  Identifying information consists of: name, date of birth, place of birth, and last known address.  If the adoptee’s birth parents are deceased, the adult adoptee can request identifying information from the circuit court that had original jurisdiction in their adoption.  Finally, descendants of a deceased adoptee can request and receive “non-identifying” information about their biological grandparents, such as the age of parents when the adoptee was born, the parents’ occupations, and where the parents lived.  For more information contact the Missouri Adoptee Rights Movement or use the Adoption Information Registry, a service of the Missouri Department of Social Services.

For information concerning legislation on adoption in Missouri, write to the:

For information about adoptions occurring prior to 1917, researchers should check with the Office of the Recorder of Deeds in the adopted child’s county of residence. 

Prior to 1853 some adoptions were made by legislative act.  A reference specialist at the Society will check the personal act list in An Index to the Statute Laws of Missouri for adoptions occurring during this early period.

Researchers may also be interested in Tina's Missouri Adoption Page.

National Groups with Registries for Both Adoptees and Birth Parents:

For helpful books on conducting adoption research, contact your local bookstore for a search of Books in Print--Subject Guide, R. R. Bowker Company, NY, NY. This source will list books currently available for purchase under the heading "Adoptee--Identification." Since 1865, any resident of Missouri desiring to change his or her name legally, petitions the Circuit Court. If permission is granted, the change must be published according to a specified form, in the legal advertising section of three issues of a local newspaper.

Orphan Train Adoptions

During the years 1854-1929, the Children's Aid Society of New York sent approximately 100,000 children from the streets of New York to find new homes with families in the Midwest. Many of these children were adopted by their new families. Adults, who came as children on the "Orphan Trains," or who had parents or grandparents who did, and who are now seeking to locate lost families, might wish to contact one or more of the following: