Tracing Parents of a Ward of the State (NSW)

[Walcha72]

Hi,

This will be a tricky one, but does anyone have any ideas of how to progress?

C was born in NSW in 1967.  He has his birth certificate recording his parents as ML and HR.  However, he was a ward of the state until the age of 7 when he was adopted.  He lived with his adoptive parents from the age of 2 weeks, but couldn't be formally adopted until his father returned to Australia from Germany to sign the adoption papers.

The parents may not be German, but Austrian, Swiss etc.  At this stage it is not conclusively known.

Any ideas on where to go from here to find his birth parents' history, or any further questions I should ask him to see what clues can be gained?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Debbie

[AussieGenealogy]

Hi Debbie, I read your post with interest & thought surely the place of parents origin is on his b/c? I did a google search & came up with this site:-

http://www.clan.org.au/

Apparently they can help locating personal files etc.

[Walcha72]

Hi Annie,

Thanks for your help.  I will recommend the site to my friend.

I was only working off sketchy information that my friend's wife provided to me.  I forgot that the parents date and place of marriage should be on the birth certificate. I will ask for that and see if I can get any further that way.

Thanks once again,

Debbie

[Andcarred]

Hi,

I have traced a State Ward (my now deceased mother in law) who was born in 1919.

 However I think you will run into trouble because the person you are trying to trace was born in 1967 and is possibly still alive.  There is an embargo on this sort of private information for living people unless it is the person themselves seeking the information.  I think the records are closed for either 70 or 100 years.  Sorry my memory is not more reliable

[Walcha72]

Hi Andcarred,

Yes, the person born in 1967 is still alive.  I am trying to help him trace his parentage.  As I have been doing my own tree for a while, he and his wife asked if I can give them any assistance.

I know all about the closed records in NSW, but was hoping for some clues that might help us head in the right direction.  He and his wife are prepared to do whatever leg work is necessary.

Thanks for your help and advice.

Debbie

[Andcarred]

Hi Debbie,

Did the formal adoption go ahead or was he still a State Ward until he reached 18 years?  If so I would think he can go about tracing his birth parents by the same means as any other adopted person through the Department of Community Services in your State.

Andcarred

[Jamjar]

I was adopted in 1958.

I received a copy of my true birth certificate in 2004. It is the same as any full birth certificate, but it has 'Not for Official Use' stamped on it.

Your friend needs to complete forms and pay the fee and he will be able to get his. If he was a ward of the state it will only cost him $35. He needs two forms of certified ID, one with a signature. Certification by a JP is fine.

It can all be done by post, so no leg work necessary.

Jamjar


http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/parents_carers_and_families/fostering_and_adoption/adoption/are_you_a_birth_parent/after_the_adoption/can_i_search_for_information_and_make_contact.html


 obtaining identifying information

 If you wish to obtain identifying information, your first step is to apply for a Supply Authority. This acts as a passport to access information recorded at the time of the adoption, from DoCS or other information sources.

For more information on Supply Authorities see our fact sheet How to apply for a Supply Authority

[Walcha72]

Thanks everyone for all your advice,

I will pass all your suggestions onto my friend.

Thanks once again.

Debbie