Adoption non ID is essential information needed to search for individuals.  Read more below.

What is Non I.D.?

Non id refers to a specific set of information given to an adoptee about their adoption and birthfamily. Counties in California differ from county to county and what each agency 'deems' the correct information to pass on to the adoptee. Generally 'non-ID' will include some or all of the following about one's birthparents:

ages
occupation(s)
level of education
race and/or ethnicity
religion
physical description
hobbies
talents
marital status
medical history
circumstances surrounding the adoption

Other things that a lucky few may receive include the first names of the birthparents, medical history, ages, and physical description of the extended birthfamily.

Depending on what type of adoption it was will depend on who you contact in CA to request this. For instance if it was a welfare/state adoption commonly you go to the county you were born in Department of Social Services adoptions branch to ask for it. If it was a private adoption Sacramento may have it, if it was an agency it would be with the agency. There are a lot of heres and theres. To find out for sure where and who contact the office below with your questions.

California Department of Social Services Adoptions Branch
744 P Street - M/S 19-31
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 322- 3778
FAX (916) 445-9125

*note: do call and confirm where and who you go to. It takes a number of weeks to hear anything once you request your non id in writing. I wrote to Sacramento asking them for mine. Around six weeks later I heard from them that I had to go to the county I was born in for this because I was a welfare adoption. This meant I waited another six weeks. Also if you are an adoptee and have what your aparents received for non id, I highly suggest requesting it yourself. What my parents had for non id was two paragraphs. What I got when I asked for mine was around 9 pages long.

How to request your non id

How California Law reads:

Non-identifying information, as well as letters, photographs or other items of personal property in the possession of the agency are to be released to the person for whom they were intended after the adoptee turns eighteen, provided that there is a written consent to the release of the person items. In the case of adoptions occurring before 1984, contact between an adoptee and birth parent may be arranged if the adoptee, birth parents and adoptive parents have filed waivers of confidentiality with the Department or agency. The Department or agency is prohibited from soliciting such waiver. In the case of adoptions occurring after 1984, adoptees may receive identifying information about their birth parents (including the most current known address) at the age of 21 if the Department of Social Services or a licensed adoption agency has received an affidavit from the birth parent authorizing such disclosure. Identifying information is available to adoptive parents any time the Department or agency determines that "medical necessity or other extraordinary circumstances justify the disclosure." In the case of adoptions occurring after January 1, 1984, birth parents may receive information regarding the status of their child any time after the adoption, except identifying information respecting the adoptive family. Identifying information regarding the adoptee may be disclosed if the adoptee is over 21 and has filed a consent to such disclosure. Biological siblings may be "matched" with an adoptee who is over 21 if waivers of confidentiality are filed. The birth parent must consent to release of identifying information if the sibling lived with the birth parent until he or she reached 18.

 Cal. Civ. Code 224o; 227b, 224v, 230.6 - 230.8.

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is (your name). I was born on (your d.o.b) in (your city and state)

I was adopted at birth by (amoms name, nee, maiden), and (adads name) of (city, state aparents lived at adoption). My adoption was finalized in (county finalized in) and was handled by (agency or attorney). According to California Law, I am entitled to "as much information concerning the adoptee's natural parents as will not endanger the anonymity of the natural parents." I am therefore requesting the following information:

Regarding my natural mother:

1. Age and Date of Birth
2. Name at time of my Birth
3. Height
4. Weight
5. Hair color
6. Eye color
7. Education
8. Religious background
9. Socio-Economic background
10. Ethnic origins
11. Number and ages of siblings that she had
12. Where she was born
13. Where she lived at the time of my Birth ( city, county and state)
14. Marital Status
15. Her Parents ages
16. Her parents edunal backgrounds
17. Her parents physical descriptions
18. Her parents professions

Any and all other non-identifying information

Regarding my natural father:

1. Age and Date of Birth
2. Name at time of my Birth
3. Height
4. Weight
5. Hair Color
6. Eye color
7. Education
8. Religious Background
9. Socio-Economic Background
10. Ethnic Origins
11. Number and ages of siblings he had
12. Where he was born
13. Where he lived at the time of my birth
14. Marital Status
15. His parents ages
16. His parents educational background
17. His parents physical descriptions
18. His parents professions

Any and all other non-identifying information.

Also, pursuant to California Law, I hereby request that the court examine my file for the purpose of determining whether or not my natural mother and/or father placed on file with the court of the Department of Health, a consent form granting permission for the court or the department to disclose the information contained in my original birth certificate or any other identifying or non-identifying information pertaining to my natural mother and/or father.