Adoption Record Services

Accessing Adoption Records

Whether you’re an adoptee seeking to learn more about your biological heritage or an individual searching for a family member placed for adoption, CSS offers a respectful and confidential avenue to obtain adoption records. We manage a historical archive of adoption files from:

  • Catholic Social Services, formerly known as the Catholic Welfare Bureau
  • St. Vincent Orphanage
  • St. Ann’s Maternity Home

These files are a testament to the lives and stories that have passed through our services, and we handle them with the utmost care and confidentiality. 

Submitting Your Request

For information regarding a past adoption, individuals can submit a request using the forms available in the post-adoption form packet. We also offer a dedicated form for those seeking baptismal records.

Please send completed forms to:

  • Catholic Social Services, Attn: Post-Adoption Service, 197 East Gay Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215.

Guidance and Support

Because this process can be emotional and complex, we offer guidance and support throughout. We respect your courage in taking steps to trace the threads of your history and are committed to assisting you with sensitivity and expertise.

For more information, assistance, or to discover more about our Post Adoption Services, please reach out to our dedicated staff, who are more than willing to help guide you along this important personal journey.