Search & Genealogy Services

Adoption related or missing heir searches, and tracing your family history

At Search & Genealogy Services our services are diverse and custom tailored to our client's needs. We can perform the search or family history research for you or, if you prefer, we'll simply guide you through the process.

We are committed to providing quality services at a reasonable cost. Our clients have complete control over the goals of their project and the amount spent. We'll stay within your budget. Most services are charged at $20/hr; certain look-ups and document retrievals are charged a flat fee. Contact us for an initial, no-obligation consultation!

For Cook County, Illinois (Chicago area) Adoption Searches --- A Unique Resource: 'Chicago Daily Law Bulletin' Searches.

Nearly EVERY Cook County adoption had a 'legal notice of adoption' and 'petition to adopt' in this publication.

Able to search by birth name or adoptive parents’ names!

This is a one-of-a-kind, accurate & legal method of obtaining this information that usually can be obtained no other way in Illinois, a closed record state.

Birthparents - learn your adult CHILD'S NAME! The CDLB search provides the adoptive parents’ names, and from there it’s easy to learn the rest of your child’s name.

Adoptees - learn your BIRTH NAME! Occasionally the name of a birthparent is also included!

1934 through 1963: Immediate lookups in computer database with a photo image of actual adoption notice or petition sent to you. If yours is not found, no charge.

My late colleague, Edward “Mike” Egan, searched out, photographed and compiled every ‘legal notice of adoption’ and ‘petition to adopt’ from the CDLB for a 29 year period in order to create this database. The project took him many years and was quite costly. He assisted countless people with it in his work as an adoption search consultant. I am pleased he allowed me the opportunity to continue to offer this valuable resource.

1971 through 1989: Some dates are searchable immediately in a database.
However, most dates require a more time-consuming search in the microfilmed issues, which must be charged by the hour. Contact me for more information, including instructions to do it yourself if you prefer.

From Juli Claussen, owner of Search & Genealogy Services:
I am a strong believer in openness in adoptions. I’m a member of a family touched by open adoptions over three generations, and I am former social worker who worked closely with women and children. I am not in the search business for the money, only to help support my family while doing what I love
---assisting those who are searching. I adhere to strict ethical standards in my work, and I am happy to provide references.