I am wanting to find out what I can about my biological parents and half-brother. Not necessarily meet them, I just want to know what type of people they are/were. But if that is not possible I at least would like to know a medical history so I can know what things I may need to be aware of and answer some questions about medical issues I already have. My adoption was a closed adoption case and I am not sure if South Carolina has any laws for or against me seeing the records, or if there is some agency or someone that could help me. What do I need to do? Can I do anything?

What type of medical problems do you have that knowing a family medical history will help with??

How do you know you have a 1/2 brother ?

The little bit of information that my adoptive parents received from the agency/agent they went through. Just know that abortion was considered, I have a 1/2 brother, and that my birth mother listed my birth father as deceased, but she may have been having an affair and wanted to hide the man's identity. Other than that I know absolutely nothing.

As for medical problems, I have depression, slight bi-polar, I have to take mood stabilzers and other medicines for those on a daily basis, I had to have back surgery when I was 17 just out of nowhere, I have always had stomach problems, and I am wondering about the possibility of any sexuality traits that may have been passed down at some point because I am more attracted to girls than boys and always have been. I know its debatd as to whether genetics play a role in sexuality, but I still would like to know.

None of those are life-threatening medical conditions.

The ONLY way you are going to get closed records opened is if you can somehow argue that you need that information to LIVE. Not to get on with your life, but because you have to have that information to not DIE.

You'd need a good lawyer, and a bunch of money---but the odds are against you. Closed adoptions generally stay closed.

NOW--that doesn't mean that you can't do a search on your own. Contact the adoption agency, and leave a letter with them in case your birthfamily is looking for you. Do the same thing at the courthouse in the county you were born in. Register on reunion websites like adoption.org, adoption.com, and ISSR.

Your other option is to hire a private detective, but as a general rule if you don't have names, you're not going to get very far with that angle.