I was adopted at birth in 1974 and though I attempted to get my records when I turned 18, Arizona law didn't allow it at the time. A few years later they started the Confidential Intermediary program, but I wasn't in a good life-space to search for my birth family at that time. I've always been a little nervous about it and put off searching for various reasons, but the questions would periodically pop up and bug me. I finally decided to go for it and contacted a CI at the end of July, but she no longer worked cases in my county and recommended Debra at Allen Investigations. Debra called me before I could call her. :) She thoroughly explained the C.I. process, gave me some good insights on how reality can differ from expectations, and was really understanding about my concerns. Very supportive and patient when I kept getting frazzled and calling back 18 times trying to get all the paperwork straight. Everything moved so fast! She was off to the courthouse to get started on filling forms as soon as she had the essential documents needed to proceed, though I was still working on some of the further background details. This woman doesn't mess around when she's on a case! We started my case August 2, 2017. On August 8, Debra was back with information on both my birth parents and let me know I also have a half-sister! Debra is very ethical, so she couldn't give me much detail, which is absolutely right and respectable. So then we talked about the options for making contact. Debra assured me she'd be with me every step of the way, and that I'd have control of the process. That if I wanted to start slow with an email, I wasn't going to as suddenly going to get a "Hi, I'm your birth mother" phone call or anything. :) We decided to approach my birth mother first, though contacting other family members was an option as well, and I wrote a "Dear Birth Mother" letter for Debra to send along with the official contact forms. And then I didn't hear anything for a while. By late September, I figured Debra had contacted my birth mother, birth mother had declined to make contact, and that was kinda the end of things. I was trying to accept that and decide what to do next. So, I called Debra on September 22, but got voicemail, as it was late on a Friday, so decided I'd just call Monday and didn't leave a message. Monday was busy and I forgot. Instead, Debra called me. She'd been working away on my case all along. Apparently, my birth mother had relocated a couple times and Debra hadn't gotten in contact with her yet. So, she'd gone ahead and contacted my sister. (I had given permission to contact any family members.) They had just spoken, my sister was on the way to get paperwork notarized, and we might be in contact within a couple hours, if I was interested. Apparently, she'd known about me since she was 17, but hadn't had enough information to find me! Debra was patient and supportive while I freaked out for a minute. Then within the hour, she was introducing me to my sister by group text. Once she got us settled in, we were free to go from there. (Of course, my whole "I think I want to start slow with some casual emails" thing went out the window. We talked on the phone for 7 hours!) So, thank you, Debra! I'd absolutely recommend Debra Allen as a Confidential Intermediary for adoption-related searches. She's dedicated, hard-working, efficient, compassionate, understanding, ethical, and a good listener. I'm very happy to have worked with her, and will absolutely continue with her if I search further. read more

I received a call the other day from a woman Debra Allen who began asking me a few questions, which my answers were, "Yes, yes, yes, yes..." She then asked me if I would be interested in meeting my Biological Mother, and my answer was, "Of course I do!" I have spoken to her, learned so much and had many questions answered. I'm so grateful! I have learned that I have 7 siblings as well! How fortunate am I? So we are now going to do some genetic testing because both of us have been through this before and been disappointed. Debra's service is different, and she uses actual court records, so this is exact, the DNA tests are just for she and I, for peace of mind. I will say that from what I've learned from her and one of my sisters, we have so much in common, it's sort of scary!! I called my mom to let her know, and for her to not feel rejected but that I love her and Dad and she is actually cool with this. I hope that my folks will get to meet her once again, as they did meet her back at the start. So my search is over! After 18,894 days OR 51 years, 8 months, 23 days OR 2,699 weeks and 1 day OR 453,456 hours OR 27,207,360 minutes, or 1,632,441,600 seconds WE are FINALLY done with our searches!!! Thank you so much Debra! You have made my wishes come true and delivered so much more! Now I have the BEST of both worlds, and on top of that, I now have new friends and family that I never new existed! So who's next? I know so many adoptees that also want to have answers. It took Debra about 24 hours, so if you've been through other services, you really should look into Debra and what she offers. Here is her link to her page, you can friend her as well. I think she's awesome! http://www.alleninv.com/ read more

I cannot recommend Allen Investigations enough! Debra and her team are truly exceptional. Their attention to detail is unmatched, and their dedication to their work is evident in every step of the process. From the very beginning, they worked with efficiency, precision, and a level of care that exceeded all my expectations. I hired them to help me uncover information about my biological family, a deeply personal and emotional journey. Not only did they deliver outstanding results, but they also walked me through every step with patience and transparency. They took the time to explain their methods, ensuring I understood both the process and the reasoning behind it. Their kindness and professionalism made an otherwise overwhelming experience feel manageable and even empowering. Although I ultimately chose not to reach out to my biological family, the information Debra and her team provided gave me the closure I needed to move forward with my life. Their work was truly life-changing, and I am beyond grateful. Debra, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. You and your team exceeded every expectation, and your work was worth every penny. If anyone is looking for an investigator who genuinely cares and delivers outstanding results, look no further than Allen Investigations. read more

I cannot recommend Debra Allen highly enough. I thought it would be pretty impossible to find my birth parents, especially given Arizona's closed records policy. I gave Debra no other information than my birthday and the hospital in which I was born. The process required Debra to file any number of forms, to follow leads, and to get court approval for many different aspects of the search. She spoke to my contacted relatives and had them sign the necessary consent forms. She kept me updated every step of the way with realistic time frames for when I could expect to hear about the results and to start contacting family members. In only a few months of what I suspect was a more difficult than average case, Debra put me in touch with my surviving aunt and uncle, half siblings, nieces and nephews too ! It's pretty overwhelming but she has also been emotionally supportive throughout the process, letting me know what to expect based on her years of experience doing this for people and her deep understanding of human nature. Furthermore her price is so reasonable. I might have chosen to search years before if I had known that I could find someone as expert as Debra for the price she asks. She's amazing and I feel so lucky to have found her. read more

I absolutely cannot recommend Debra Allen highly enough. She is awesome, compassionate, caring. Having been adopted at birth, at 58 years old I knew the possibly of finding my birth parents at all, let alone still alive, was slim to none, but I'd searched previously to no avail, had always met dead ends. I met Debra through a 2nd cousin I had found through genetic testing -- Debra had found her birth family previously. I started communicating with Debra, and was so impressed with how compassionate she is. I know she was working with lots of other people, but she made me feel like I was the ONLY one -- She made contact with my half-brother and with relatives who knew my birth mother - both parents sadly deceased, but I have a family on my father's side, and stories about my mother -- filling a hole in my heart! She made all initial contact and eased the way for me, encouraging me every step of the way. Each time she found a new piece to the puzzle, she would call me and let me know -- and she was JUST as excited as I was! She wasn't just reporting her findings, she was sharing the joy with me...I am forever grateful to Debra Allen for her efforts finding my family. read more

My search for birth-relatives was in its twenty-second year. During these two decades I had hired two private investigators. Neither of these investigators learned anything about any birth-relatives I may have had. The experience was frustrating the extreme. I made contact with Debra Allen late one Saturday afternoon. Within twenty-four hours. Debra had verified the name and contact information of my birth-mother and three half-siblings. I am so grateful for her work in finding my birth family. But finding is only one part of all this. Re-connecting with the family is a delicate step. Debra's advice and actions about reunion were all perfect. Within days I was on the phone with my birth mother. It was an overpowering and emotion experience for both of us. Because of the knowledgeable and empathetic actions of Debra and her guidance to me, my reunion has to be the "Gold Standard" of reunions. I now have half-siblings who know about me and trust me. I have a mother who is delighted to be reunited with her son. Debra put our family back together. THANKS Debra!!! read more

I met Debra Allen over the phone three years ago. She is a friend of my daughter, Nina Dobbs Van. when over casual conversation, Nina mentioned , that she was adopted, and had been looking for her birth mom,but had no luck, over the last sixteen years. so Debra said she would try. With very little to go on, she found me,in a matter of a day or two! That phone call was the most important one of my life! Within hours, I was talking to my first child! Something, I never thought , that I would be able to do. We talked for three hours and I told her that she had a brother and sister . She made plans, for a visit and on November 30th, 2011. I opened my door and after 47 years, my daughter walked ,into my arms! it has truely been the most wonderful gift, that anyone could have ever given me and my family! Debra is our own angel here on earth! There are no words , that will ever thank her enough! We are finally a complete family! read more

Thanks to the amazing work of Debra Allen my husbands biological family has been found!!!!! She is amazing and was able to solve our case before we even got the DNA results back. Debra Allen you will always be a treasured member of our family and we can't thank you enough for the countless hours you put in for us. My husband now has a very large family 3 siblings from his dad and 5 from his mom. We also found out that he is Native American and hope to help other families who may be searching through DNA. They have all been very accepting and so far things have gone great. Even though we may not need it now it will be good to have if any questions should arise and possibly finding more family members. So for any of you out there needing help in your search please contact Debra Allen she gives a whole new meaning to the term search angel. Once Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!! read more

Debra Allen Private Investigations helped me to find my long lost birth family. As an adoptee from the 1950's, I had virtually no information to help me find my birth family. I knew nothing about my health history. I didn't even know about the Arizona Confidential Intermediary Program, which allowed me to search for my birth family until I found Debra Allen. She informed me of my legal right to know and reunited me with my birth family. Debra's experience in the adoption search and reunion arena is indisputable. If you are considering looking for your birth family and have any questions, just ask her she is extremely knowledgeable about every aspect of the adoption search process. Her prices were more than reasonable and her experience was priceless. Debra has indeed made my lifelong dream a reality, getting to knowing my 2 newly found sisters! read more

Debra is our angel and beyond amazing ! She found my birth mother in less then two days with only my birth date and and birth city . After 47 years I was united with my birth mother and her family :) I have a sister , a brother and many family members who are all wonderful . Debra made my fairytale come true ! I have a wonderful relationship with them all now . Oh, and she is flying in on the 18th and spending Easter and my birthday with us !!!! Woohoo ! This will be the first birthday she will be here to spend with me in person . Oh wait , it gets better ! She will also meet my daughter and and 4 grandkids for the very first time this Saturday !!!! Life is sweet ! Thank you so much Debra my sweet angel ! Nina read more

Debra Allen is a magician with unraveling the past and helping me reunify with my father's family. All I had was a few stories, a common first and last name, approximate year of birth and after only 6 months, she did what no other investigator could do, she found my family! I had been searching in vain for decades but was never able to get close to finding them. Now, I'm in touch with my family who are warm and loving people I'm proud to call my own. More than that, she is sensitive, insightful and savvy enough to realize that there is always risk with uncovering the past. With Debra on the job I felt safe. I would recommend her for any work where you want to know the truth about the past. read more

Debra was very instrumental in finding my father and his family. Remarkably, this took less time than we both could have imagined. With the help of DNA technology, I learned I was not 100% of a nationality of which I believed I was. This actually meant that my biological father was not the person on my birth certificate. With Debra's help, we were able to determine who my father is and locate his family. Sadly, my father passed away three years ago, but his family has been gracious and accepting. This has been a life-long journey and search for me. Debra helped solve the mystery in a matter of weeks. She is very dedicated and responsive. I would highly recommend hiring and working with her. read more

I met Debra through Facebook. She read my story that I had been trying to locate my family for 42+ years with no luck. She asked me a few questions and started guiding me in the right direction - which surprisingly enough, I wasn't too far off base! I just needed the help of someone that knew what they were doing to push me. In November 2013 my birth family and I made contact! We have had the best of times since. I will never know who my father is, but I have pictures of my mom - we look just alike! If you are looking for your family - I highly recommend hiring Debra! She knows Arizona like the back of her hand - and can find people anywhere. Thank you so much Debra :) PAP read more

I didn't find Debra, she found me. I had done DNA testing to find my birth family. All I can say is, I fumbled around for months with little success, and within 24 hours Debra had found my Birth Mother!! Not only is she the epitome of professionalism, but she truly cares and feels every bit of what you are going through. I can't say enough wonderful things about this lady. She filled in all the little spaces and holes that I had struggled with for many years. Even if you are not sure, scared or just would like a little information, reach out, she will take you as far as you want to go, always with integrity, loyalty and character. She will forever be my miracle and my friend. read more

I can't thank Debra enough. She is very confident in herself and made the entire search process very comfortable. I mailed in all my adoption documents and she found my bio family within 3 days of receiving them!!! Amazing. She made sure I understood what she needed and kept me updated. When she gave me the heart breaking news about my birth mother, she made sure to also include that my biological siblings are really excited to meet me. That calmed my reaction a lot more than I thought. The costs of her services aren't even close to what I was expecting! Very affordable. Debra is an amazing women and devotes her life to reuniting families. Thanks again Debra!!! read more

My history as an adoptee is unfolding as I write this. My Birth Mother has passed, unfortunately but I have Brothers and Sisters that want to meet me. I never thought this all was even possible since I was born in Phoenix Az. but now reside in Indiana. Unfortunately we adoptees aren't allowed to get our own records about our own lives. A wonderful woman came to my rescue named Debra Allen. She is a Confidentary Intermediate and a Private investigator. So I still have a chance to get to know my siblings. Since I missed the chance to meet my birth mother. My head is swimming at the possibilities in front of me now. And the joy that is to follow. Thank you Debra! read more

There are no words that can describe the feeling you get when you find the people you have been looking for, Debra has been such a blessing since day one, it took no time at all for her to get records and crack open my case. She kept me up to date at all times, walked me through things, and was totally honest with me. She got excited with me, she understood my fears and when i really needed someone to be in this with me, she was there. I am so thankful for her and her services, I would recommend her, without second thought, to ANYONE who is searching for their Biological family! read more

Still in the process but Debra has been wonderful to work with. My case was a tough one. Had to have a Judge sign a motion to request my original birth certificate from vital records. Because of this had some down time due to the courts but once Debra had the documents it was only a mater of days before she had results. Currently I am in the process now of connecting with my biological family members. I am not big on writing and posting reviews but have had such a positive and rewarding experience with Debra that I felt compelled to do so. Would give her 10 stars if possible. read more

Debra Allen gets results. She helped my sisters find me and another sister after being separated by adoption for over 50 years. Neither one of us knew whether we had siblings and now we are four sisters reunited. I was found first, and only a few months later my other sister was found. I saw Debra in action. She is both a confidential intermediary and a private detective who is very experienced with adoption searches. She is professional, sensitive, and relentless. I am thankful for the work she did in bringing the four of us together. read more