Bev,   I assume you meant that Z has the adoption record.    If I understand your question correctly Z believes that A and X is the same person.   If this isn't the correct relationship ignore the rest of this.   If A and X is the same person, do B and Y have the same father?  That is would B and Y be full siblings or half siblings.  I would recommend the same test either way, but the results would be different depending upon the answer.   Two different test could be used: 1) mtDNA but knowing when the common ancestor lived is not determined so she could have been two generations ago or 20: 2) autosomal (Family Finder or 23andMe).  With autosomal you will get a estimation of the degree of relationship.  Family Finder from FTDNA uses chromosomes 1 - 22 and 23andMe uses chromosomes 1 - 22 and X.  Since you are talking about women with a maternal line connection I think it would be good to include X which means I think 23andMe would be the better choice, but either should work.  If you use Family Finder and include the test in the Powell project I can see the results.  If you use 23andMe you want to be sure to include both kits under your control.  I'm don't remember how this is done but my wife has our daughter's kit under her control so we can work that part out.  You would have to give me your user ID and password for me to be able to see your results at 23andMe.    23and Me cost $299 and Family Finder cost $289.  I believe you will have to add P&H to each of these.  It is $4 per kit for FTDNA.   Who to test?  Of course you would test Z.  If possible test B.  If you can't get a sample from B then you would want C, D or E.  C, D, and E have only half the X that comes from A that B would have.  Of course they only have half of any of the DNA that B would have from A.  If you have ordered Family Finder   As I'm sure you know paper records can be faked.  My parents had my birth certificate changed to make it looks like my mother had given birth to my two adopted brothers.  DNA doesn't lie and in this case should give a very strong indication of the true relationship.    Your real problem isn't which test to order or who to test but what Z will do with the results.  You have indicated a concern over this.  How will B and her family deal with this?  You you believe this is a real problem.   Another possibility is for you to have an autosomal test, but your X and your mtDNA comes from your mother, so you could use either of these to match with Z.   I normally don't recommend 23andMe over FTDNA but in this case I'd really like for X to be included.   I hope this helps.  If I have missed something please let me know.  FYI - I'm betting that FT DNA will have a sale on Family Finder before the end of the year.  If they do I'll announce it on the list.  Please let me know what you decide to do. Jim Barrett - Timpson, TX Powell Surname DNA Project http://jpbdna.com/powell-surname-dna-project.htm --- On Wed, 10/17/12, Bev Powell <bwpowell@sympatico.ca> wrote: From: Bev Powell <bwpowell@sympatico.ca> Subject: Re: [POWELL-DNA] Match Messages To: powell-dna@rootsweb.com Date: Wednesday, October 17, 2012, 9:41 AM Hi Jim My kit # is 131090 I have a request from a female "Z"who suggests that her Grandmother  "X"born 1928? And illigetimate and put up for adoption. The named biological?mother was my Aunt, next youngest to my Dad We do know that my Aunt had a daughter  "B"born 1930 also out of wedlock. "B" has three children "C", "D" & "E" A - my Aunt (deceased) B - daughter of "A"  C (male), D (male) & E(female) - children of "B" X - female in question (deceased) Y - daughter (deceased) of "X" Z - daughter of "Y"  and person making inquiry X states that she has adoption record stating "A" as the mother, no father named.   She has already provided me with the unusual but correct name of my Aunt. Z has offered to forward a copy of adoption record, but in the meantime I'm looking for other solutions. Is there any way of making a match or confirming any biological relationship between "B" and "Z?"  Or C, D & E to Z I also have a suspicion that Z is after some sort of financial arrangement since B has lots of money and she is well known inher community Thanks for your interest Bev Powell.