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Finding Adopted Child or Birth Parents after Adoption

By candice - Last updated: Monday, January 18, 2010 - Save & Share - One Comment

AdoptionAre you a parent looking to connect with your child that you gave to be adopted, or an adopted child looking to connect with your biological parents and family? Ontario’s adoption records are open for adult adoptees and birth relatives to obtain more information about their past.

Pursuant to The Access to Adoption Records Act, adult adoptees, birth parents (and other birth relatives), and former adoptive parents, are able to search for each other using the names that are disclosed in the birth registration and adoption order.  Adoptees who are 18 years and older may apply for “Post-adoption Birth Information” and receive documents that include the name of their birth parents, the date and place of their birth, and their birth name, as well as other information about the surrounding circumstances related to their adoption. Birth parents (as well as former adoptive parents) who want to protect their privacy may file a “Disclosure Veto” that would prevent their identifying information from being disclosed.

Once an adopted child reaches the age of 19, the birth parents (as well as former adoptive parents) may also apply for “Post-adoption Birth Information” and request documents that include the adoptive name of their child as well as other information related to the adoption. Similar to birth parents, should the adopted child wish to prevent any identifying information from being disclosed to the birth parents, the adopted child may file a “Disclosure Veto”.

Adoptees and birth parents can also specify how they would like to be contacted by the other by filing a “Notice of Contact Preference”. Once specified, contact between the parties can occur via e-mail, mailing address, or telephone.  If an adoptee or birth parent does not wish to be contacted by the other, but is willing to have his or her identifying information disclosed, they can file a “No Contact Notice”, which would allow their name to be disclosed, but would also impose a fine should the other party make an attempt at contact.

Under The Access to Adoption Records Act, adoptive parents may apply to be removed from the adopted child’s profile and can apply for non-disclosure of “Non-Identifying Information” regarding the surrounding circumstances of the adoption.  “Non-Identifying Information” permits disclosure of some information about the birth parents and the adopted child prior to placement with the adoptive parents, however any identifying information specifically about the adoptive parents would remain confidential.

The Access to Adoption Records Act assists adoptees and birth parents to obtain information from their birth and adoption records, it does not assist with locating family members. To get in touch with one another, adoptees, birth parents, former adoptive parents, as well as other birth relatives, can add their names to the “Adoption Disclosure Register” which matches adoptees with their birth relatives and also permits the exchange of contact information.

If you would like to contact a birth or adopted relative, call Niren and Associates Family Law Practice at 416 222 4555 or e-mail info@divorcesupport.ca for a confidential consultation.

Posted in Child Adoption, Child Support • • Top Of Page

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One Response to “Finding Adopted Child or Birth Parents after Adoption”

Comment from Veronika
Time January 20, 2010 at 5:30 pm

It’s great to know there are ways to find relatives who were adopted.

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