Ontario Adoption Records
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Accessing Adoption Records in Ontario
In 2008, Ontario opened adoption records to allow adoptees and birth parents access to personal and family information. The province keeps records for all adopted children born in Ontario, even if the adoption was handled elsewhere.
While Ontario adoption records are open, the steps you need to complete to access the information you want can be overwhelming. Lengthy processing times may delay your search, and some information isn’t available to biological siblings, grandparents, or other relatives.
If you’re having trouble getting adoption records in Ontario, Adopted.com is here to help. Our voluntary reunion registry allows anyone impacted by an adoption to register and search for their family members. Reunions happen through mutual consent, whether you have official records or not.
To begin your search, you just need to fill out a simple form with ten questions you likely know about your adoption. If there’s a potential match on the platform, you’ll be notified right away.
We have the largest voluntary adoption registry in the world, with people searching for family members in Toronto, Ottawa, and across the entire province. Register today to take the first step toward a potential reunion.
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10,986 Are Adoption Records Public in Ontario?
Yes, Ontario passed a law in 2008 to open adoption records, including birth registrations and adoption orders. Under this law, adoptees and birth parents can access information from sealed adoption records. The information includes an adoptee’s original name and their birth parents’ names. Birth parents can learn the name the child was given after the adoption.
By request, the Ontario government will release this information, as long as the adoptee or birth parent has not filed a disclosure veto to protect their privacy.
How to Find Adoption Records in Ontario
There are different steps to find adoption records in Ontario, depending on your involvement in the adoption and the information you want to access. You can request both identifying and non-identifying information through ServiceOntario.
Non-identifying information refers to details that don’t reveal the names or contact information of anyone involved in the adoption. This information can include the adoption date, the adoption agency, and the birth family’s medical history.
You can request non-identifying information in Ontario if you’re:
- An adoptee who’s at least 18 years old
- An adoptee under 18 with your adoptive parent’s consent
- An adoptive parent
- A biological parent, grandparent, or sibling of the adoptee
- A child of a deceased adoptee
- A birth parent’s sibling
You may also have access to identifying information from an original birth registration or an adoption order. This information can show you the identities of people involved in the adoption. It may include the adoptee’s name at birth or after adoption, the birth parents’ names, and the adoptive parents’ names.
You may be able to access this information if you’re:
- An adoptee who’s at least 18 years old
- A birth parent if the adoptee is at least 19 years old
There’s no fee to access adoption records in Ontario. You just need to complete the correct form and mail it to the address listed. You can’t fax, email, or deliver an application in person.
How Can I Find a Biological Parent in Ontario?
If you’re an adoptee, you can find your biological parents’ names by requesting post-adoption information through ServiceOntario. However, if one or both of your birth parents have asked to keep their identities private, you will not receive this information.
Birth parents can also agree to release information but ask not to be contacted. If your biological parent has completed a no-contact notice and you attempt to contact them anyway, you can be fined up to $50,000.
How Can I Find Someone Who Was Adopted in Ontario?
You can only request an adoptee’s identifying information if you’re the biological parent. The adoptee must also be at least 19 years old before you can search for them. This rule gives an adoptee one year after they turn 18 to file their privacy and contact preferences.
Just like birth parents, an adoptee has the right to keep their identity private or ask not to be contacted by their biological family. If the adoptee has a no-contact notice on file and you contact them anyway, you can be fined up to $50,000.
Other biological relatives, including grandparents and siblings, can’t access identifying information from adoption records, but they can join the Adoption Disclosure Register. If you register, you’ll be notified if or when a match occurs.
Let Adopted.com help you find your lost family today!
Adopted.com is a powerful adoption reunion registry designed to help you reconnect with your birth parents. By registering, you gain access to a growing database of over 1,205,528 profiles, increasing your chances of finding your biological relatives. The platform respects your privacy and allows you to update your profile anytime.
Registration is free, and the unique search tool ensures measurable match results. When you find your birth parents, remember to approach the reunion with an open heart and understanding, as it can be an emotionally significant experience for everyone involved.
Register NowRECENT MEMBERS IN Ontario
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A Few of Our Members Currently Searching Within Ontario Who Chose To Be Featured
1576. TaniaPark : I have been looking my sister since she was 18. She was born in Hamilton and was born a preemie, her twin died in utero. I would love to meet her and get to know her. I have lots of information to share for a potential match
1577. Shel12 : Searching for my birth father. I believe his name is Frank Snowdon and he grew up in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. He would have been born around 1950.
1578. Bucketboy : Hello I’m David Garrow I was adopted in york, Toronto, Ontario Canada by Patricia and Alex Garrow. I have no other information but would like to locate any information about my birth parents or family
1579. SarahJessica1393 : I was adopted at birth in Ottawa Ontario, born at the Riverside hospital. My sister, whos first name is either Emma or Emily, was adopted a year prior to me in 1992. Our biological parents names are Troy & Marge.
1580. Elisabeth1979 : -born in St Thomas Ontario -Birth name was Christine -Adopted through Elgin CAS / Bruce County CAS
1581. KarenGraceRMT : I have already located my birth mother her name is Margaret McWhirter. My name at birth was Heather McWhirter. I am looking for my biological father his name is James Moore, Scottish ethnicity, born in 1943 or 1944, I believe. He was a private in the Canadian military at Base Borden, Barrie Ontario.
1582. Sprinklezkitten : Birth name: Ariel Lee Anne L Born in Windsor Ontario BDay: 07/07/1997
1583. ElaineBertrand1 : Kingston General Hospital Leeds and Grenville Children’s aid
1584. Lindarourke : I was adopted in Brantford, Ontario, my birth name was Sharon Elizabeth Wingrove. I was adopted through the Children’s Aid Society in Brantford. I was in foster care first. My birth parents were in their early twenties. My birth mother was an x-ray technician and my birth father was in broadcasting (I believe).
1585. Paulmasters : I was born in Guelph, Ontario. My mother’s adopted name was Marion Roth Darby and my father’s name was William Jule Masters. I was given up for adoption at the age of 3 because my father was ill and my mother wasn’t able to take care of myself and siblings. My mother was born on April 6, 1937. My grandparents are Eli Masters and Rebecca Jewell Rumley. I don’t know what my mother’s birth name was or where she was born. I know my dad has since passed away but I would really love to meet my Mom.
1586. Xxemosid2001xX : I am looking for my 14 year old nephew. His name his Dustin, and has 2 older brothers named Eric and Patrick. I have not seen you since you were a baby. I herd that you look a lot like Eric right now, and that you and Patrick have been adopted by 2 dad’s. You are loved and missed very much by everyone. And we hope to see and hear from you soon. - Love, your aunt, Sidney
1587. Markimcc1996 : my dad was born December 23rd, 1963 and born in Ottawa Ontario. I am looking on behalf of him for his birth parents, he knows the name he was given at birth and was adopted a few days after being born
1588. Skonyi : Birth mother’s name was Linda Holden born July 4, 1950. Birth was in Ajax, Ontario.
1589. Jjunie123 : Searching for brother born Alexander? Sandy Forward or McNeil as father last went by in Sudbury ON. Parents Dorothy and John Foward. I was adopted with oldest sibling Evelyn and sent to cape breton where birth parents were from. Sandy you were in foster homes with Evie born July 13 1951. Im the baby of the family. We also have 2 half sisters and 1 half brother but i dont know their names.
1590. Lahennnn11 : She was my grandmother, Carol Joan Davidson.
