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
1966. Ndavison : I was born September 14th, 1967 in Winnipeg, MB to Suzanne Lambert at 22 yrs of age. I was adopted through CAS in Ontario (Brampton) at the age of 3. I am search for Suzanne who was born in Victoriaville, QC. Although born in Winnipeg, my understanding is that my birth mother moved around for work and ended up back in Ontario (Brampton) where my adoption was finalized through CAS.
1967. Ronno : birth name was Donald Christopher Wood born at St Josephs hospital in Hamilton Ontario
1968. Adamwilliams : I am searching for my sister. She was born Deborah Elizabeth MacKinnon on August 4th, 1955 in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. My birth mothers name was Helen Roberta MacKinnon.
1969. Coryvickers : My name is Cory Vickers I was adopted by Andrea and Barry Vickers I was born at st Joseph’s hospital in Toronto and my real name was special jewel
1970. Leopatrick : I’m a father looking for my adopted son, born Patrick Joseph hickey. Born April 10th 1998 at Jewish general hospital Montreal Quebec, put up for adoption by his mother in Windsor Ontario through cas . Very interested in finding him .
1971. Ppearce : BROTHER. STEPHEN PAUL (MacDonald) ld) BIRTH MOTHER. IONA KEITHA MACDONALD BIRTH FATHER CLIFFORD MCEWAN Born. Toronto Date November 21 1959 I have unproven suspsion that you were adopted here in Belleville Possibly by someone who may have knowen our Mother. When I was a young girl I found a picture of myself with a young boy. At the time mom said it was a child of a friend. It was not till years later when my father was ill that he told me it was a picture of you. He also told me that in around year 1977-1980 that he spoke to you out west( I cant remember the province)
1972. PaigeG2019 : Mauvette white Cornel Garvey Paige Garvey Nathaniel Garvey
1973. Dryden : We are searching for our sister (given name at birth) Donna Lee Carlson. Donna was born on 5 March 1948 in St. Joseph’s Hospital (formally known as Casa Maria) in the city of Hamilton, Wentworth County, Province of Ontario, Canada. Parents are: Richard Arthur Carlson of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and Evelyn Frances Dryden of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
1974. Jmallin : Looking for half sister born Dawn Marie. Birth mothers surname Boyd.
1975. Jmallin : Looking for half brother born Patrick Earl. Birth mothers surname Boyd.
1976. Lormic : I am searching for my adopted Fathers biological family. He was born David leo Hockridge in Hamilton Ontario, and adopted David Leo Patton. Grey county, Ontario
1977. JT1977 : Selena was born at Mac hospital in Hamilton with a rare liver disease she was around 4 years old when she was adopted and her father would love to see her or know if she’s okay.
1978. Crowbarr782508 : My adopted parents names were Glen and Isabel Warren of Bradford Ontario my real mother was from Gravenhurst Ontario I was born in Pennetangue Ontario August 25 1978 that’s all I know
1979. SerinaKatherine : Don’t know if true but on adoption papers saying my biological mom’s mother was an Olympic gymnast, that her family looked down on her after getting an injury and not being able to follow her mother’s footsteps in the Olympics. I was born at the civic hospital and shows i was 5 lbs 5 oz, reason on adoption papers biological parents thought it was best for adoption is they didn’t know if i would have hypoglycemia and have to give me injections as a new born. Also on my biological dad’s side says him and his brother were put into care after his sister died from malnutrition. His brother was adopted. He was in a group home. Once released was plannjng on getting married and stated if his daughter wished to contact him he would leave his information from her. I don’t know if it’s my biological family, the orphanage home or CAS, but my name prior to adoption my records show my name was Serina Jean Katherine
1980. Needleinahaystack : I was born at Toronto Grace Hospital to Monica Wollschlager in September 1964. She was 18 years old and was born in Germany. l am looking for my birth father (unknown name) of Lithuanian background. He also resided in Toronto at the time. I was never told his name and now my mom has passed. My given name was Elena Maria Wollschlager.
