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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10,989 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 1,204,965 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.
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A Few of Our Members Currently Searching Within Ontario Who Chose To Be Featured
2071. LindsaySchwalm : I am looking on behalf of my husband. Had a brother given up a few years before him, (1982) so maybe birth year 77-80? In Kitchener Waterloo area, Mother is Linda Schaefer and father is George Schwalm. If you are out there you have two brothers who would like to know that you are ok and happy.
2072. Spencer9090 : Given name: James micheal butt. Born at Mississauga Hospital, Ontario. 8lbs 2ozs. Dark hair with blue eyes.
2073. Louiselilly1979 : My bio mother’s name was Levon Higgins. I was adopted by her biological father. In Toronto, ontario. She was a drug user and living on the streets. I know this is a long shot but hoping to find my biological father
2074. Canadian1424 : I am looking for my fathers birth mom! Mothers Name was Marion lauder, my fathers given name was Alexander Kennedy lauder
2075. Zamora : I am looking for my birth mother/ father. My name at birth was Mary(?). I was born Sept.18,1971. I know a little about my birth father from the Children’s Aid non-identifying information they sent to me. My birth mother did not want to be contacted at the time Childrens aids reached out to her many years ago . My mother had many siblings. I also have 2 other birth siblings(?) who had different fathers, but the same mother. I was born in or at York, Hospital which I believe is or was in Toronto. My father was of Scottish descent and he played music by ear. Think my mother was a nurse(?) and father worked at a hospital or may have met there. Not too much information on father but I would really like to reach out and talk to her/him or any of family members.
2076. Zamora : I’m looking for my brother. Not sure of the birth month or birthday, couldn’t figure how to skip the question. I’m not sure of birth brothers age but I’m fairly sure it was 1968 or 1969. I have 2 birth siblings(?). Same mother but different fathers. Mother did not want to be contacted years ago. I had contact with a half birth sister but she has passed away(born in the 1960s). Our mother was a nurse(?) and I was born in or at York ,or at York hospital. My birth name was Mary(?) at birth. I think our mother had french in her background possibly from Eastern Canada. Mother had many siblings. I believe both birth parents were older in age, late 20s or 30s. My D.O.B is Sept.18,1971. Was adopted through the Children’s Aid Society
2077. Zamora : Looking for my daughter who was given up for adoption by a private adoption company referred by my family doctor in North York. Unfortunately, your birth father and I were splitting up as a couple/separating. I was in my late teens and your father was older than me. My family doctor mentioned that he knew a couple desperately looking to adopt a girl, and they already had an adopted boy. They didn’t want to give birth to children due to a disease that was in the family genes but they really wanted children. I believe your adopted brother is older than you. The adoptive family was Jewish(?) The family ran a very popular company at the time. They would be able to give you anything you needed. I could not take care of you and wanted to give you a better life. My baby girl was born in1989 or 1990 in June or July. I was adopted myself. I wanted you to have the same choice I was given so I didn’t want to terminate the pregnancy. I would really like to talk to you. We can just take it slow and hopefully get to know one and other. You have never left my heart. I named you Angelia.
2078. MURRAY53 : BORN: KITCHENER ONTARIO CANADA PARENTS: OLIVE & WILLIAM DALGARNO
2079. Maree3 : I am a female adoptee looking for family members on my birth father’s side. Birth Father came to Canada in 1956 from Ireland. The name I have is Jim Dick (not sure of the spelling). He worked for Pitney Bowes in the Toronto, Ontario area.
2080. RhondaB : Born in North Bay, Ontario. Public adoption through Children’s Aid Society (government).
2081. Galwn7582 : Kitchener, Ontario. The birth mother may have the name Melissa, but we are not sure.
2082. MikeMiller : My name is Mike and I was born in Regina Saskatchewan on July 26, 1963 to Margaret Elinor Montgomery and I would like to reconnect.
2083. Lwood-Skelton : -Born at Henderson hospital - Adoption done through the children’s aid society of Hamilton Wentworth -Name given at birth (we believe) Stephen -biological mother was single and in high school at the time of pregnancy, height 5’5,brown eyes, strawberry blonde hair -biological father finished grade 12 and was working, height 5’9, brown eyes, brown hair.
2084. Angpoibel : DALCOURT, Cooksville, ONTARIO, CANADA
2085. Jillcoture : Hi I’m an aunt trying to find my nephews Taylor Kirkland whose month and year I have listed and zackery Kirkland. I would very much like to have a relationship with these boys. They were taken from my sister in Walkerton Ontario. They have both been adopted by two families. Zach has cebral Palsy. I think they are both around the Owen sound area or at least when the adoptions took place. My name is Jill Coture
