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 1,204,964 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
2101. Damiennesweet : Born at Belleville General Hospital, Belleville, Ontario, Canada on February 21,1982.A girl to Gloria Jane Ainley and James Robert Marr. Named Sarah Jane Ainley adopted the same year to a couple belonging to the Air Force inTrenton, Ontario, Canada.At the time of birth the Father was expected to be at the birth but did not attend. The same night Simon Ainley and his wife Sharon Hanna-Ainley gave birth to a girl Alexandra although this is not part of this investigation it is a coincidence which might help in locating the child of Gloria Ainley
2102. Jmriel : I am looking for name of my birth mother. I was born at the Hawkesbury general hospital on sept 23 1958. My mother it seems lived at the hospital during the last stages of her pregnancy. She would play the piano all day. My uncle Maurice Jacques Riel, who was a Christian brother out of Alfred Ontario, often visited her at the hospital.
2103. Eadgraham : We do know the name of her birth mother‚ Doreen Gray‚ she would have been about 15/16 at the time of birth.
2104. Suannehenhawk1984 : I am looking for my sister name at time of birth and adoption was Suzanne isable Marie gauthier born on march 8th 1979 in welland ont Canada at welland general hospital. Adoption was done through family and children services
2105. Albinabekman : Please help me find my friends mother, he was born in Guelph Ontario, and as far as he knows was adopted within a year or so. He has red hair His birth name was David.
2106. BarbTom : Roman Catholic Adoption, Windsor ON Birth Mother Marie McPhee (deceased), Windsor ON
2107. June76 : Birth mother Janice Joyce foster born in Toronto on Oct 8,1960. Birth father unknown.
2108. GAMMUMJANE : Children’s Aid Society
2109. MaryCracknell57 : I am birthmother eager to find her. Her name is Jennifer Anne Payne....thanks her adopted name ....she was born in London Ontario Canada
2110. SharonNancy : I was adopted in Hamilton Ontario Canada. Born at Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington. My give name was Dawn Marie M. . I have to older siblings that I know of one 18mnths older and one 3 years older. My mom was I believe 15 -17years old and lived at home with 6 or 7 siblings of her own.
2111. MatthewPatrickMain : I’m looking for my siblings, Kayla and David Patrick. Their last names might be changed, I don’t know
2112. CautiouslyOptimis : Born at Toronto General. Adoption was through Catholic Children’s Aide Society. Came with some new born hospital photos in an envelope with the name "Mossely" on it. May have a younger brother.
2113. ChristinaB1969 : My biological surname is - Leonhardt. My brother was born in Chatham Ontario in September 1967. My Mother - Susan Leonhardt missed the first two weeks of school following the birth. To my understanding, our birth father is Paul Faulkner who grew up in Seaforth Ontario, and currently resides in Stratford Ontario Canada.
2114. Nessd07 : She was born in the north York hospital born October 1975 unsure of the day
2115. Marlene606 : Looking for my son Shawn Gregory MacDonald. Born August 22nd 1997 in toronto Canada. Also younger son terry Austin MacDonald. Born September 8th 1999 born in toronto
