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.
Register Now Directory
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
2146. Samic13 : Our mothers name was Patricia , she named you Alexander Dylan. A letter from your adoptive parents was signed Sue and Rick (Perhaps Nick as its a bit smudged) You were born in Toronto. last name Beattie
2147. Jonathonkelly : I am not even sure if my brother is alive but my mother won’t tell me the whole truth. I am taking a chance here. Trying to find the truth.
2148. Denisedrebit1986 : Kristin Hooey was her birthname her birth mother esther bruce (hooey) her birth father Jim (james) hooey we were told her adoption parents were wendy and ralph jibbs Cobourg Ontario was the last knowing of her
2149. LookingForHepburn : Born in North York Hospital in North York, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Name at birth Gladys Evelyn Hepburn Born September 11, 1942 Adopted in either Cobourg or Colborne Ontario. Searching for birth relatives.
2150. YoungMomBethany : My son was born in Ajax-Pickering General Hospital, Ontario. The adoption was a private adoption through my mother’s doctor. The adoptive parents I chose the mom was a nurse and the father was a mechanic. I was 16 years old when I gave birth to my son, he was adopted as soon as he was born. The name I gave him was John David, I believe the adopting parents changed his name to David John. I was given one set of pictures after he was born and then they disappeared. I was told I would get pictures while he grew up but that did not happen. I would like to find my son and see if he would like to meet me and his younger sisters. I am now 40 years old. I feel he is grown up enough to meet me and it will not confuse him. I hope to find him one day.
2151. Simmonskid : Chris simmons
2152. Lizzzytomlin : Her name is Brianna and was adopted with my brother Nathaniel pretty sure they live in toronto
2153. Lizabeth870 : Wendy Joyce Elizabeth Bowslaugh -mother of myself and adopted baby boy. His name was Kenneth James at birth. Born April 24, 1974 I think. Eileen Bowslaugh is her mother who may have set up the adoption. Details of the adoption and the process were not shared with the baby’s (my) mother at all. She remembers giving birth in Hamilton and soon after driving the baby to drop him off not far from the hospital. My name is Elizabeth Anne Inksetter
2154. KimlorrianeHughes : Ena Hughes - mother of child Son was Negro
2155. Kimdavidson3432 : My daughters name is Emma Elizabeth Jane Davidson she may go by a different last name
2156. Kallop123 : kallop Patrick o<Connell is now caleb Patrick bruce brace born in goderich alexandiadria marine general hospital October 16 1996 adopted november7 2005 brown hair brown eyes weighed 9/4 pounds maybe living near toonto mother Jennifer o<Connell-hubertslooking for son family wants him home brother nathanael can<t to reunite with his brother
2157. Trayvegas75 : Birth Mom’s name is Julie Jane Paetz. She had twin girls.... Born on Kitchener Waterloo Ontario
2158. Chanlove : Angie, Chinese, Angie Ying, North York General, Toronto, Scarborough, Markham
2159. Nchayer : I’m looking for my older brother, he would have been born to Brigitte Bedard between 1974 and 1976. I don’t have very much information other than it was between North Bay and Kowartha Lakes. My mom was a ward of the crown at the time and was in a group home. I have no information on the father. My mom was born in 1960 so she would have been pretty young at the time of the birth
2160. JosephVanasse : Elsie Swain was given to a white family after her bio mother Isabella Swain Born in 1890 & died in 1918 the adoptive family’s names were Robert & Justina Mullin and they lived in Kenora Ontario Canada. Elsie was my mother and she passed away in 2003 in Kenora Ontario Canada. We are trying to find proof of her birth and any info to help the family get aboriginal status that our mother lost after being adopted .Therefore an adoption record would help very much.
