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.
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A Few of Our Members Currently Searching Within Ontario Who Chose To Be Featured
2281. Kt19 : Hospital. Central Nl. Hospital Grand Falls Windsor, nl. Mothers name. Francis Gormely, Bishop Falls, Nl. Fathers name. David Temple. (Deceased)... Bishop Falls, Nl. Baby named. James Bryan Gromley Mothers father was an RCMP office stationed in GFW, Nl.
2282. Shayyaz : My birth name was Pauline Elizabeth and I’m looking for any members of my birth family.
2283. Shayyaz : My birth name was Pauline Elizabeth.
2284. Karinr : Born in Toronto, adopted thru Toronto CAS, was adopted within 3 months to Jean and Sulev Hallimae of Weston, Ontario. Looking for birthday father. I know my birth mothers last name is /was Rees of Belle Island Newfoundland. I found my half brother, we share a dad. Brothers name is Rick and his date of birth is July 24, 1968.
2285. Cherylmckee : I am trying to find my uncle. Mother’s name was Thelma Annie Deakin. Father was Marc Marr. Born in Hamilton Ontario at the salvation army
2286. JustinEby : This is what I know- My fathers last name is Lawrence, I have 6 siblings (age range of 24-40), I was taken by the children’s aid society of Huron County and put in a foster home around the age of 1. My mother was born in Ontario in 1970 of Canadian/German descent
2287. MilesLangstaff : Birth name John Hogarth Born in Women’s College Hospital Toronto Canada August 30 1945 Mother from Saskatchewan Canada Mother attending University in Toronto Mother born in 1925 Possible home town of Mother might be Moosomin Saskatchewan Canada
2288. Geri-lynnbrown : I am looking for my sister whose name is Alexandra Mary by adoption and Margaret Ruth at birth, She was born at Womens College in Toronto and later adopted by a couple fathers year of birth 1924 and adoptive mothers year of birth 1933. They also had an older son.
2289. Bulldogrusty : I do not know much. But my mom had a son before me. I was born in 1969. This child was born a couple years before. I believe in Peterborough Ontario possibly Port hope .Mum doesn’t talk about it or remember much so she says. I want to find my half brother. I lost a blood brother last year. Also updated: the fathers name of this child was Steve McLean. And the mom was Frances Gourley. Please help.
2290. Marlasamuel : I have a relationship with my birth mother, Gail Bishop. She doesn’t know who the father was. She gave birth to me at The Toronto General Hospital. She named me Robyn. This was a private adoption with a gyneacologist Dr Spevack. I suspect a man named Scott Alexander Davidson from Uxbridge, Ont however I would require a paternity DNA test. Thank you, Marla Samuel
2291. Dotter52 : I was born April 4th 1966 in Scarborough Ontario. I was adopted by Lawrence and Betty Dotte. They adopted 4 children 3 girls and one boy{me}. I live in Sarnia,Ontario. In 1990 I lived in Grimsby Ontario for 6 years. Was asked several times if I had a brother. I was told I look just like him. Got my curiosity. I lived in Vancouver for 12 years before moving back to Sarnia in 2006. Both my adopted parents and oldest sister are deceased. Just trying to find any birth relations to be honest. Would like to know where I come from
2292. BabbiGurlJ : I’m looking for my siblings from my fathers side. I’ve found one sister so far. My fathers name is Michael Joseph Tessier. His parents are Gerald and Roland Tessier. From what I know they are all in Cornwall, Ontario, however my dad used to live in summerland and penticton British Columbia. From what I know he has fathered 8 children (including me) and I’m trying to locate the others.
2293. BrianBartlett : All I know is my birth name was Bruce Douglas Lecock and I was born Feb. 14 1960 in Toronto. Thank You.
2294. BabyGirlFisher : Searching for birth mother named Shirley Fisher. Baby girl born September 28, 1955 at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Toronto. Baby’s name at birth - Deborah Fisher. Adoption registered November 1956 in Sudbury, ON.
2295. Jessicalavoie1234 : Ricky and Randy born in Newmarket Ontario Canada at York County Hopsital now know as South Lake your adoptive dad had this own farm and your adopted mother was leader of H4 club and was a gardner, painter and seamstress
