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
2416. Lookin4mymum : Born in Sudbury February 11th, 1977 Under name Craig Mother and Grandmother were there so I am told. If you have any information please contact me please.
2417. Rachiemac : Hi I would love to find my birth brother. It would be amazing to hear from you
2418. TerryJefferson : Parents are Frank and Sylvia Jefferson Adopted 4 year old boy around 1933 in Hamilton No others adopted with him Brought adopted son to live with them in St. Catharines‚ Ontario.
2419. Janiecakes1958 : I was born at Toronto General hospital, was in foster care for the first 3 months, I was born with a Rye neck.
2420. Aprildormer : I’m looking for my half sister Stephanie. She was adopted in approximately 1970. My father is Robert Dormer now deceased.
2421. Mlavia : I was born at Ottawa Grace hospital in April 1982. I was adopted at roughly 9 months from a foster home. I’m looking for my birth parents and a half-sister that I have.
2422. Lesha : Father is from Sudbury ON. Worked in Mines and also for Highways. Has 5 siblings. French Canadian. Father knew a Jean Szkotnicki from Sudbury. Beautiful lady, in her mid-twenties. She had an older sister and a younger brother (14 years her junior maybe). (Ottawa ON) I was born in Scarborough ON. I was born on Christmas day, 1965.
2423. Elaineprest64 : Looking for my niece I believe was born in Kirkland Lake Ontario. I believe she contacted my brother looking for her father who had passed away. We would love to let her know there is a huge family waiting to meet her. Her Dad would be Steven Prest
2424. ElizabethFlemister : Hoping to discover and connect with family !! My brother was adopted into a Christian family with musical talents in the GTA :)
2425. Missinglinklenore : I am searching for my only sibling.name at birth was lenore rose nickerson.born in March 1960 at Richmond hill hospital. Mothers name at birth was Emma Jean arsenault nickerson , father Perry nickerson. The adoption took place in Toronto.
2426. Sylviafraser : My birth mother is from Quebec, she was a pediatric nurse in Toronto. Family was not aware of this birth. Last name was Longouise (SP) She had many siblings - more information may lead me to a church cemetery in Quebec.
2427. John12121 : born in Toronto, Ontario, with some serious health issues, may have found sister in PEI, would love to put all the pieces of the puzzle toghether
2428. MargaretBarbaraTho : city was St catharines Ontario my sons name is Pierre Paul Sevigny (junior) the doctor was Dr. E.P. O’nielle Pierre has one other brother named Mark Pauil Sevigny January 28th 1969 three sisters named: Barbara Ann Sevigny -January 29th 1970 Nancy Pearl Sevigny - November 28th 1971 Tina-Lynn Sevigny-December 16th 1975
2429. Netter42 : Born in Leeds and Grenville, Ontario 1965. Dr. Bird was the pediatrician.
2430. Debgee : Adopted boy in around 1964. The child would have been 4 or 5 at the time. Child’s birth name was Wayne Stephen Hastings. He was adopted through Children’s Aid in Toronto, Ontario. His parents were Kenneth John Hastings and Shirley Hastings both resided in Toronto.
