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
2461. KevinFehr : Martha Wilson born March 23 1924 in Glasgow (Bridgeton) Scotland. Parents: Hugh Wilson and Matilda Allan. Siblings Henderson (1918), Jeanie (1920), and Jessie (1922). Adoption ca 1928 Hamilton ON. Cousins would like to connect with family. Family tree and cousin’s genetic profile available on Ancestry.
2462. Elliottb : I am looking for biological family of my mother Ruth Gable (birth name) whose biological parents are Jean Gable and Morley Gibson. I am aware that my mother has three half siblings from her biological mother who I am trying to find.
2463. Diondion95 : The only information that I I know is that I was born in brantford Ontario and I was diagnosed with adhd and fetal alcohol syndrome
2464. Adopted3234 : CHILDREN born to EMMA NANCY POSSIA, MONKMAN, THOMAS, LEDUC or PARISIEN (you may have any of those last names if you were born to her. I have found most of my siblings (17) so far, but I believe there are far more children out there that I have not found yet. She had babies pretty much every year. I know in my heart there will be some more of my family out there. I am still looking for Ronald Leduc as he was adopted to a family in Regina, Saskatchewan. He would be born in 1951 as Deloris was born in 1950 and he was a year later. He was or is still a teacher in Regina area. He has a sister Deloris Leduc whom now lives in BC. I would be his 1/2 sister (same moms different dads)
2465. Marykayeb1 : Searching for my mother’s birth parents. We have narrowed it down to a Jarvis family member from Kingston, Ontario. Her birth name may have been Susan so we are told, but that is not proven. She was adopted by Mary Estella Welsh born on Howe Island Ontario and and Charles Patrick Gallery born in Elgin Ontario. They resided in Balderson, Gananaque and Perth, Ontario Canada. We are not certain where they lived at the time of our mother’s adoption. We were told she was born in Toronto, but I feel that she was born in Kingston, Ontario Canada on June 30, 1942. She could have likely been born at Kingston Dieu Hospital. The adoptee’s name is Margaret Theresa Gallery. The adoptee passed away on January 1, 1971 in Smiths Falls Ontario.
2466. Colleenconnie65 : Birth mother searching
2467. BrittanyCarr123 : George Robert Quibell born 1961 lived in Mississauga in 1988 was adopted dont know when? had a son with Patricia marie carr named harly douglas carr born 08 Feb 1988 Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada.
2468. Andreaisabellaxo : Hi! My name assigned by my birth parents is Andréa. The other names assigned by my birth parents I was not given information about. However, my adopted name is Andréa Isabella Bertucci. I was born in December 15th 2000 in Toronto Ontario. I was adopted at around 22 months of age through the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto. My birth dad was portuguese and my birth mother (I am not 100% sure) was a mix of, Canadian, French Canadian and Italian. The approximate age of my biological parents during my time of birth was young, my mom was a teen I believe, and my dad was possibly a bit older. I will update as I learn more.
2469. Lam85 : I am adopted looking for my unadoptive sister born Dec 3, 1982 in Toronto or Bancroft ( birth mother originally from there and later moved to Toronto) Ontario. She was kept by birth father. I was born 3 years later in 1985. Possible she doesn’t know she has 2 other half siblings as we have different fathers. Our birth mother is one of 12 siblings ( 11 being boys, she was the only girl, born in the middle) I was adopted ( along with my half brother, same mother different father) to a wonderful, loving family
2470. DianeSmylie : BM - Mavis Ruby Moline (married after birth and name changed to Mavis Ruby Smylie. She may have been in a home for unwed Mothers it worked as a Nanny for a family in Toronto during her pregnancy.
2471. DebbyGrupp : I know my Greek mother’s name. She was born in Greece and gave birth to me in Toronto, Canada. Her name is (or was) Anna Papaikonomou. Any help in fining her would be so much appreciated. Thank you for your time. Regards, Debby
2472. OyBillybumbler : Birth name Peter Worthington. Birth mother’s name Gloria King possibly from Nova Scotia. Born at East York General Hospital.
2473. 7March1984 : Ottawa General Hospital Ottawa Children’s Aid Society
2474. Charlanddave : My mother is Colleen Grieve. She had a fling with my biological father in summer of 1988 in North Bay, Ontario. The man claimed his name was Robert Harrison and that he was 30 years old, married and couldn’t have kids. My mom never saw any ID to confirm this. When she fell pregnant she told him I wasn’t his as she was scared, she didn’t expect to get pregnant from a fling. He asked multiple times to borrow her car for a trip to meet his adopted parents down south, but again she doesn’t know if this was true or false. I am your daughter and have been searching all my life. I grew up with my biological mother and a step father since I was a couple months old. I was born June 25th 1989 in North Bay, Ontario.
2475. ChristinaBell : i am searching for the birth father. His name is Frank Giordano he will now be 75 years of age and he had reached out to Christopher Young in 2006. Christopher was born July 3 1969 in Toronto but adopted in Orillia, Ontario by Dorothea (Dottie Jean) and Bernie Young. I am reaching out to re-establish contact between the two.
