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 1,204,961 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
2566. AuntCheryl44 : My nephew Kirk was about 9 or 10 years old when he was adopted. He was in the care of his older sister Leanne Wendy MacMillan in Kitchener, Ontario at the time. Kirk’s mother is my sister Brenda Susan Staite and she lived in Kitchener. Kirk’s father is Richard Charles Staite.
2567. Chance2001 : Biological father Lawrence (Larry) Meyers (Myers) 1941, last known location was Peterborough Ontario
2568. Wurr : Guelph, Ontario. Dr. Brown Guelph General Hospital Birth Name given was Nancy Ladd.
2569. BrendaA69 : Birth mother is Diane Margaret Adams father May be Bruce quaile. The baby boy may have been born in pembroke hospital or Ottawa. He was adopted by a couple who were police officers again not sure if this was in Ottawa or pembroke area. The cas was involved
2570. Nightmareonelmore : Searching for birth family members. I was born October 7th, 1981 at Henderson Hospital Hamilton Ontario 1:50am. Moms name was Jackie Marie Sewell April 26, 1965. She had one sister and one brother. Her mother’s name was Anne Marie Lewis. Father Jack Sewell deceased. Fathers name Kevin Robert John Greenhalgh June 15, 1962. His mothers name was Carol Joy Greenhalgh. Fathers name Anthony John Greenhalgh deceased.
2571. Vizzie : Born in London, Ont. arrived at adopted home Aug 23,1967
2572. Geofffleming : Looking for birth parents or siblings. Born at Lindsay Memorial Hospital in Ontario , March 27, 1973
2573. Itguy71 : Hello I am the son of Geraldine Hicks Berube and was born in Burlington Ontario August 1971. My mother placed me in foster care for approximately 10 months. Late 1973 to 1974. My foster family was from the Ottawa area as far as I know. I am looking for my foster family and potentially a sibling that was born and adopted during this time.
2574. Gilderjm : I have not been in contact. I’ve been made aware she met with her birth mother and didn’t have a great experience. So she decided not to meet our father and her siblings. I would just like for to have her meet our father once before he passes away. He believed she was dead for most of her life till he received a call saying that his mother had a picture of her for him about 18 years ago. Due to his daughter he wanted being taken from him he has always felt like a piece of him has been missing. He has always told me that he is waiting for the day she shows up. We are not asking for her to leave and forget the parents and family that raised her. We just want a chance to meet her. I’d like for her to know how her adoption affected me when I found myself pregnant with my 3rd child and a single mother. That I had to make the choice of giving up my only daughter for adoption. I chose to do a private adoption to a family member cause didn’t want there to be the wonder if she received a good home or look around going is that my daughter. Like all the years my other sister and I would wonder could she be our sister.
2575. Raymondrice : My birth name was Raymond Rabishaw and I was born in Pembrooke Ontario.
2576. Persy19 : Birth place was Sudbury Ontario
2577. CaraPrior : I am in search of my biological brother who was born April 23, 1984 at toronto east general hospital. His name was Carl James Butt until he was adopted just before his 2nd birthday.
2578. Coriander28 : CAS adoption date November 15 1976. Sudbury Ontario
2579. Iandavidendre71 : Looking for my adopted parents or siblings if I have any.
2580. MindyP66 : I was born Tami-June Maki, 17 February 1966 in North Bay, ON I believe I was given up at birth and was in Foster care until October 1966 at which time I went to live with my adoptive family with my adoption finalized July 1967.
