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 1,205,523 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.
Register NowRECENT MEMBERS IN Ontario
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A Few of Our Members Currently Searching Within Ontario Who Chose To Be Featured
2926. Koala24 : Brampton, Ontario, catholic Children Aid, mother maiden name is Davidson and half sister age might be 30yrs-32, half sisters firs name was Destiny
2927. CarolAnnSnider1 : Two of my uncles Douglas Snider and Raymond Snider we’re adopted out of Napanee Ontario children’s aid society and the other out of Belleville Ont when they were young.
2928. GBK1955 : My brother was born in Elgin Hospital in St. Thomas, ON. Brownish-red hair at birth. Adoption arranged by Children’s Aid Society of Sarnia, ON.
2929. GarethDarnley : I also hope to find and meet my biological younger brother( His name was Zach or Zack‚ I don’t know the spelling) . I know that my Birth mother’s name is Juliet and my Birth father’s name was Brian or Bryan (not sure the spelling) I was born in Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington‚ Ontario. I know that either my Birth mother’s or Birth father’s surname was Haygarth. I know they were not married. So the surname is either my Birth mother’s maiden name or my Birth father’s surname. The birth name that my Birth Mother gave me was Damian.
2930. Shirleygirl1968 : Dundalk Hispital
2931. Patty0Brown : Jessy and John Pritchard adopted parents lived in Coburg Ontario
2932. Mrushton : Searching for my Birth parent i was born in east york Toronto on july 28th 1972 i was 7lbs 7oz birth name Mark Douglas surname unknown birth mother was 14 yrs old and in foster care thats all i know if you have any infomation please e mail me
2933. Chancellor007 : HAMILTON KEETCH DONNA CUZUBE BOWMAN NORMAN
2934. Jenrider : My father had a baby at 16 in 1962. He lived in Toronto. Had red hair. His name is Wayne Rider. I know nothing of the man born. I do not know who the mother is or when the birth took place. I know it’s a long shot. He would be about 57
2935. Raychael : Adoption with Catholic children aid society in Willowdale Ontario. Scarborough General Hospital place of birth.
2936. 0Waterfall : I was born at Toronto General Hospital in Toronto
2937. Tawnia : Peterborough Scott Ketcheson Tony Ketcheson Michelle Ketcheson
2938. AliSKL : I was born at North York General hospital in February of 1983 and I would like to meet my birth parents
2939. Davidswanson : I am looking for a brother who was born in England after WWII and then given up for adoption when the birth mother returned to Canada in April 1946. he was adopted in Bruce County, Ontario in 1948. Birth name Raymond Alexander Swanson.
2940. Corrinna : I recently learned my late grandfather was fully adopted in Ontario, around the 1930s. I would like to find out who his birth family was in order to add their story to our family genealogy. I’m not looking in any way to inconvenience anyone, I just want to have an accurate record of where we came from. My grandfather was known as Gordon Douglas Pole (possibly born May 26, 1933 - May 12, 2005). Believe he was born in Toronto. He passed away from a car accident in Brampton, Ontario. I don’t know his birth name. His adoptive parents were Basil Gordon Pole (1892-1960) born in London, Ontario, and Annie Ewing (1897-?) born in Alexandria, Scotland. Family rumors stated Gordon’s birth mother was 16 with the possible last name Coggins and his adoptive father was actually his birth father, but on requesting his birth certificate, I’ve learned this is not true. I was given little other info. I’m trying to confirm his birthdate and the details of his birth family.
