Ontario Adoption Records
The world's largest adoption reunion registry for adoptees and families
Start Your Search Today
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.
Register NowRECENT MEMBERS IN Ontario
-
Shawnammorey
4 hours ago
-
AngelaPuhr
5 hours ago
-
Jaygray
11 hours ago
-
Sven709
1 hour ago
-
Wecouldbestars
17 hours ago
-
Stownes
21 hours ago
-
Heather83Ashl
22 hours ago
-
Jason15627
23 hours ago
-
Geoff35
2 hours ago
-
Lianeopal
3 hours ago
-
NBlanch66
7 hours ago
-
TBriden21
20 hours ago
-
Rufus1968
1 hour ago
-
TaraFortier
2 hours ago
-
Sandbox2025
2 hours ago
-
TomSnyder-Dan
6 hours ago
-
JenRen519
7 hours ago
-
AmberRTucker
8 hours ago
-
Alexisguinane
10 hours ago
-
Shotingstar19
15 hours ago
A Few of Our Members Currently Searching Within Ontario Who Chose To Be Featured
3196. Caveen92 : I’m looking for a cousin who was born in September 1963. He was given the name Mark at birth, but we don’t know if he kept this name after adoption.
3197. Lookingtoconnect : I am look for my birth father. He lived in Toronto, Ontario when I was born. I was told his name was Bill Fink and he worked in a factory on the waterfront (I think Redpath sugar plant). He had another child at the time. I was born in Etobicoke General Hospital. My birth mother was Faye Dryburgh. She was from Scotland.
3198. Rsmlmjack : looking for a brother who was adopted around 1959. His birth name was Lawerence Basil Douglas. Birth parents were Stanley and Nellie Douglas of Belleville Ontario.
3199. Taxman3875 : Born in Montreal , QC. Adopted in Toronto Ontario through a adoption agency to a couple from Sarnia, ON Shortly after birth. No further info available. Looking for any possible birth relatives. DNA Done (Ancestry)
3200. Solamance : My mother was named Charlotte Davidson. I was born August 4th 1990 in Belleville General Hospital. My name at birth was Amelia Wallans
3201. FaithBrandridge : Extra info As far as I know from my mother: she named my brother John Vincent Davenport. When he was adopted she was told the couple who adopted him had named him Ryan (this could be true or false we are honestly unsure) but since I was little I’ve always called my lost brother John Ryan.
3202. Timmsreta : Dad name Terry
3203. Easygoing : Adoption took place in Sudbury On
3204. Tjbrjm : I have no other information I don’t even know if the childs birthday is correct :( I do know that he has a full blood brother and that he (the brother has done his DNA with ancestry)
3205. Gur777 : My son was born in Richmond Hill, Ontario at York Region Hospital. I named him Michael and was told the birth parents kept it as his middle name.
3206. James1024 : Kathryn Anne Blanchard. Blind River, Ontario. Sault St Marie, Ontario. Sudbury, Ontario.
3207. EllieJace : I am trying to find my grandfather on my mothers side. Her mother was a 16 year old girl sent to Kitchener from Saskatchewan to have a baby. She failed to list the biological father the only information we have is hers and she rejected contact, which is her choice but I believe it’s not in her right to make that choice for the biological dad. This is the information we have. Birth mom JANICE SAWCHYN age: 16 From: Saskatchewan Birth occured: kitchener Dob: May 9th 1964 Child name at birth : Linda marie Sawchyn
3208. Jayelle12 : I’m looking for my bioligical grandmother. My mom was born in Kitchener ontario at K.W hosptial on May 9 1964 and was given the name Linda Sawchyn until she was adopted and it was changed . Her birth mother name is Janice Sawchyn well last name i’m sure has changed she lived in saskatchewan and was moved to kitchener to have my mother since she was pregnant at 16 . My mother has tried to contact her once years ago and was rejected .. If anyone knows who my grandmother is please let her no we don’t want to tell her family about my mom , all were asking for is some sort of communication back even just one time . And to know the name of my mother’s birth father that was not listed on the papers. Please help!
3209. Sami04062000 : Daniel mason his parents names are kelly and malcome mason. Daniel was born April 6th 2000 at Centenary hospital in scarborough.
3210. BMero : My great grandfather, Charles Thomas Miron (Mero), was the adopted son of Charles Miron and Marie Lemay. He married Jeanette Esilda Pitre on October 23, 1899. My Grandfather, Donald Mero, stated that his dad was First Nation (perhaps from the tribe of Tecumseh). I’m looking for any way to determine more information on Charles. Thanks for any leads!
