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 1,204,965 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
3586. Evamartinson416 : my mother had put my little brother up for adoption at birth and kept it in secrecy for the past 21 years and i’m 18 , me and my older sister are interested in finding our little brother we have photos and before adoption name as well as hospital information . please help us find him
3587. Carolyn112 : Born Uxbridge ont. Bio Mother Janice bio father Anthony. Kept her for 6-8 months. Was told a family in Toronto adopted her. Baby birth name Terry
3588. AM86 : Antia lynn Chambers born in Toronto, Ontario October 17 1967. I am her oldest daughter looking for my biological family. I have done my 23andme and ancestry as well but I just know chambers last name but I dont know whose last name it belongs too. Thanks again Ainsley
3589. SoniaScott : When i explore facebook and i go through the list of people u may know,,i always think of my uncle. hoping to find him,,wonder if hes name change,wonder if he’s adopted parents told him about beeing adopt or even mention he has a sister wonder if he had a good loving family.even wonder if hes still alive,at my knowledge his name was Robert Langlois,birthday November 10th, 74..if anyone would know his where about.no hesitation to tell me . please share! Would love to meet my uncle
3590. Shaquan2000 : My mothers name is Shakira Reid, this is who i am looking for.
3591. Cmfroese : Julie Phipps mother
3592. PGCG : North Bay Hospital 1955 or 1956. Ancestry doesn’t line up after DNA test‚ birth dates don’t line up.
3593. ChrisLapointe : I was born January 1, 1984 in North Bay, Ontario. All I know is my birth Mother was very young when she had me (16 or 17 I believe) and that her last name MIGHT be either Thibault or Thibodeau.
3594. Kathleen009 : I am searching for my birth son. He was born in Ottawa, Ontario January 17th, 1983. He was named David Joseph but his parents likely changed his name. He has many relatives!
3595. Nicolayardy : My mother’s name is Christine, and my father is Adam. You were going to name me Sophie. I was born at Leamington Hospital.
3596. Brianslayzz : I am looking for my moms birth parents
3597. Andrewtiffanyneveu : Twin boys born june 4 2001 Names at birth: kaylob and kaya born in ottawa ontario birth mother tanya picard birth father andrew neveu were adopted from children aid socitey with out father perisson at around 9 months alot
3598. Minniesr : Adopted to family in Woodstock, Ont. I had a full head of very dark hair and looked like an Indian baby. My DNA is downloaded here so I encourage you to download your DNA and then run a comparison DNA search!
3599. Petridis69 : I’m looking a possibly adopted family member a.k.a Theo Judge’Petridis born April 8th 2010 Toronto adopted out by NSFT date unknown.
3600. LikeaMarguerite : Birth mother may have been Teresa Doran (American)
