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 1,204,958 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
3 hours ago
-
AngelaPuhr
3 hours ago
-
Jaygray
9 hours ago
-
Sven709
8 minutes ago
-
Wecouldbestars
16 hours ago
-
Stownes
20 hours ago
-
Heather83Ashl
21 hours ago
-
Jason15627
22 hours ago
-
Geoff35
38 minutes ago
-
Lianeopal
2 hours ago
-
NBlanch66
5 hours ago
-
TBriden21
18 hours ago
-
Rufus1968
24 minutes ago
-
TaraFortier
1 hour ago
-
Sandbox2025
1 hour ago
-
TomSnyder-Dan
4 hours ago
-
JenRen519
6 hours ago
-
AmberRTucker
6 hours ago
-
Alexisguinane
9 hours ago
-
Shotingstar19
14 hours ago
A Few of Our Members Currently Searching Within Ontario Who Chose To Be Featured
3751. Gregory1010 : looking for birth mom april 28th 1963 male
3752. Chris4444 : christopher joseph boucher was my birth name born in hamilton at st josephs jospital
3753. Mipathcure : Mother Beryl Peacock father Eli Khoury (not sure spelling) born women’s college hospital Toronto, ON. Birth name Lisa Peacock. Adopted name Lisa Dunn in December 1973/1974. Adopted father Keith Dunn.
3754. AmandaH1987 : I was adopted through the Owen Sound, ON agency. My birth mother was very young and chose my adopted parents because they had a hobby farm with horses.
3755. Emmaeluzabethrose : I miss my son Stephen so much there’s not a day I don’t think of him ‚ as mom you do best put your baby frist and I did‚ I hope I find him soon
3756. Dolorese : Hello, My name is Dolorese Carruthers (née Perreault). My mother, Juliette Normandeau may have had a child whom was born at the Hospital St-Joseph in Sudbury, Ontario in the late 40’s or early 50’s? My mother was single at the time. My father, Jean François Perreault gave us this information before he died in October 2018. My mother and father were married on Mar 22, 1952 in Sudbury in a Catholic Church, we know that the alleged birth happened before that time. Any assistance in locating this half sibling would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Dolorese.
3757. Bucketlist : Born in St.Catharines,Ontario Birth mother born in 1946 in Quebec Birth father born in 1940 not sure where. I have a half sister born in St.Catharines with the same birth mother in 1964 and possibly another born in 1968. My name at birth was Larry Thomas Guilbeault but Guilbeault was not my biological father, he was married to my mother. They were separated by the time I was born
3758. Donald_r : I was born on May 5 1940 at Salvation Army Hospital in Hamilton, ON. I was brought to Sarnia on July 12, 1940. Here is the information I got from requesting "non-identifying" documents: My birth mother was "committed" around 1935 as her home "had been broken up and her father was unable to look after her and her sister". In August 1939 she went to the theatre where her boyfriend was working construction (this was likely The Palace Theatre in Galt). Another male offered them both a ride home. This male dropped her boyfriend off first, and then instead of driving her home, which was only two blocks further, he drove her out on the highway (likely Dundas Highway, now Highway 5), turned onto a side road, and forced her to have sexual relations, after which he drove her home. She told her boyfriend about this, he confronted the other male, who denied it. In the case files, she states this was her first intercourse experience. This led to her pregnancy. She was 19. While pregnant, she expressed that she wanted the child (me) to be adopted. After my birth, she told the Childrens Aid Society of Hamilton/Lambton that she wanted to keep me. I was made a temporary ward for one year. At some point I was adopted by Vesta Burnett and Albert Robbins. I’m not sure what ever happened to my birth mother. The birth father was working at the [__redacted__, but presumably the Palace Theatre] "during its erection in Galt". When the construction job was done he left and went to ___, and the name of the construction firm was ___. The same construction firm were "building a new Woolworth store in Kitchener, and he may be working there as a key man". He told her boyfriend to "get her a place to stay and I will pay her board", which was taken as admitting to the rape. There is no further information about the investigation. I attended Sarnia Collegiate in the 50’s, and left my adoptive family at 16 due to abuse. I did not keep in touch with adopted family including siblings, so am also looking for information about them. Surnames of interest: Robbins, Jamieson, Masters
3759. Deborah1956 : I’m trying to find my daughter . Her name is Jessica Lynn , Diane Jessica Lynn given by the couple that had apopted her . Jessica is now 31 years old . She was born September 4th 1990 at Greater Niagara General Hospital , Dr Devena delivered her . Jessica was adopted not long after she was born . I was told by the adoption agency that I could not contact , see her or give her gifts . There are some of my friends and one Aunt that knew about my daughter but wouldn’t give me any information . I would appreciate it if I could get some kind of information as to where my daughter . Thank you her mother . Deborah
3760. Valerie65mac : 1955 Patricia Donovan She was born in Nova Scotia. Went to Sault Ste. Marie to have her baby
3761. Nancydd : Hi looking for a cousin that was born in 1987
3762. Margaret1950Hill : I was born in Hamilton, Ontario at the Salvation Army Hospital. My mother’s name is Gertrude Lucy Ludwig nee Oeikuch, she was 21 years old when she had me. She was a Machine Operator Textile Factory. And she was born in Sask. that’s all I know.
3763. Mikeallen2828 : Heather May Buckhurst
3764. MarioWilliams : My brothers name is Kyle, he was born in London Ontario and he was adopted with my other brother into the same house and his name was anjelo upon birth but then was changed to Andrew. Thank you everyone
3765. Terri-Ann84 : Hi.. im looking for any of my birth family. I was born in toronto, scarborough general hospital. My mother was from the east coast i believe, nova scotia maybe? She was only 17-18 when she had me. She played guitar, and was going to college in toronto i think. My name at birth was teresa anne, or Terri-Ann. My dad was a welder or landscaper, also from the east i think. New Brunswick?? I was adopted at 7 months old. Was temporarily in a foster home with an older couple.. the womans name is willie. A social worker made a book with baby pictures and some info on my parents in a photo album i no longer have :( please help me!!
