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 1,204,964 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.
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A Few of Our Members Currently Searching Within Ontario Who Chose To Be Featured
3871. Emelda : he was born at the Grace hospital in Ottawa Ontario. De John Russel delivered the baby to a single young girl.
3872. Kerrylynn1974 : Hi I’m looking for a male who was either 19 at the time or older I was born in 1974 on June 10th I was adopted out 6 months later my Bio name is Kerry Lynn MacDonald I’m now 47 years old and not well Cas tried to serve you papers for custody but you refused to take me I’ve been looking for you for years now and you would be in your 60s by now I’m from Alexandria Ontario please contact me
3873. Caseyblackmore : Daughters name at birth was Elizabeth Taylor. Born July 3rd, 1981. BM = Donna Taylor BF = Barry Blackmore Maternal grandparent names - Gloria Taylor, Willam Taylor Daughter was born in Kitchener Waterloo - adopted into Brantford to a family who I believe the wife was a nurse. Our daughter was born with an abnormality in her foot, she remained in hospital for multiple months after birth. She was then adopted into Brantford, Ontario by Brant FACS. I believe she went to my mother-in-laws in her 20s looking for family, but asked for someone with a different first name. However, this may have just been a mistake in documentation. Our family is from Paris, ON.
3874. MaddieRose27 : I was born in Hamilton, Ontario. I am specifically looking for my step dad as he primarily raised me for the 2.5 years until I was adopted. His name is Anthony, around 6ft tall, dark hair, light eyes and last I know of from records was still in Hamilton.
3875. Alixandira : Ive been looking for my dads birth mother or more so her family. My Father was born in cobourg hospital in cobourg‚ ON on February 6th 1978. He was adopted by a couple who couldnt conceive. Who lived in Roseneath‚ ON. He was born addicted to opioids and was taken from his bio mother at birth. Her name i was told is Peggy. Last known contact with his birth mother was in the early 2000’s. She worked at a tim hortons in either peterborough or port hope ON. I am my fathers oldest Daughter of 3. I am noticing a lot of medical issues and such coming up in my life that cant be explained from my mothers side.
3876. PaulAnthonyRobert : The name given to me before my adoptive name was Paul Anthony Robert. My mother would be around 61 years of age in 2021
3877. Mickeythornton : Person related to Thompsons, Trenton Ontario area
3878. Danathompson : Her name is Dana Thompson, daughter of Linda Thompson (Falconbridge, ON)
3879. MarcoC : I was named Mario at birth… Adoption papers show my mothers name was Paola
3880. Mermaid28 : I was born December 28, 1972 in Brampton and given up for a private adoption. Looking for birth /family Mom for health info.
3881. Buckie : I was born in Hamilton‚ Ontario.
3882. Gayletemple1964 : Hi I was adopted at birth and I’m looking for my birth mother her name is Diane marie bitz and I was born at the toronto grace hospital in1964
3883. TomWill24 : Looking for my mom Danielle Paige, I think your 49 or 50 now. Okay so the hospital I was born at was Woman’s College Hospital in Toronto. My mom lived in Toronto and had graduated high school, she has a bunch of health conditions with her lungs and suffers from a life debilitating disease so I really hope she’s okay and still here. My birth fathers name is ken but I don’t want to know him just you. You were I think 25 when you had me and were in and out of shelters because of my birthfather >.<, you worked as a dancer at the time and modeled a little I think. My birth father lived 100 yards from the courthouse you would go to over me. You came to visit me 19 times but I know you said you would have come more just my birthfather was problematic. You had 3 miscarriages before me :(. I was born HIV positive but that went away so I kinda feel like a miracle baby X,D. Your doctor at the time was Dr. Jhirad who worked at the S.H.O.U.T clinic in downtown Toronto. Anyways I think iv put enough about all that and I just want to say I really miss you if I can say that and that I hope your okay and that I want to know you more than anything :) my names Tom btw the one you gave me was silly ahah but ya I really hope your out there and I find you <3.
3884. HannaaNasra : Hi, my name is Hannaa Nasraoui I was born in march of 2001 and adopted by Michelle Minott and Nour Nasraoui in Toronto, Ontario from children’s aid. I don’t know much about my adoption being that my mom doesn’t remember much but I know she made some promises to my birth parents and used to send letters through children’s aid to my birth mother. Hannaa wasnt the name given to me by my birth mother i believe it was Ashanti. My birth mom also gave my mom a small gold cross necklace and i was told that i have a sister 2 years older than me.
3885. HannaaNasra : Hi, my name is Hannaa Nasraoui I was born in march of 2001 and adopted by Michelle Minott and Nour Nasraoui in Toronto, Ontario from children’s aid. I don’t know much about my adoption being that my mom doesn’t remember much but I know she made some promises to my birth parents and used to send letters through children’s aid to my birth mother. Hannaa wasnt the name given to me by my birth mother I belive it was Ashanti. My birth mom also gave my mom a small gold cross necklace and i was told that i have a sister 2 years older than me.
