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.
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 1,204,959 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
3931. Razzohar : My mother was born a "Carol Ann Brooks" in North York, Ontario, Canada in 1963. We are looking for any family members.
3932. Karenf68 : I believe my birth name was Margaret. I was born July 24, 1968 in Toronto East York hospital. I also have a daughter whom I gave up, and she would be 14 now. She was born March 25, 1993 in Oakville Trafalgar Hospital in Oakville, ON. I do not know anything else about my adoption.
3933. Iamfunny1 : Born at st Michael hospital Toronto private adoption lawyer Howard w cohen. Michael blugerman involved
3934. HSanders : I am searching for a potential child my grandparents may have had. Anywhere from 1924-1929. I believe the birth took place in Quebec and the adopted family lived in Ontario.
3935. Kentandrew : I am searching for my biological parents I hope you are on here
3936. Bauntieb : name at birth Stephen Noyes McDonald
3937. Soniareid : Mother : Ena Sylnette Sullivan From St. Vincent and the Grenadines I was born in Toronto at Women’s College Hospital My adoption was through the Children’s Aid Society My report from Children’s Aid said she was a teacher, my father was a policeman (not her husband). Her husband had come to Canada ahead of her. I have one older brother and she also gave up another boy who is one year younger than me.
3938. Cwalk : Searching on behalf of my dad, born in Huntsville Ontario. I am searching for his biological sister, her birth name was Sherry Ray Watts, also born in Huntsville, Ontario. There were four of you given up for adoption, and so far three have been able to connect. If this is you or someone you know, we would love to hear from you however you are comfortable, I know it would mean the world to my dad to find you.
3939. LindaSicoli : Hi I was born August 8th, 1963 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and named Christine Cloutier at birth. My mom was 19 and staying with her married sister through her pregnancy until my birth. I applied to find her in the late 90s and the agency contacted her when records were opened. She did not want to meet me and had told no one of my birth. She was engaged to my birth father at 19 years of age prior to her pregnancy but they broke up when that was discovered. She was raised by her mom as the youngest of 7 siblings, with her dad dying in a mining fatality when she was an infant. My birth father had to deaf mute siblings that were together in an institution. I’ve explored both angles to try to determine her hometown - mining fatalities in the mid 1940’s and institutions for the deaf and mute that housed siblings in 1963 and I’ve hit dead ends on both angles. I’m wondering if I might have full or half siblings.
3940. JakeDowling : I want to find my biological father. I know nothing about him and my mom never told me about him for whatever of her reason but once in my life I want to met my father.
3941. InvalidToaster : Hi I am searching for any family members of my Mother, she is still alive. She was adopted when she was almost two her mother’s name is Mary Elsiebeth Stremble. She would have been 17 when my mother was born in 1965.
3942. Banjosoda : Uhh my dad and the person I’m looking for birth dad is micheal ough and I’m super curious who they are, I think all I know about them is that one of their parents is a police officer
3943. AshleyHooper : This family member was adopted due to her mother being incarcerated. Name given at birth was Maria.
3944. Jls123 : Born in Scarborough‚ Ontario Birth last name was Purcell
3945. Cmaxwl : Birth mothers name is Grace Eileen Mills born in 1928. Adoption occurred in Ontario with the adopted family taking him in when he was a few months old apparently but not finalized until he was two. She has had 2 husband’s since then and 4 children with the second husband.
