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
3961. Suka : Twin girls born in Toronto. Would love to meet them
3962. Juliesgn : His birth name was Leslie Glen Rose or Spicer Born in Toronto Ontario Birth date is October 1967 not sure what day. Birth parents are Lester Venton Spicer and Patricia ROse not sure of middle name.
3963. BarbS2 : Richard Marvin S Brantford, Ontario, Canada CAS adoption Placed in care July 1959 Foster parents: September 1959 until July 1960. Back to same home May 1961until June 1962. Elderly 15 yrs old adopted daughter. Adoptive parents: June 1962 until September 1962 They had a 10 yrs old son. Adoptive parents: May 1963 until unknown Mother: 5’4", brown eyes, brown hair. Trained as a nurse. Father: 5’7", blue-grey eyes, grey hair. Professional Eng, in the Royal Navy while in England. Canadian profession is unknown
3964. BarbS2 : David Andrew S Brantford, Ontario, Canada CAS adoption Adoption completed in 1975 Adoptive parents: Saw David’s photo in the newspaper "To-day’s Child" Childless couple Mother employed in a supervisory health care position. Father employed as a contractor.
3965. Findmaddy : Im looking for my daughter Madelynne, She was adopted by a husband and wife which I was told the man was a lawyer and the woman was a teacher and might be from or moving to British Colombia.One of the adoptive parents might have had a mother with same name as my daughter(Madelynne)The adoption was through CCAS (catholic childrens aid society)in Toronto,ON.
3966. Findmaddy : Looking for my daughter she was adopted through the catholic childrens aid society in Toronto,On.93 The couple that adopted her the man was a lawyer and the woman was a french emersion teacher.The adoptives mother and grandmother i was tod had the same name as my daughter Madelynne.Your mom is also searching for you
3967. K_kairetz : I am looking for my brother who was born July 3rd 1972 at Toronto Western Hospital. My mother was 16 at the time, and gave him up for adoption right then
3968. ShaunSpencer : I was Actually Born In Essex County‚ Windsor Ontario Birth Name is Martin. W
3969. ShaunSpencer : Born Jan, 9th, 1971 - Windsor, Ontario Essex County Birth Name: Martin Allen W. Adoption order was on the 28th day of October 1971 By Honor Judge: Waisberg / District Of York Certificate of Birth Registration Number: 71-05-005364
3970. Payne1313 : Birth parents are Kenneth Payne and Claire Hamilton Baby was born either in August or September 1966. Kenneth PAYNE is my twin brother.
3971. JenniferLLove : I would like to find my half brother who was named George Sippel at birth in Ontario.
3972. Jimmyjet1970 : Adoption was handled by the Children’s Aid in Toronto with the social workers name being Mrs. Whiteley. My birth weight was 3.2 pounds. The adoption was finalized November 1972. From what I am told is birth parents were young‚ not married. Possibly European‚ Greek?
3973. Kimjames : Born in bancroft, ontario
3974. Katherine64 : Mother’s name is Kathleen Lois Morley Born 1939 ? I was born at queensway hsp in Etobicoke‚ Toronto I was second child Adoption agency was Jewels for Jesus Adopted name Katherine Karen Ogier Need medical information on any family members please
3975. Junebartett46 : My full brother David Bartlett (time of birth) was born in the Grimsby, Ontario area. He was born June 5, 1951. Our mother’s name is Allison Isabella Bartlett and father’s name is Harley Willis Bartlett. He was given up for adoption approximately in 1953 at the age of 2 years old.
