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 1,204,963 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
4411. KaylaZ : I was born in Belleville Ontario. My father is a French Canadian male‚ possibly named Kevin Nicholls‚ who at the time of my birth potentially live in Trenton‚ Ontario‚ and who would now be in his early 40s or late 30s. I have a younger brother through my father. My mother‚ Dina Marie Christina Rupert‚ would also be late 30s early 40s and I have an older sister through her. She was living in Carrying Place‚ ON‚ at the time of my birth.
4412. Katscripn : Our biological father lived in Sarnia/London Ontario area. I am looking for any other possible siblings we may have. The adoption would have been around 1980 with that being said‚ you may be around 42 years old. Your name is shelby. Our birth father is Steve Alves
4413. DainaLee : My sister and I are looking for our older brother who was born on or just before May 23‚ 1969. His birth name was Stephen Michael Lehtisaari. My mom’s name was Constance Lou Lehtisaari. He was placed in a foster home through the Children’s Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto. His name may have been changed shortly afterwards when he was adopted. They may have changed his birthday to sometime after June 26th when the court officially took him away. We don’t believe our mom gave him away willingly‚ because we found newspapers proving at that time it wasn’t uncommon for unwed mothers to have their babies taken. Our mom (Connie) went on to work as a social worker for the Children’s Aid Society in Kapuskasing‚ Ontario. He was always primary in her heart‚ a secret she kept forever. Our dad would have loved him unconditionally if he had known. We always wanted a brother. We would love to find you and meet someday.
4414. Olivia1602 : I am looking for my mother’s birth parents. the family has been curious in the Past year about learning more about my mother’s history and birth family.
4415. Veronicatugwood : Hello I am 23 years old. My older sister (Valerie Smith) passed away in 2019. Leaving behind her daughter/my niece (Serena Sharon Smith) While we we’re young kids(too young for me to remember) a lot went on with my parents and Valerie’s (my sister) father aswell and his new girlfriend. Even to this day I don’t know what side to believe or what actually happened. I feel like whatever in the past‚ over a two decades ago should stay there I don’t want drama with my family. And I was never looking for drama. I don’t remember any time being with Valerie while I was younger. Years later when I was 15 I was able to meet her again and we connected so well it was great at least that is what I remember. But we hardly talked/messaged each other( we didn’t have a way to communicate) Then we found each other on Facebook and talked a little more here and there. When Valerie passed away only I was allowed to come to funeral with some of her close family‚ not her bi-logical mother (my mother) or half brother (my full brother) which I had no problem with her own father was not there. I wasn’t going to fight it. So while at the funeral I met my niece Serena we didn’t really talk as she was really young and I was kind of a stranger to her. We still managed to get a little hello in. Time after Valerie passed I tried reaching out only 8 month after her passing because I couldnt find her name at the cemetery. Valerie’s step mother went on saying that I wasn’t welcome into the family and that she could not help me. Because I had miss Serena’s birthday/Christmas which I completely understand. I was just very upset and did spam her as her keep reading and leaving my messages. I was only 19/20 at the time. I didn’t know what to do with myself not even having a parent to talk to about it. And trust. Through the past couple years it has been on going that’s I will not be allowed to see my niece. Im noticed I’m doing better for myself growing up and so I decided to message them my apologies. Also considering I don’t know whose side to believe. Sharon (Valerie’s step mom) accepted my apologies and told me that she was not the care taker for Serena for anymore as she had a heart attack and could not handle Serena seeing that stuff. When I was upset just wanting my family to be family ‚ the care taker( I think it’s Valerie sister) of Serena was very rude telling my lies about my sister saying she hated me etc. I have screenshot/screen recording of everything that was said even‚ what I had said. I was just wondering if you guy could help me out with this.. they say I will be allowed to see her when her when she is better with her new lifestyle adjustment as she moved into a new home. I think there are very impulsive lairs to get there way. I see even Sharon get time alone with Serena so I even think that would be a good time for me to get to se her to as the care taker is not a fan of me. When I did nothing wrong. I really hope you find this one day Serena!!
4416. HannahLainson : I am searching for my Birth Father‚ I know he worked in Alberta for a while and was from Newfoundland‚ If you’re out there I have questions- but above all else‚ I’d like to meet you one day. He was from Horwood‚ Newfoundland. His name was Cary Butt. The woman’s name was Chantal Bradshaw‚ she would’ve been young.
4417. Paulcowell1969 : I was born on August 23 1969 .I was born at York memorial hospital .My given name was Brian Michael Marconni.
4418. Ronvokins : Was born Robert Edward English in Oshawa general hospital Dec 24 1953
4419. Sarahabel : His name may have been Michael but was changed to Mark upon adoption. He also had a younger sister‚ maybe named Donna‚ later named Penelope‚ that was adopted with him in March of 1958/59
4420. LadyKenzington : Kitchener‚ ontario
4421. Donman67 : I grew up in Scarborough‚ but I was born in North York. I only found out in my 30s(!) that I was adopted‚ and have been hopeful of finding my birth parents and possible siblings since then‚ although not with the intent of upsetting my adoptive parents. My father passed away in 2020 and I feel comfortable moving ahead with the process as a result.
4422. Donman67 : I was born in North York‚ and grew up in Scarborough. I found out in my 30s that I was adopted‚ and did not want to upset my adoptive parents by searching for my birth parents and/or other birth relatives. My adoptive father passed away in 2020 and I feel comfortable taking this step now.
4423. Kassy12 : Name at birth: Robert Todd Haffner D.O.B: August 25‚ 1966 Birth Place: Cambridge‚ Ontario‚ Canada Birth Parents: Mother: Judith Ann Simon (Burrell) Father: Gary Haffner Baptized at: St. Aloysius Church‚ Kitchener‚ Ontario CAS agency: Kitchener‚ Ontario Robert was about 4 years old at the time of adoption.
4424. ChristineMacK : Wallace Wally Armed Forces Ottawa Glebe Collegiate Carleton Stittsville Dunvegan MacKenzie McKenzie Lois policeman constable
4425. DebraStainton : My father Lowry Paul Glanzer father Benjamin Theodore Glanzer mother unknown. Lowry was given to Benjamin’s brother Raymond Peter Glanzer with his wife Herta to raise as their own child. Lowry’s mother is unknown. I also have a sister LaRae. We are hoping to contact our father’s family. We believe Lowry was born in the prairies.
