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 1,204,964 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.
Register NowRECENT MEMBERS IN Ontario
-
Shawnammorey
4 hours ago
-
AngelaPuhr
5 hours ago
-
Jaygray
10 hours ago
-
Sven709
1 hour ago
-
Wecouldbestars
17 hours ago
-
Stownes
21 hours ago
-
Heather83Ashl
22 hours ago
-
Jason15627
23 hours ago
-
Geoff35
1 hour ago
-
Lianeopal
3 hours ago
-
NBlanch66
6 hours ago
-
TBriden21
19 hours ago
-
Rufus1968
1 hour ago
-
TaraFortier
2 hours ago
-
Sandbox2025
2 hours ago
-
TomSnyder-Dan
5 hours ago
-
JenRen519
7 hours ago
-
AmberRTucker
7 hours ago
-
Alexisguinane
10 hours ago
-
Shotingstar19
15 hours ago
A Few of Our Members Currently Searching Within Ontario Who Chose To Be Featured
4636. Mistwoman : Born in Toronto in a west end hospital.
4637. Wireland99 : The story I have been told is that I was born to a young mom (possibly 16 ish?) whose parents were in the military. I was adopted within 10 days of being born by a family with the last name Ireland (in Ottawa). I believe the name my birth family gave me was Brenda Lee.
4638. Magalmar : Born Marc on August 10 1971. Born in Orillia Ontario. Adopted by a couple in Woodstock Ontario.
4639. Jpare9 : Roger Gendron
4640. Stallion49 : My given name at birth was Angela Marie W. I was adopted in Hamilton‚ ON‚ Canada‚ through the Catholic Children’s Aid Society.
4641. Mommissesyou : I am looking for my daughter who was put up for adoption at age of 7 after cas was involved This was in Kingston Ontario canada Her name at time of adoption was holly Florence kirkham
4642. WiggleWright : Looking for child of Ms Gray‚ born Sarnia‚ Ontario in 1962 at home for unwed mothers. Don’t know sex. Mother is now deceased. Probably know who father was.
4643. Glehtiniemi : I was born in Ottawa at the riverside hospital
4644. SeanTufford : My mother recently passes away knowing nothing about her past. Her name was Mary Anne Lanthier and she was born in Saulte Ste Marie in 1945 to Fred (Alfred) Lanthier and Mary Papagwiss/Jacobs. Mary Papagwiss/Jacobs passed away in 1949 from TB and Mary Anne was given to an Italian family in the area. When we received the long form of Mary Anne’s birth certificate we found out that she was the third child of Mary‚ and all were living. We never knew anything about any siblings‚ and don’t believe she did either. We are searching for them‚ but it is difficult as the records are not available‚ and we don’t know when they were born‚ their names or even their gender.
4645. AmandaBird1975 : My name at birth was Amanda Lee
4646. Jewels3 : I gave birth at Grace Hospital in Ottawa Ontario Canada on February 11 1983 My name at my son’s birth Julie Russell His name is Ian Rutherford he has a sister who is 5 years older which was his adoptive parents only child and his adoptive mom was a teacher and she was also adopted and his adoptive father was a professional of so type The adoption was a private one and have contacted the lawyer who i dealt with and I feel she knows more than she says and her husband was the adoptive parents lawyer I believe his full name is Ian Fredrick Anderson Rutherford have been looking for him for a long time with no success and really wanted to connect with him
4647. Lforte : I had a daughter at a very young age born in Ajax hospital. She was later then taken away from me by CAS due to my mother being sick and my father disowning me I had no support from family. They thought I was too young to be a mother‚ so my cousin called CAS to take her away from me. I tried parenting classes and all to get her back but they won over me. It didn’t help her father was very abusive as well. Please there’s isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about my baby girl. The name I gave her was Jhene Destiny Rafman Martin if anyone has any updates please let me know.
4648. Lforte : I had a daughter at a very young age born in Ajax hospital. She was later then taken away from me by CAS due to my mother being sick and my father disowning me I had no support from family. They thought I was too young to be a mother‚ so my cousin called CAS to take her away from me. I tried parenting classes and all to get her back but they won over me. It didn’t help her father was very abusive as well. Please there’s isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about my baby girl. The name I gave her was Jhene Destiny Rafman Martin if anyone has any updates please let me know.
4649. Lforte : I had a daughter at a very young age born in Ajax hospital. She was later then taken away from me by CAS due to my mother being sick and my father disowning me I had no support from family. They thought I was too young to be a mother‚ so my cousin called CAS to take her away from me. I tried parenting classes and all to get her back but they won over me. It didn’t help her father was very abusive as well. Please there’s isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about my baby girl. The name I gave her was Jhene Destiny Rafman Martin if anyone has any updates please let me know.
4650. AllanHarriott : Child: Tianna Marie DiVito Mother: Teresa DiVito Woodbridge‚ ON Catholic Children’s Aid Society
