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
4891. Msteady2 : My name is Mary Steadman. I was born on April 13 1962 at the Brantford General Hospital. My birth name was Helen Jean Barnard and my adopted name was Mary Elizabeth Reid. I resided in Paris Ontario with my adoptive parents until I was 6 then we relocated with my dads work to Sarnia for 17 years then relocated back to Brantford. I also lived in London for 3 years until I married and have since been living in Brigden Ontario for the last 40 years. My birth mom was Linaa ( beautiful name) Diane Barnard who sadly passed away in May of 1999 in Brantford. My biological father’s name is Lloyd Davis who lived in Toronto and worked in a law office. He was described to me as 5’9 with blue eyes and brown hair‚ a slim athletic build‚ quiet‚ and was a tumbler (gymnist ??) Information obtained from Adoption Disclosure Services Toronto and Children’s Aid have been limited in regards to locating my biological father. Lloyds family is of English descent and relocated to Toronto from Cape Breton where my grandfather was a coal miner who had 5 brothers and 3 sisters. Information obtained regarding my biological father has been minimal and I am hoping by joining Adopted.com that I can make a connection. If anyone can help or has information it would be greatly appreciated.
4892. JasonPrince : Name at birth: Siegfried Name of birth mother: Mary Grace Prince Name of birth father: Raymond Harold Prince The child was adopted through an order of nuns in Ontario‚ that does not exist anymore. It was operating in the 1950s but closed after only a few years‚ perhaps in the 1960s. The birth mother was living in London Ontario at the time of birth. She was Catholic and the birth parents were not married.
4893. Catherine195810 : Looking for my sister information I’ve found so far was Sister name Eleanor year of birth roughly 1958-1957 Adopted out of Hamilton Ontario children’s aide society Our parents names were Donald daneluik Mothers name Marlene gore
4894. Cheryllavoie : My grandfather was adopted in Blind River Ontario to a French family . I know the names . They were my great grandparents. (Not biologicL)
4895. Mlloy : Birth name is Bucar. Birth parents are named Marissa and Mario.
4896. Mlloy : Birth name was Bucar. Parents were Mario and Marissa.
4897. Kristinnhyland : Believe first and middle birth names were Clayton Alexander. Adoptive family had older birth daughter and lived in Toronto.
4898. 1952July16 : baby girl born July‚15/1952 In Grantham‚ Niagara Falls‚Chatham‚ St.Catherines‚ Ontario‚ Adopted at birth its believed‚ Adopted by Local business owner‚ and wife who was a Nurse‚ both had served In England during 1941-45 war‚ At my mom’s time of adoption the family had a 4 yr old Son also adopted‚‚ Her adopted name was Wendy Louise Head. I am looking to connect with my mom’s birth family‚ As she’s passed on at 43yrs of age‚ Medical History‚ my family tree and geneology info is what I’m searching for‚ however Ontario hasn’t yet provided Birth records for 1950 to current
4899. AshleyAtBirth : I was told I was born at RVH (Royal Victoria Hospital) in Barrie‚ and my name may have been Ashley‚ middle name possibly Christina.
4900. 24680 : 3 children 1 for sure born in Chatham Ontario‚ 2 girls and a boy. Removed from parents care sometime around 1945 . Looking for relatives. Last name Peters‚ parents names...Floyd and Sarah. Not much else is known.
4901. Wyattlowry : Her birth name was Grace Mccann
4902. WendyBru : Child: Keith Russell Brown (later Clark) B. 1944 Mother: Doris Jean Brown B. 1925 Birth was at the Salvation Army 450 Pape Ave. Toronto and child was fostered to the Clark family in Hazeldean‚ Stittsville‚ Ontario and later adopted by them. Looking for name of biological father thought to have the last name Scharf. Scharf is my mother’s maiden name.
4903. Alverne : He was born and named Murray Donald by me (birth mom) after he was adopted he was named Kirk Douglas Wihnan! He was born at the LaVerandy Hospital November 23‚ 1965 to me his birth mother Alverne Melvina Veran. He was adopted through Fort Frances Children’s Aid.
4904. BrittBrennan : Looking for the birth family of David Ernest Starling born in 1937. I have worked out that the Herdman family is the likely paternal line of my paternal line. I think Thomas Herdman (1897-1970) was possibly my grandfather. I have no ideas so far on the maternal side of my paternal line.
4905. DanEliHow : Hello! My name is Danielle and I was born in Oakville‚ ON in 1996. I was adopted within a few months of my birth‚ and the file I received when I turned 18 stated I have an older brother & sister with the same mother‚ but different father. My mother’s name starts with a J (or so I’ve been told). Through ancestry.com I found out I also have a younger sister‚ who has the same mother but different father as well (her father’s name is Phil Baldwin). If you think you are a part of my biological family please do not hesitate to reach out! I would love to meet you :)
