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 1,204,964 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
5056. Nell4285 : Harold Walters would be the father
5057. OliviaLillie : Hello :) Looking for biological family on my father side since he was adopted back in 1971. I believe he was born around St.Catherines‚ Ontario. I have the names of the adoptive parents for confirmation. 99% sure the birth mother was in her teens when she was pregnant with him. We don’t know anything else.
5058. TKasaboski : looking for an adopted child birth Mother.name Enid Marie Lucas birth Father Brian Stainer Born January 17-1959 Born Humber Memorial Hospital -Weston Ontario Name given by birth mother Brian Steiner. Adopted parents from - Weston Ontario Moved to B. C. Name given by adopted parents. Jamison Jay Pannell.
5059. Deltaflyer21 : I am looking for my father and his brother’s birth mother or any biological relation. They were adopted together in near Midland‚ Ontario‚ Canada. I’m estranged from both my father and uncle now‚ and both of their parents are deceased. They would have been born in the 1950’s.
5060. LittleMare24 : My sibling was baptized Lilly Marlene in March 1958‚ and her adoptive parents opted to change her name upon adoption in 1960. They had an older daughter and apparently were a musical family.
5061. LittleMare24 : My sister was born February 1958 at the Hotel Dieu Hospital in Cornwall Ontario. She was baptized at St. Columban’s Parish in March 1958. She was adopted in 1960 by a couple who had an older daughter.
5062. TinaStarr : I am your grandma hoping to see or talk to you again‚ I have missed you so terribly. Your birth mother was Ashley Span‚ father Steven Glover you and your sister Myla were born at Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital in the City of Orillia Ontario. You spent a lot of weekend and summers with myself and your Papa at our home in Killworthy‚ I still have pictures of you with your Papa in the shop‚on the tractor and I have one of you on the forklift sending Papa up in the air lol. I miss you so much
5063. PeterChristopherMcM : I was born Peter Christopher McM..? on April 26‚1972 at Scarborough General Hospital in Scarborough ON.My birth mother was born January 1954 in Ontario of Scottish‚English and Irish descent.I was adopted by Michael Gerald Rice and Annette Carole Rice who have both passed.My name is Daniel Hugh Rice.I would love to connect if the feeling is mutual
5064. Nannyk63 : Given name Jayden Karma. Adopted through CAS Cobourg. Adopted by foster treatment parents. Family Dr was Michelle Long in Port Hope. I am Karen Haddon aka Nanny. You were with me for two years. I still think about you Moms name Lisa Howes You have many family members waiting to meat you again. Contact me. I live in Belleville
5065. Missingsister2024 : Hi everyone‚ I am looking for my long lost half sister. I know this is a shot in the dark but I have been looking for a while and have only gathered a little information. I’m hoping it triggers someone’s memory. Child adopted Female - Original name is Jennifer Ann DOB: July 3‚ 1979 Was adopted from Toronto CAS to Muskoka Adoptive Father - born in 1950 was a salesman Adoptive mother - born in 1951 was a homemaker Adoptive parents married in 1972 Family had 1 other child born 1971 I think - it was male In the early 80s when the adoption was finalized the family lived in a new side split house with a yard located in a subdivision with the school nearby. Family is Apostolic Faith. EDITING FOR NAME : Her birth name was Jennifer Ann James but it was changed. My grandma said her name was changed to KATHLEEN JEAN we don’t have a last name Again long shot but if you know anything please let me know. ❤️
5066. Missingsister2024 : Hi everyone‚ I am looking for my long lost half sister. I know this is a shot in the dark but I have been looking for a while and have only gathered a little information. I’m hoping it triggers someone’s memory. Child adopted Female - Original name is Jennifer Ann DOB: July 3‚ 1979 Was adopted from Toronto CAS to Muskoka Adoptive Father - born in 1950 was a salesman Adoptive mother - born in 1951 was a homemaker Adoptive parents married in 1972 Family had 1 other child born 1971 I think - it was male In the early 80s when the adoption was finalized the family lived in a new side split house with a yard located in a subdivision with the school nearby. Family is Apostolic Faith. EDITING FOR NAME : Her birth name was Jennifer Ann James but it was changed. My grandma said her name was changed to KATHLEEN JEAN we don’t have a last name Again long shot but if you know anything please let me know. ❤️
5067. MargaretC90 : Long ago I gave up a son for adoption birthname Paul William born at McMaster University Hospital in Hamilton‚ Ontario.
5068. Katmarie1999 : His name at birth was David Glen and he was born in Ottawa Ontario then adopted.
5069. PlentyOfLove : I am an adopted Child and have an birth Brother somewhere in New Bruswick or Quebec. My Adoptive name is Laurette Denise Colby and am now under my Maried name Laurette Ginglo. My name at Birth was Laurette Cote.
5070. MSales : I was born May 25‚ 1975 in Windsor Ontario. I believe my birth mother was Abigail Macintosh. She was young when I was born. I have no info on a biological father. I would like any information I could get. I have done an Ancestry DNA Kit and did not find any close relatives.
