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
4 hours ago
-
Jaygray
10 hours ago
-
Sven709
56 minutes ago
-
Wecouldbestars
17 hours ago
-
Stownes
21 hours ago
-
Heather83Ashl
22 hours ago
-
Jason15627
23 hours ago
-
Geoff35
1 hour ago
-
Lianeopal
2 hours ago
-
NBlanch66
6 hours ago
-
TBriden21
19 hours ago
-
Rufus1968
1 hour ago
-
TaraFortier
1 hour 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
5086. KaytlynLoibl : He was adopted in the Niagara Falls area at around the age of 2 +/- a year. His birth given name was Zachary‚ but I believe they changed his name. I was very young when this happens but believe they changed his name to James or something similar. At the time he was adopted he has myself and another brother both older then him by 5 and 3 years I’m currently 26 years and old and believe he would be about 20/21 years old now. Our birth given last name was Vanier-Desrosiers
5087. Aclark1674 : All children (4 of us) were born in Montreal. Me and my half sister were adopted together. We are trying to connect with our two other siblings who were adopted separately. There birth name would have been Sanchez. The girl’s birth name was Maria and born in 1995. The boy’s birth name was Emmanuel and born in 1996. Me and my half sister are older born in 1992 and 1994 respectively. The girl was adopted through the Toronto’s Catholic Children’s Aid Society and the boy through an agency in Montreal.
5088. Aclark1674 : Searching for a half sibling - name at birth Maria Sanchez - born in Montreal‚ Canada. Adopted through Toronto Catholic Children’s Aid Society. Other siblings - Alexandra and Dalya
5089. Msimonett98 : I was born at the Ottawa Civic Hospital and I know my birth name was Jeffrey James Barbour.
5090. CydaeaAraneae : I’m trying to find my maternal great grandfather’s biological parents for my family tree. Thank you‚ for any and all efforts and for your time. <3 -S. McDonald
5091. Ribbons : Born in Palmerston ‚Louise Marshall hospital. Delivered by Dr George Vanner. She was returned to Bruce County by CAS and adopted shortly after. Her birth name was Lisa Ann Smith. Mother’s name Kathryn Ann Smith.
5092. Jenny112233 : I am looking for a person named Jayne Alexander. She is my sisters daughter. I think she is from the Napanee Ontario area. I met her once around around 1984 when she contacted my sister for the first time. At that time‚ we met her‚ then my sister told her she couldn’t have a relationship with her at that time‚ and we never heard from her again. I would like to find her and have that relationship now. I think of her often.
5093. Ribbons : His name given at birth was James John Smith . Born at Owen Sound General Marine hospital. He was adopted shortly after through Bruce County Children’s Aid society in Walkerton ont. Birth mother Kathryn Ann Smith
5094. Dyck : Seeking a male who was adopted to a family who was a doctor from ontario
5095. BrianYee : My fathers adopted name was Eric Lorne Yee. He was adopted in Ottawa Ontario by Harry and Lillian Yee. We were told that his birth name was Derek Oxberry (spelling may be different). My father passed away 10 years ago. He had been wanting to find out more about his birth family and history
5096. Tam88 : Hi There‚ I am a family member searching for my cousin. My Aunt Martha Nelson had a baby girl and gave her up for adoption. Martha was living in Toronto at the time. I’m not sure what hospital she gave birth in or what year. I am guessing it was around 1959-1965. My Aunt never spoke about the adoption to me‚ it was my mom who told me she had a baby and needed to give it up. If this name sounds familiar or you have any information it would be amazing to meet with you. My Aunt passed away in 2019 in Sudbury Ontario. I always wanted to learn more information from her but never had the chance. Please get in touch with me with any information. Thank you so much! Tammy
5097. Cgwaters : Curious
5098. Canadagroomer71 : I was born in Oshawa general hospital
5099. Jaceaarongearing2014 : The child’s name was Jace Aaron Gearing born in St Catherine’s hospital.He was born March 26th 2014‚ The mothers name is Brianna Gearing mother that Jace Aaron Gearing‚ father James Ronald LeRoy Wilson‚ I am searching for him
5100. LizTiz : Mother is Sylvia Anne Barr‚ born 1961 in Kingston Ontario
